When someone has trouble leaving the house, families start searching for help at home and find a long list of terms. This guide sorts them into four groups so you can see which one matches the need. Gateway arranges two of them, house calls and mobile wound care, and works alongside the others.
Start with the need
Before comparing names, write down what is actually hard right now. Common needs include:
- Recovering from surgery or a hospital stay.
- A wound that is not changing or a dressing nobody is sure about.
- Managing several conditions and medications without getting to an office.
- Help with bathing, dressing, meals and safety.
- Round-the-clock nursing for a complex condition.
Each need points to a different option.
Home health
Home health is skilled care from an agency, usually nursing and therapy, delivered in visits for a limited time under a plan of care. In general, a physician or other allowed practitioner orders it. Medicare pays only through agencies that take part in Medicare, and homebound status is one of its conditions. For the full picture, see our page on home health in St. Louis.
Home care
Home care is non-medical help: bathing, dressing, light housekeeping, meal preparation, reminders and company. No clinical order is usually needed. Families typically pay privately, and certain policies or programs may help. A home care worker does not replace a clinician’s assessment.
Private duty nursing
This is longer nursing care at home, often by the shift, for people with complex ongoing needs. It is generally privately paid or funded through certain programs. Our guide to private duty nursing and home health compares the two.
House calls
A house call is a visit by a clinician to examine the patient, review medications, follow chronic conditions and adjust the plan. Visits may be made by a physician, a podiatrist (DPM), a nurse practitioner or a nurse, depending on what the patient needs. Gateway arranges house calls in St. Louis with partner clinicians, who make the clinical decisions. This is the option to consider when getting to an office is difficult.
Mobile wound care
Mobile wound care brings wound assessment and follow-up to the home or senior living community. A partner clinician examines the wound and writes orders, and Gateway coordinates supplies, scheduling and updates. If a wound is the reason you are searching, start with mobile wound care in St. Louis.
How the options fit together
These services are not rivals. A person recovering from a fall might have home health therapists, a home care aide for daily tasks and a house call clinician following a wound or managing medications. What keeps this workable is communication. Tell every visitor who else comes, and ask that updates go to the physician who oversees the care.
How to decide where to begin
- Call your physician’s office and ask what they recommend, especially if you were recently in the hospital.
- Ask your insurance plan which services it has rules for, such as homebound status or prior authorization.
- Decide who in the family will coordinate calls and keep notes.
- Contact the agencies or practices that match the need and ask the questions above.
If you are unsure, request care or call 314-325-0126. We will listen, explain what we can arrange in your location and care setting, and tell you when another service should come first. Availability is confirmed by location.
For an emergency, call 911. None of these options are emergency services.
Common questions
Which option is right if my mother cannot leave the house?
It depends on the need. Medical follow-up points to house calls, skilled recovery points to home health, and daily tasks point to home care. Many families need more than one.
Do I need a referral for a house call?
Patients, family members and caregivers can call Gateway directly, with or without a referral. Hospitals, facilities and practices can refer too. Call 314-325-0126 and we will ask about location and care setting, then explain what we can arrange.
Who pays for care at home?
It varies. Home health may involve Medicare or another plan when conditions are met, home care is often private pay, and house calls depend on the provider and plan. Ask each service what applies.
Can mobile wound care replace a wound clinic?
It is another way to get wound follow-up when travel is hard, not a replacement for every kind of care. The treating clinician decides what is appropriate for the wound, and that can sometimes include an in-person clinic visit or a referral to a specialist.
How do I keep everyone informed?
Keep one shared list of every provider, phone number and medication. Share it with each visitor and update it after every change. A simple notebook kept near the front door works well, and a photo of the list on your phone helps when you are away from home.
Related pages
General information to help you talk with your own clinician. It is not medical advice, and the treating clinician makes every clinical decision. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Updated October 2026