Home Care vs. Home Health in Florida: Key Differences
In Florida, 'home care' and 'home health' are legally distinct services with different licensing, staffing, and payment structures. Home care provides non-medical daily living support, while home health delivers clinical services ordered by a physician. Knowing the difference helps Miami-Dade and Monroe County families choose, and coordinate, the right care.
The regulatory distinction in Florida
Florida law separates home care agencies into two categories:
- Home Health Agencies (Skilled): Licensed by AHCA to provide nursing, therapy, and medical social services. These agencies employ RNs, LPNs, physical therapists, and other clinicians. Services are typically ordered by a physician and may be covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
- Home Health Agencies (Non-Skilled): Licensed to provide personal care, companionship, homemaking, and respite services. Care Professionals are home health aides (HHAs) or certified nursing assistants (CNAs). These services are usually private-pay.
allaround Concierge Care operates as a licensed non-skilled home health agency, but we go further by incorporating RN-led assessments and ongoing supervision into every care plan, bridging the quality gap between the two categories.
Services compared side by side
Here's a practical comparison:
| Feature | Home Care (Non-Medical) | Home Health (Skilled) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical services | Bathing, dressing, meals, companionship, transportation | Wound care, IV therapy, physical therapy, injections |
| Staff | HHAs, CNAs, companions | RNs, LPNs, therapists |
| Physician order required? | No | Yes |
| Insurance coverage | Usually private-pay or long-term care insurance | Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance |
| Visit frequency | Flexible, a few hours to 24/7 live-in | Intermittent visits (e.g., 2 to 3× per week) |
When families need both
It's common, and often ideal, for a loved one in Miami or the Florida Keys to receive both types of care simultaneously. A visiting nurse might come three times a week for post-surgical wound care, while a home care aide provides daily support with meals, hygiene, and companionship.
Coordinating the two requires clear communication. At allaround, our RN clinical liaison works directly with your loved one's home health team and physicians to ensure continuity and avoid gaps in care.
Key Takeaways
- Home care (non-medical) covers daily living support; home health (skilled) covers clinical services.
- Florida licenses these as separate agency types with different staffing requirements.
- Home health is often covered by Medicare; home care is typically private-pay.
- Many families benefit from using both services together.
- allaround bridges the gap with RN-led oversight in a non-medical home care setting.
You may also find helpful
What Non-Medical Home Care Covers (and What It Doesn't)
Non-medical home care provides hands-on daily support, bathing, dressing, companionship, meal preparation, and light housekeeping, without clinical procedures. For families in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, understanding this distinction is the first step toward choosing the right level of care for a loved one aging at home.
Read more Safety & OversightUnderstanding RN-Led Oversight in Non-Medical Home Care
Most non-medical home care agencies in Florida operate without direct nursing oversight. At allaround Concierge Care, a registered nurse leads the initial assessment, creates each care plan, and conducts ongoing supervisory visits, adding a layer of clinical judgment that standard agencies don't provide.
Read moreReady to explore care for your family?
Every family's situation is unique. Schedule a complimentary consultation with our team to discuss your needs and learn how concierge home care works in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.
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