Provo Senior AdvisorWhat does a home health agency do?
A home health agency provides skilled nursing and therapy at home under a doctor's plan of care, usually for a limited time after a hospital stay or a change in health, and Medicare covers it for homebound people who qualify.
Nurses manage wounds, medications and new diagnoses; therapists work on walking, balance and daily tasks. Visits are scheduled, not continuous.
What does a personal care agency do?
A Utah personal care agency provides non-medical help at home, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, meals, light housekeeping and companionship, under a DLBC license, and is usually paid privately.
Shifts can run from a few hours a week to around the clock. Long-term care insurance, VA benefits, and the Aging Waiver or MAG's Alternatives program can help with the cost for people who qualify.
Can a family use both at once?
Yes. Many Utah County families use home health for a few weeks of nursing and therapy after a hospital stay while a personal care agency covers bathing and daily help in between visits.
Utah County business addresses appear on 15 home health agency licenses, 12 hospice licenses and 29 personal care agency licenses in DLBC's records as of Nov 6, 2026.
How do we check either kind of agency?
Confirm the agency's DLBC license and expiration date on the state's public search or our directory, then ask about caregiver screening, supervision, and how missed shifts are covered.
Ask whether caregivers are employees or contractors, what the minimum visit is, and how quickly the agency can start. For home health, ask which hospitals and physicians refer to it most.
What does each kind of agency cost a Utah County family?
Medicare-covered home health costs a qualifying patient nothing for covered visits, while non-medical personal care is billed by the hour at a Utah median of about $39.25, often with a minimum visit of several hours.
Families sometimes assume home health will cover a daily bath aide for months. It will not: once skilled needs end, home health stops, and any ongoing help with bathing or meals becomes private pay unless a program such as the Aging Waiver or MAG's Alternatives steps in.
Which agencies serve the whole county?
Most licensed agencies with Utah County addresses serve clients well beyond their own city, so an agency based in Lehi or Orem may cover Provo, Springville or Payson; ask each one about its service area and travel minimums.
Rural edges such as Eagle Mountain, Elk Ridge and Santaquin can have longer waits for a caregiver. Ask how the agency covers a shift when the scheduled aide cannot make the drive in winter weather.
Side by side
| Home health agency | Personal care agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Care | Skilled nursing and therapy | Non-medical daily help |
| Orders | Requires a doctor's plan | No doctor's order needed |
| Payment | Medicare for qualifying patients | Private pay, insurance, VA or waiver |
| Length | Short episodes | As long as needed |
Sources: Utah Admin. Code R432-270, Utah DHHS and DLBC pages, MAG Aging & Family Services, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited; see our editorial standards.
