What is noncustodial home health care?

Answer 1

Non-custodial home health care refers to home health care performed in a patient's home, at one of his relative's home or a friend's home on an outpatient basis. It does not refer to care in a nursing home because that is custodial care.

Answer 2

The services that fall under this category, which are covered by Medicare in the US for those who have it, include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and an LNA to help with activities like showering, dressing, etc. on a temporary basis (temporarily being the key word here as the person would be expected to be able to do those things without assistance when the rest of the skilled assist people are no longer needed).

It is anticipated that the assistance provided by these specialists after a hospitalisation or even a stay in a rehab facility will only be temporary. No matter how much professional help they receive, if it turns out that the person is incapable of doing things on their own and will always need help to do them safely, it becomes "custodial," and if they want to stay at home, they must ask family members for help or hire a private person to come and help.