Basic care and medical care are the two central pillars of home care, provided in Switzerland mostly by Spitex organisations or private nursing services. Basic care covers daily needs: washing and showering, help getting dressed and undressed, support with eating, repositioning and moving, and using the toilet. Medical care, by contrast, includes clinical tasks ordered by a doctor – such as preparing and administering medication, changing dressings, injections, blood-sugar measurements or fitting compression stockings.\n\nThe process usually starts with a medical prescription and a needs assessment by a qualified nurse. This results in an individual care plan that can combine both areas. When prescribed, home nursing services are co-financed through mandatory basic health insurance (Grundversicherung); different rules apply to supervision and household help.\n\nBoth forms of care are typically needed after a hospital stay, with chronic illness, in old age or in palliative situations. They often run in parallel.\n\nWhen choosing a provider, look for qualified staff (registered nurses for medical care), a clear prescription, transparent cost allocation and good availability. A common mistake is to confuse basic care with non-medical supervision – and therefore to misjudge which costs are actually covered.
Basic vs. medical home care
Basic care (Grundpflege) covers help with everyday activities such as personal hygiene, dressing, eating and mobility, while medical care (Behandlungspflege) refers to doctor-prescribed treatments like wound care, medication management or injections. In short: basic care supports daily life, medical care carries out medical orders.
Example
An 82-year-old woman in Winterthur returns home after hip surgery. The local Spitex provides basic care in the morning – help with showering, dressing and getting up safely – plus medical care with a daily dressing change of the surgical wound and preparation of her blood-thinning medication. After a few weeks the medical care is no longer needed, and the basic care is gradually reduced until she is independent again.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between basic care and medical care?
Basic care supports everyday activities such as personal hygiene, dressing, eating and mobility. Medical care covers doctor-prescribed clinical measures like wound care, injections or medication management. Both can be part of the same care plan at the same time.
Who pays for basic and medical home care in Switzerland?
When prescribed by a doctor, home nursing services are co-financed through mandatory basic insurance; there is usually also a cantonally regulated patient contribution. Purely non-medical supervision and household help are generally not covered by basic insurance. The exact cost depends on the prescription, the scope and the canton.
Who is allowed to provide medical care?
Medical care is clinical nursing and is provided by qualified nurses on the basis of a doctor's prescription. Basic care can in part also be delivered by nursing assistants or care staff. For demanding procedures, make sure appropriately trained professionals are involved.