Basic vs. medical home care

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.

The 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.

Both 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.

When 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.