INDUSTRY GUIDE

What Is Home Care?

HCAOA is the voice of non-medical home care, and your best source for that sector. Home care and home health are often confused, even by experienced reporters. While part of the same ecoystem of care, they serve different populations, operate under different regulations, and are funded differently. Here's a quick guide.

Home Care

Non-medical personal assistance that helps people with the tasks of daily life, so they can live safely and independently at home. Clients include seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.

• Bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping
• Transportation, companionship, medication reminders
• Paid by: individuals & families, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, VA benefits
• No physician order required
• 26,000+ home care agencies nationwide
• Home care costs ~$4,516/month vs. $8,910 in a nursing home

Home Health

Skilled medical services delivered at home, ordered by a physician and typically following hospitalization or to manage a chronic condition.

• Nursing care, wound care, physical therapy, speech therapy
• Occupational therapy, medication management
• Covered by Medicare (when medically necessary and doctor-ordered)
• Requires physician order and periodic recertification
• Short-term and episodic in nature
• Governed by Medicare Conditions of Participation

INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE

Home Care by the Numbers

Key statistics for reporters covering the non-medical home care sector.

5,000⁺

HCAOA member agencies across all 50 states

1M⁺

Caregivers represented by HCAOA members

26,000⁺

Home care agencies operating in the U.S. Fastest-growing segment of U.S. health care

$4,516

Home Care

$8,910

Nursing Home

Average monthly cost — home care vs. nursing home

2034

Year more Americans will be over 65 than under 18 — driving explosive demand for home care

535^%

Projected increase in veterans over 85 eligible for nursing home care over the next 20 years VA Report to Congress, 2021

$500

Average monthly savings per person receiving home care vs. those who don't Per member per month, adults avg. 80+

$4B⁺

Medicare costs attributed to lack of ongoing home care assistance Annals of Internal Medicine

Sources: HCAOA, VA Report to Congress (2021; Annals of Internal Medicine; U.S. Census Bureau. See more industry data.

LATEST FROM HCAOA

News Releases

Official statements, advocacy updates, and industry announcements from HCAOA.

April 22, 2026
Home Care Association Honors Rep. Mike Carey
Ohio congressman recognized for championing tax relief for America’s family caregivers.

Read

April 22, 2026
Home Care Providers Highlight Fraud Safeguards, Advocate for Policies to Strengthen Caregiving
HCAOA Advocacy Day convenes 100-plus advocates on Capitol Hill as policymakers scrutinize program integrity.

Read

December 11, 2025
Representatives Rulli, Stanton, and Pappas Introduce Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act of 2025
Bipartisan legislation strengthens Medicaid nursing services and expands access to in-home care.

Read

View All Releases

MEDIA COVERAGE

HCAOA in the News

Recent media coverage featuring HCAOA leadership and the non-medical home care industry.

​March 6, 2026
VA Cuts Reimbursement Rates to Cover In-Home Care for New Mexico Veterans
HCAOA VA Services Advisory Council Chair Doug Robertson quoted on the impact of VA rate cuts on veteran access to home care in New Mexico and Texas.

Read in Santa Fe New Mexican

​January 29, 2026
Home Care for Seniors and the Impact of Labor Policies on Overtime
National Public Radio examined the intersection of labor regulations and access to non-medical home care in this piece with HCAOA Policy Committee Director Cheryl Stanton.

Read or Listen at NPR

​March 10, 2026
VA slow to implement Elizabeth Dole Act, but key provision underway, HCAOA says
HCAOA quoted on its report following a hearing on implementation of this landmark legislation benefiting veterans that the association championed.

Read on McKnight's Home Care

INTERVIEWS

Expert Sources

​HCAOA leaders are available for on-the-record interviews on home care policy, workforce, veterans care, aging in America, and the non-medical home care industry. Contact Allison Dolan to arrange.

Jason R. Lee
Chief Executive Officer
Home care industry policy, association leadership, workforce issues, federal advocacy, aging in America.

Cheryl Stanton
Policy Committee Chair
Home care workforce policy, labor regulations, caregiver training standards, policy development.

Eric Reinarman
Vice President of Government Affairs
Federal and state legislation, regulatory affairs, Medicaid policy, labor law, Capitol Hill advocacy.

Doug Robertson
VA Services Advisory Council Chair
Veterans home care, Elizabeth Dole Act, VA Community Care Network, veteran access to services.

Aaron Stapleton
Board President
Industry leadership perspective, agency operations, consumer access to care, real-life perspective on how policy affects agencies.

Additional Experts
Regional and Topical Specialists
Need a source in a specific state or niche issue? Contact us and we'll connect you.

MATERIALS FOR JOURNALISTS

Press Kit

Resources for covering the non-medical home care industry and HCAOA. Need something you don't see here? Contact Allison Dolan.

About HCAOA
A one-sheet overview of the organization with membership statistics.

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Industry Fact Sheet
Key stats on the home care landscape and growth drivers.

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Issues and Positions
HCAOA whitepapers and comments on policy and legislation.

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HCAOA Logos
Standard digital logo and high-resolution vector image for print.

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