What is a home health aide?

A home health aide is a worker who helps with personal care at home, such as walking, bathing, grooming, feeding and changing bed linens, usually as part of a home health agency's care plan. Medicare.gov says Medicare covers part-time or intermittent home health aide care only when the person is also getting skilled nursing or therapy. The National Institute on Aging lists aides among paid caregivers.

A home health aide helps with daily personal care. Medicare.gov's description of covered aide care includes help with walking, bathing or grooming, changing bed linens and feeding. Aides work alongside the nurses and therapists in a home health plan, and the agency keeps the person's doctor updated on progress. Wound care, injections and therapy are skilled tasks handled by nurses and therapists rather than aides.

Yes, in limited cases. Medicare.gov says Medicare covers part-time or intermittent home health aide care only if you are homebound, a doctor or other provider has seen you and ordered care, and you also need skilled nursing or therapy. Nursing and aide care combined is usually up to 8 hours a day and 28 hours a week. You pay nothing for covered home health services.

Only if the person also needs skilled care. Medicare.gov says Medicare does not pay for custodial or personal care, such as help with bathing, dressing or using the bathroom, when that is the only care needed, and it does not cover 24-hour care at home. Ongoing daily help is long-term care, which families usually pay for privately or through Medicaid or long-term care insurance.

A home health aide usually works for a home health agency under a doctor-ordered care plan, helping with personal care alongside nurses and therapists, while caregiver is a broader word for anyone who helps, paid or unpaid. The Alzheimer's Association divides in-home help into companion, personal care, homemaker and skilled services, and many caregivers provide only the non-medical kinds, without a medical plan.