Custodial health care in Florida encompasses non-medical services including housekeeping and assisted daily living activities including bathing, eating, using the bathroom, and getting dressed. Non-custodial home healthcare includes skilled nursing and therapeutic intervention services like speech-language therapy, physical therapy, and medical equipment that can be used in the home. Because non-custodial home health services in Florida require specialized skills and training, non-custodial home health care is sometimes referred to as skilled care. Home health care can consist of both custodial and non-custodial services. Medicare generally does not cover custodial services in Florida, which is why it is important to understand the difference between custodial and non-custodial home health care.
Skilled home health care can be costlier overall versus custodial care because it entails the services of trained professionals. On the other hand, Medicare and private insurance generally cover any non-custodial or skilled home health care that has been prescribed by doctors. Therefore, many patients can only afford skilled or non-custodial care.
In some cases, non-custodial care is synonymous with prescribed medical care and treatment. Whereas a person can hire a home health aide for assistance with daily living, a doctor’s prescription may be required for acquiring specific types of medical equipment in the home or for hiring specialized therapists. Offsetting the costs of custodial care can be more challenging than offsetting the costs of non-custodial care, even when the custodial care is necessary for maintaining quality of life. Custodial care workers are often referred to as home health aides, as opposed to home health care professionals. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities often provide non-custodial care services in conjunction with skilled care. In rare cases, an insurer in the United States will cover the costs associated with non-custodial care.
