What's the Difference Between Private Duty Nursing and Regular Home Health Care?
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What's the Difference Between Private Duty Nursing and Regular Home Health Care?

Published On
June 30, 2025
Choosing the right type of in-home care can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance your loved one’s medical needs with comfort and peace of mind. Two common options, private duty nursing and regular home health care, often sound similar but serve very different roles in a care plan.

At BrightStar Care, our team is here to guide you through the different types of care and help you make the best decision for your family, whether your loved one requires around-the-clock medical supervision or short-term support during recovery. 

What you will learn:
  • The core differences between private duty nursing and regular home health care.
  • How to determine which type of in-home care is right for your loved one based on their condition, needs, and recovery goals.
  • When private duty nursing or home health care is most appropriate, and how BrightStar Care of Las Vegas W can guide your next steps.

5 Key Differences Between Private Duty Nursing and Home Health Care

While both private duty nursing and home health care provide medical support at home, they differ in important ways, especially in terms of care intensity, duration, and eligibility. Understanding these distinctions can help families choose the service that best fits their loved one’s needs.

Level of Medical Support

Private duty nursing delivers continuous, high-level medical care. This includes services like tracheostomy care, ventilator management, catheter maintenance, and medication management for clients with complex health conditions.

Home health care, on the other hand, offers intermittent skilled services to support recovery or manage stable conditions. Care often includes wound care, medication teaching, or post-surgical monitoring, tasks that don’t require round-the-clock oversight.

Frequency and Duration of Care

Private duty nursing can be provided for extended periods, ranging from a few hours per day to 24/7 care. It’s designed for clients who need consistent, long-term assistance.

Home health care is typically scheduled for short visits, a few times per week, and is time-limited. The focus is on helping the patient regain independence, often within a few weeks or months.

Caregiver Qualifications and Supervision

BrightStar Care ensures that private duty nurses are licensed professionals (RNs or LPNs) with specialized training for complex care. Our nurses work under the direct supervision of our Director of Nursing, and their care plans are regularly reviewed and updated.

Home health care providers may include registered nurses or in-home caregivers. While all are licensed professionals, the care is less intensive than private duty nursing and follows a structured, short-term plan of care.

Insurance and Payment Options

Private duty nursing is generally not covered by Medicare. Payment is typically out-of-pocket or through long-term care insurance, Medicaid (in some states), or veterans’ benefits.

Home health care is often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, especially when deemed medically necessary and ordered by a physician. This makes it more accessible for short-term needs following a hospitalization or acute illness.

Patient Eligibility and Admission Process

To receive private duty nursing, clients usually require a physician’s order and a comprehensive assessment by a licensed nurse. It’s ideal for patients with chronic or advanced medical conditions who need frequent or constant skilled care.

Home health care also requires a doctor’s referral, but eligibility is more focused on patients who are homebound and in need of temporary skilled services to aid in recovery. Once the care goals are met, services typically conclude.

What is Private Duty Nursing?

Private duty nursing provides one-on-one, long-term medical care delivered in the comfort of home. This level of care is typically needed for individuals with chronic illnesses, complex medical conditions, Alzheimer's or dementia, or disabilities that require continuous clinical oversight.

At BrightStar Care, our private duty nurses are licensed professionals (RNs or LPNs) who can administer medications, manage ventilators and feeding tubes, monitor vital signs, and perform other skilled medical tasks as outlined in a customized care plan. 

Unlike other forms of home care, private duty nursing can be scheduled for extended shifts, up to 24/7, offering a consistent presence and advanced support tailored to the client’s condition.

What is Regular Home Health Care?

Regular home health care focuses on short-term, intermittent services to help individuals recover from surgery, illness, or hospitalization. Care is typically provided a few times a week and may include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy, as recommended by the doctor and outlined in the care plan.

BrightStar Care’s home health professionals are licensed and trained to deliver high-quality clinical support, often under Medicare or insurance coverage. The goal is to restore independence and health through structured visits, while gradually reducing the need for hands-on care as the client improves.

When to Choose Private Duty Nursing 

Private duty nursing is the right choice when your loved one needs continuous, high-level medical care that goes beyond what traditional home health services can provide. This includes individuals with:
  • Complex or chronic medical conditions (e.g., ALS, spinal cord injury, advanced MS).
  • Frequent hospitalizations or unstable health.
  • Medical equipment such as ventilators, feeding tubes, or catheters.
  • A need for medication administration or monitoring by a licensed nurse.
  • Pediatric patients with ongoing critical care needs.
Private duty nursing is also ideal for families who want peace of mind knowing a skilled nurse is present for extended hours, ensuring expert oversight and immediate response to changes in condition.

When to Choose Home Health Care

Home health care is best suited for individuals recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery who require short-term, skilled support at home. You might consider home health care if your loved one:
  • Was recently discharged from the hospital or a rehab center.
  • Needs wound care, injections, or post-surgical monitoring.
  • Is regaining mobility after a fall or stroke.
  • Requires physical, occupational, or speech therapy.
  • Has a new diagnosis that requires education on medication or disease management.
Home health care focuses on helping clients regain independence and health so they can resume daily activities without ongoing clinical care.

Contact BrightStar Care of Las Vegas W! 

BrightStar Care of Las Vegas W's team of professionals will assist you in finding the right caregiver for your loved one. Contact us today to learn more about caregiving services! Our office is at 4775 S. Durango Dr., Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV, 89147. You may also call us at (702) 982-2273

We look forward to hearing from you!