Most people want to live at home for as long as they can, but illnesses and disabilities often make this challenging. One of the best ways to age in place is with personal care services at home. With in-home care, a trained aide provides medical and/or non-medical services in the comfort of your own home.

There are many benefits to private home care, like keeping your independence and staying close to friends and family. To help you understand your options, we’ve created a guide to medical and non-medical in-home care. Here we outline what is included in home health care. Let’s start by answering the question, “what is personal home care?”

What is Personal Home Care?

Also known as non-skilled care, non-medical care, or companion care, personal care services at home allows you to live in the comfort of your own home for as long as possible. Remaining at home can provide you with an enhanced quality of life that you might not experience in other settings.

Personal home care is typically provided by trained aides, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), or therapists, depending on your needs. Because you’re at home, you’ll receive individualized care that’s focused solely on your needs. This can be a major differentiator from crowded skilled care facilities or rehabilitation centers.

Who Can Benefit from Personal Home Care?

Many people can benefit from personal home care services , regardless of their age or ability level. You’ll find a few examples below:

  • Seniors looking for companionship or assistance with transportation
  • People who are recovering from surgery
  • Individuals with disabilities
  • People who suffer from a chronic illness
  • Primary caregivers looking for respite

Common Personal Home Care Services

Personal home care typically provides a variety of non-medical services, including:

  • Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing, toileting, dressing, and grooming
  • Basic housekeeping (cleaning, yard work, laundry, etc.)
  • Preparing and/or delivering meals
  • Companionship (reading aloud, playing games, chatting, etc.)
  • Assistance with ambulation, transfer, and fall prevention
  • Medication reminders
  • Errands and appointment escorts
  • Therapy and/or rehabilitative services

Obtaining Personal Home Care

Unlike some other types of care, personal home care doesn’t need to be prescribed by a doctor. If you decide personal care is right for you, you can use an agency to hire a caregiver or find one on your own. We’ve curated a list of the most important questions to ask an in-home provider before you decide if this is the right decision for you.

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