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Home health vs hospice — they sound similar; they're not
Families confuse these two all the time, and the difference shapes everything from cost to care intensity to what gets covered.
Updated 2026-02-15
Home health
- Goal: improve or maintain function — wound care, physical therapy after surgery, IV antibiotics at home.
- Eligibility: Medicare-certified, doctor's order, homebound, intermittent skilled need.
- Frequency: a nurse 1–3 visits/week for weeks, not months.
- Cost: Medicare Part A or B, no copay.
Hospice
- Goal: comfort. Symptom control, dignity, family support.
- Eligibility: two physicians certify prognosis is ≤6 months if the disease runs its course.
- Frequency: nurse 1–3 visits/week, aide several times/week, on-call 24/7, chaplain, social worker, volunteer.
- Cost: Medicare Hospice Benefit covers nearly everything, including medications related to the terminal illness, equipment, and most of inpatient respite.
Choosing for dementia
In late-stage dementia, hospice is often more appropriate than home health. Look for: significant weight loss, recurrent infections, inability to walk or speak meaningfully. Two hospice clinicians can determine eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a dementia patient be on hospice for over a year?
- Yes. The six-month estimate is a guideline; many dementia patients are recertified beyond it.
- Does the hospice nurse live with us?
- No. Hospice is intermittent visits, not 24/7 in-home care. Family or paid caregivers still provide most of the hands-on care.
Every dementia journey is different.
Memory Lane Care helps you understand what applies to your loved one, what to expect next, and which resources fit your family's situation.
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Memory Lane connects every part of dementia care. Here's how this topic threads into the rest.
Paying for Care
Behavior Guidance
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