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Non-medical home care: daily help at home

Non-medical home care covers everyday support at home, from bathing and meals to rides and companionship, without medical assistance.

Priya Raghavan

By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter

4 min read

Non-medical home care provides help with everyday activities in a person’s home rather than medical assistance. The Pennsylvania Homecare Association lists services such as bathing and grooming, meals, transfers, light housekeeping, transportation, medication reminders and companionship.

The distinction matters when comparing providers. California’s Department of Aging identifies home care agencies as providers of non-medical assistance and home health care agencies as providers of medical assistance.

What non-medical home care can include

Services are built around daily tasks. The Pennsylvania Homecare Association and Cornerstone Healthcare Training describe common forms of help that include the following:

  • Personal care: bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting and hygiene assistance.
  • Mobility support: help with transfers, including moving between a bed, chair or toilet.
  • Household help: meal preparation, laundry, dishes and light housekeeping.
  • Errands and routines: transportation, grocery shopping and reminders to take prescribed medication.
  • Companionship and respite: social engagement, supervision and relief for family caregivers.

Services vary by agency and location. Ask a provider for a written description of the tasks it offers.

How it differs from home health care

Non-medical home care centers on personal support and household tasks. Cornerstone Healthcare Training describes home health care as medical assistance that can include nursing, wound care and physical therapy delivered by licensed clinical professionals.

  • Non-medical home care may fit a need for help with routines, meals, housekeeping, transportation, companionship or respite.
  • Home health care is a separate category for medical assistance, according to California’s Department of Aging.

Questions to ask an agency

The Pennsylvania Homecare Association recommends comparing agencies on specific terms and practices rather than relying on a general description of “home care.”

  1. Check licensing. Ask whether the agency is licensed where required and how to verify its status.
  2. Get terms in writing. Request a sample service agreement, a list of prices and a description of services.
  3. Ask who employs the caregiver. Find out whether workers are agency employees or come through a referral agency or registry.
  4. Review training and oversight. Ask about training, supervision, bonding and experience communicating with people who have cognitive disabilities.
  5. Plan for missed visits. Ask what happens if a caregiver does not show up and what reports the family will receive.
  6. Confirm transportation practices. If rides are offered, ask whether the agency checks caregivers’ driving records.

Requirements are state-specific. In California, agencies that provide non-medical assistance must be licensed by the Department of Social Services, and home care aides must meet specified training, criminal-background clearance and tuberculosis examination requirements, according to the state Department of Aging.

California also has a searchable database of home care agencies and aides. The department says disciplinary actions against an aide appear on the registry.

Payment depends on location and coverage

Payment rules differ by program and state. In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Homecare Association lists self-pay, eligible Medicaid waiver programs, the lottery-funded OPTIONS program for eligible older adults who do not qualify for Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, long-term-care insurance and some Medicare Advantage plans as potential payment routes.

Ask the agency about rates and whether it processes insurance paperwork, then confirm eligibility and covered services with the relevant insurer or public program. California says people eligible for Medi-Cal who need help with personal care may also be eligible for its In-Home Supportive Services program; that does not establish coverage elsewhere.

Why local checks matter

“Home care” covers a broad field. A 2015 peer-reviewed analysis found gaps in national knowledge about home care provided by private-hire and nonmedical providers, which the authors said can distort understanding of the field and policymaking.

Use a state licensing or registry tool where available, review the written agreement and ask direct questions about the tasks a caregiver will provide and how the agency handles supervision and missed visits.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between non-medical home care and home health care?

Non-medical home care provides daily-living support, including help with personal care, meals, housekeeping, transportation and companionship. California’s Department of Aging identifies home health care as a separate agency category that provides medical assistance, while Cornerstone Healthcare Training lists nursing, wound care and physical therapy as examples of home health services.

What should I ask before hiring a non-medical home care agency?

The Pennsylvania Homecare Association recommends asking for a sample service agreement and prices; checking licensing; asking how caregivers are trained and supervised; confirming whether workers are employees or referred workers; and discussing missed-visit coverage, family reports and driving-record checks if transportation is offered.

Does Medicaid pay for non-medical home care?

It may, depending on the program and eligibility rules. The Pennsylvania Homecare Association lists Medicaid waiver programs as a potential source for eligible people in Pennsylvania. California says some eligible Medi-Cal participants who need personal-care help may also qualify for In-Home Supportive Services.

How can I check a home care agency or aide?

Check the applicable state licensing or registry system. California’s Department of Aging says its searchable database lists home care agencies and aides, including disciplinary actions against an aide. California agencies providing non-medical assistance must be licensed by the Department of Social Services.

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