Home Health Care and Durable Medical Equipment Home health agencies provide part-time nursing care. Many agencies offer physical, occupational or speech therapy. Additional services include medical social services, home health aide services and nutritional guidance. Some home health agencies also offer medical supplies and equipment for home use. Hospice Care Hospice services offer relief from pain and comfort care rather than treatment.
Hospice care is provided to terminally ill patients.
This type of care is usually provided during the last six months of illness. During that time aggressive therapy is no longer requested or practical. The goal of the care team is to help the family to keep the patient comfortable at home. All of the typical home health services are provided. The length of stay for some patients admitted for acute episodes of many serious illnesses has declined dramatically.