Glossary
In-home care
Also called: Home care, Non-medical home care
In-home care is non-medical help at home with bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping, errands and companionship, provided by a caregiver from a licensed agency or hired privately.
It is billed by the hour. In California, home care agencies are licensed by the Department of Social Services’ Home Care Services Bureau. Medicare does not cover it; Medi-Cal’s IHSS program does for eligible people.
Related terms
Home health
Home health is skilled medical care at home, such as nursing, physical therapy or wound care, ordered by a doctor and delivered by a licensed home health agency.
IHSS
IHSS, In-Home Supportive Services, is a California Medi-Cal program that pays for in-home care hours for eligible low-income older adults and people with disabilities so they can stay at home.
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
Instrumental activities of daily living are the tasks of running a life rather than caring for a body: managing medications and money, cooking, shopping, housekeeping, transportation and using the phone.
Definitions reviewed September 5, 2026. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm specifics with the community and the licensing agency.