When someone you love is recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery, the question often becomes: What happens next? For many families, home health can be a great next step.

Home health allows patients to continue healing where they’re most comfortable, at home, while still receiving the skilled care and support they need.

Home health is medical care provided in a patient’s home by a team of licensed professionals. It’s designed for people who need skilled care but don’t need to stay in a hospital or facility.

This can include:

• Nursing care

• Physical, occupational, or speech therapy

• Support for managing chronic conditions

• Help recovering after surgery or illness

At PruittHealth, home health combines regular in-home visits with coordinated care planning so patients can heal safely and comfortably in a familiar environment.

Home health is often the right fit for people who:

• Are recovering after a hospital stay, surgery, or injury

• Need therapy to regain strength or mobility

• Are managing a chronic condition

• Could benefit from skilled care but prefer to stay at home

Visits are scheduled based on medical need, but do not provide 24/7 care.

While every experience is unique, most home health journeys follow a few key steps:

Care typically begins with a referral from a hospital, physician, or another provider. From there, eligibility and insurance are reviewed so services can begin smoothly.

A clinician visits your home to assess your needs and create a personalized care plan tailored to your goals.

A team of nurses, therapists, and other specialists provides scheduled visits to support recovery, improve independence, and monitor progress over time.

As your needs change, care may adjust, transition to another service, or conclude once your goals are met.

At PruittHealth, each step is connected so your care feels coordinated, not complicated. 

• Medical, skilled care

• Typically covered by insurance (including Medicare, if eligible)

• Intermittent visits

• Requires a physician’s order

• Non-medical support (help with bathing, meals, etc.)

• Usually paid out-of-pocket

• Can be ongoing or daily

Understanding the difference can help you decide what the right type of support is for you or your loved one at the right time.

To qualify for home health, patients are often required to be “homebound”, but that doesn’t mean they can’t leave the house at all. It simply means leaving home requires significant effort or assistance and outings are limited and typically for important needs (like medical appointments or church).

This definition helps ensure home health services are used for those who truly need care at home.

One of the biggest benefits of home health is the team behind it. Care isn’t delivered by just one person, it’s coordinated across professionals who understand your needs and work together to support your progress. Your home health team may include nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), medical social workers, and physical, occupational, and speech therapists.

Even though care happens in your home, support doesn’t stop when a visit ends. Patients have access to guidance with on-call nurses for questions or concerns.

At PruittHealth, home health is one part of a larger, connected system of care. That means:

• You don’t have to start over if your needs change

• Your care team understands your history

• Transitions between services are smoother and more coordinated

Whether you’re coming home from the hospital or continuing care over time, home health fits into a bigger picture designed around you.

For many patients, there’s no place like home. Home health makes it possible to recover in a familiar environment while still receiving the care, expertise, and support needed to move forward.

If you’re exploring home health for yourself or a loved one, PruittHealth is here to help you understand your options and get started with confidence.