“Home care” is an umbrella over very different services – and knowing which type your family needs determines who provides it and who pays for it. Here is every major type of in-home care available in Texas, in plain language.
Personal assistance services (PAS) / attendant care
The workhorse of in-home care: help with bathing, dressing, grooming, meals, light housekeeping, errands, and mobility. Who pays: Texas Medicaid STAR+PLUS (ongoing, authorized hours), private pay, or long-term-care insurance. This is Newport’s core service – see PAS details, and note that a family member can often be the paid attendant.
Companion care
Company, conversation, meals together, errands, activity support, and a safety check – for seniors who are mostly independent but shouldn’t be alone all day. Who pays: usually private pay or LTC insurance; companion-style support often rides along inside authorized PAS hours. See companion care.
Respite care
Temporary relief for a family caregiver – a few hours weekly, overnights, weekends, or coverage while you travel. Who pays: many STAR+PLUS plans include respite benefits; private pay works for occasional needs. See respite care.
Skilled nursing at home
Medical care by a nurse: wound care, medication management, injections, monitoring, post-hospital follow-up. Ordered by a physician. Who pays: Medicare (short-term, homebound), Medicaid, VA, private insurance. See skilled nursing at home.
Home health therapy
Physical, occupational, or speech therapy delivered at home, usually after surgery, stroke, or a fall – ordered by a physician and typically covered by Medicare or insurance as part of a home health episode.
Hospice and palliative care
Comfort-focused care for life-limiting illness, covered by Medicare/Medicaid hospice benefits. Newport is not a hospice provider – if this is what your family needs, ask the physician for a hospice referral, and we can continue providing attendant support alongside hospice in many cases.
Which type does your family need?
Most families calling us need PAS, sometimes with respite for the spouse or daughter doing the rest. If you are not sure, read home care vs home health care or how to get started – or just ask:
Talk to a real person: call Newport Home Health at 972-602-3500. We serve Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, and the consultation is free.
