Understanding the Difference: Home Health vs. Hospice Care at Masonicare

 Navigating healthcare decisions for yourself or a loved one can often feel overwhelming, especially when faced with options like home health and hospice care. At Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, we understand how important it is to choose the right kind of care at the right time. For families seeking trusted guidance in Connecticut hospice care or senior home healthcare, knowing the distinctions between these two services can make all the difference. Let’s dive into what separates home health from hospice care and how Masonicare hospice services and home health offerings can provide compassionate support during every stage of life.




What Is Home Health Care?

Home health care refers to a wide range of healthcare services that can be provided in the comfort of one’s own home. Typically prescribed by a doctor, home health is designed for individuals who are recovering from surgery, illness, or injury, or managing a chronic condition. The goal of senior home healthcare is to help individuals regain their independence, improve functionality, and avoid unnecessary hospitalization.

At Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, home health services might include:

  • Skilled nursing care

  • Physical, occupational, or speech therapy

  • Medical social services

  • Health monitoring and education

  • Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing and dressing

Home health care is appropriate when there is a clear medical need, and patients are often expected to recover or stabilize with proper support. It’s covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and many private insurance plans, provided patients meet certain eligibility criteria.

What Is Hospice Care?

In contrast, hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life for individuals facing a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less, if the disease follows its natural course. The emphasis is no longer on curing the illness but on managing pain, alleviating symptoms, and providing emotional, spiritual, and psychological support.

Masonicare hospice services deliver compassionate, patient-centered care wherever a person calls home, be it a private residence, assisted living community, or skilled nursing facility. Our hospice team includes physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, spiritual counselors, and trained volunteers — all working together to ensure dignity, comfort, and peace.

Hospice services offered by Masonicare Home Health & Hospice often include:

  • Pain and symptom management

  • Emotional and spiritual support

  • Counseling for patients and families

  • Respite care for caregivers

  • Bereavement support after a loved one passes

Choosing hospice is not about giving up hope; it’s about redefining hope to focus on making every day as meaningful and comfortable as possible.

Key Differences Between Home Health and Hospice Care

While both services provide care at home and prioritize the patient’s well-being, there are important distinctions:

Home Health Care

Hospice Care

Focuses on recovery and rehabilitation

Focuses on comfort and quality of life

Services are curative and restorative

Services are palliative, not curative

Must be ordered by a physician for a specific medical need

Requires a terminal diagnosis certified by a physician

Patient can continue pursuing curative treatments

Patient elects to forgo aggressive curative treatments

Short-term and goal-oriented

Supportive until end of life

Understanding these differences can help families make informed decisions during vulnerable times.

The Masonicare Difference

As Connecticut’s leading not-for-profit provider of senior services, Masonicare brings a wealth of experience and compassion to every interaction. We are honored to be a trusted partner for families seeking exceptional Connecticut hospice care and senior home healthcare.

Here's what sets Masonicare Home Health & Hospice apart:

  • Holistic Care Approach: We treat the whole person — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — not just the condition.

  • Experienced Teams: Our highly trained staff has extensive experience in both clinical care and emotional support, ensuring comprehensive service.

  • Personalized Plans: Each patient receives a customized care plan designed to meet their unique needs and preferences.

  • Continuum of Care: Because Masonicare offers a full spectrum of senior services — from independent living to skilled nursing and hospice — transitions between levels of care are seamless.

  • Community Commitment: As a not-for-profit, our priority is the well-being of our patients, not shareholders. Every decision we make is in the best interest of those we serve.

Families consistently turn to Masonicare not only because of our stellar reputation but because they know we treat every patient like family.

When Should You Consider Home Health?

You might consider senior home healthcare through Masonicare if:

  • You or your loved one has been hospitalized and needs help recovering at home.

  • Chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis require skilled nursing or therapy.

  • Mobility issues make it challenging to attend outpatient appointments.

  • There’s a need for education and monitoring to manage a medical condition at home.

Home health can prevent complications, promote healing, and empower individuals to maintain independence for as long as possible.

When Should You Consider Hospice Care?

Hospice care may be appropriate when:

  • Treatments are no longer effective, or the burdens outweigh the benefits.

  • The focus shifts from curing an illness to enhancing comfort and quality of life.

  • The patient and family desire support for emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs.

  • Symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, fatigue, and nausea need specialized management.

Families often express a wish that they had contacted hospice sooner, as early engagement can significantly improve the patient’s and family's experience during a difficult time.

How to Start Care with Masonicare

If you are unsure whether home health or hospice is the right option, Masonicare’s knowledgeable care coordinators are here to help. We offer free consultations to assess your situation and recommend the most appropriate services.

Starting care is easy:

  1. Contact us directly at Masonicare Home Health & Hospice.

  2. We’ll work with your physician to obtain necessary referrals and authorizations.

  3. Our interdisciplinary team will develop a personalized plan of care tailored to your needs.

Choosing Masonicare means choosing peace of mind, knowing that you or your loved one will receive the highest quality of care available.


If you are exploring Connecticut hospice care or senior home healthcare, reach out to Masonicare Home Health & Hospice today. Let us help you navigate this journey with expertise, compassion, and respect for the dignity of every individual.

For more information, visit Masonicare Home Health & Hospice's website or call to speak with one of our care specialists.




Masonicare Home Health & Hospice

97 Barnes Rd Suite 4, Wallingford, CT 06492, United States

1-203-679-5300

https://www.masonicare.org/services/home-health-hospice

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