Home Health Care vs. Hospice: What’s the Difference?
Deciding between home health care and hospice can feel overwhelming, especially when a loved one’s health needs begin to change. While both services can be provided in the comfort of home, they have different goals, eligibility requirements and care teams.
Understanding these differences can help patients, families and healthcare providers make informed decisions about the care that best supports a person’s needs and goals.
Home Health Care vs. Hospice at a Glance
- Home health care provides short-term skilled medical care to help patients recover from an illness, injury or surgery or manage a chronic condition. Medicare generally requires patients to be homebound and under the care of a physician.
- Hospice provides specialized, comfort-focused care for people with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its expected course. Hospice does not require patients to be homebound and offers an interdisciplinary team focused on comfort, quality of life and support for both patients and their families.
Home Health Care
The goal: Help patients recover, regain strength or manage a medical condition after an illness, injury or hospitalization.
Who it’s for: Patients who need skilled medical care at home and meet Medicare’s homebound requirements.
What care looks like:
- Skilled nursing visits
- Physical, occupational or speech therapy
- Medication management
- Education to promote recovery and independence
When care ends: Once treatment goals have been met or skilled services are no longer needed.
Hospice Care
The goal: Help patients live as comfortably and meaningfully as possible when the focus of care shifts from curing an illness to maximizing quality of life.
Who it’s for: Patients with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its expected course.
What care looks like:
- Expert pain and symptom management
- Nursing care and physician oversight
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Hospice aides, social workers and volunteers
- Medications, equipment and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis
- Bereavement support for loved ones
How long care continues: As long as the patient continues to meet hospice eligibility.
Which Type of Care Fits Your Situation?
1. Recovering from a Stroke
After a hospitalization, Maria returns home needing physical therapy, nursing visits and medication management to regain strength and independence.
Best fit: Home health care
Home health focuses on rehabilitation and helping patients safely recover at home.
2. Advanced Cancer with Comfort-Focused Goals
James has metastatic cancer. After discussing his options with his oncologist, he decides to focus on managing symptoms and spending meaningful time with his family rather than pursuing additional treatments intended to cure his disease.
Best fit: Hospice
Hospice provides expert pain and symptom management while supporting the emotional, spiritual and practical needs of both patients and families.
3. Advanced Dementia with Declining Health
Linda’s dementia has progressed significantly. She’s experiencing frequent infections, weight loss and increasing dependence on others for daily activities.
Best fit: Hospice
Hospice helps manage symptoms, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and improve comfort while supporting caregivers throughout the journey.
Can a Patient Receive Home Health and Hospice at the Same Time?
Generally, patients cannot receive the Medicare Home Health Benefit and the Medicare Hospice Benefit for the same diagnosis at the same time.
However, there are exceptions.
For example, a patient receiving hospice care for advanced cancer may still qualify for home health services related to an unrelated condition under certain circumstances. Coverage depends on the patient’s diagnoses and insurance benefits.
A Compassus care coordinator can help determine what services are available based on each patient’s unique situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hospice only for the last few days of life?
No. Hospice is available to patients with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its expected course. Many patients benefit from hospice for weeks or months, allowing them to receive expert symptom management and support earlier.
Can hospice care be provided at home?
Yes. Most hospice care is provided wherever patients call home, including private residences, assisted living communities and nursing facilities.
Does Medicare cover hospice?
Yes. Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, Medicare Advantage and many private insurance plans cover hospice services.
Does home health require patients to be homebound?
For Medicare coverage, yes. Patients generally must meet Medicare’s homebound requirements and require intermittent skilled care.
Who decides when hospice is appropriate?
Patients, families and physicians make the decision together. Hospice eligibility is certified by both the patient’s physician (if applicable) and a hospice medical director.
Compassionate Care, Wherever You Are
Compassus offers a continuum of home-based care, including home health, hospice, palliative care and home infusion services. Whether your goal is recovery, managing a serious illness or improving comfort and quality of life, our team works alongside you and your physician to provide personalized care that meets your needs.
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Or call 833.380.9583 to speak with a Compassus care specialist.