<PAGE>   1
             As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                                 July 3, 1996.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO._______________
********************************************************************************

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              IN HOME HEALTH, INC.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

         Minnesota                                    41-1458213
(State or other jurisdiction                         (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                    Identification No.)

601 Lakeshore Parkway, Suite 500
Minnetonka, Minnesota                                55305
(Address of Principal                                (Zip Code)
Executive Offices)

                              IN HOME HEALTH, INC.
                             1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                  Robert Horner
                              In Home Health, Inc.
                        601 Lakeshore Parkway, Suite 500
                              Minnetonka, MN 55305
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (612) 449-7500
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
********************************************************************************
                                      Proposed       Proposed
Title of                              Maximum        Maximum       Amount
Each Class of        Amount           Offering       Aggregate     Of
Securities           To Be            Price Per      Offering      Registration
To Be Registered     Registered       Share*         Price*        Fee*
- ----------------     ----------       ------         ------        ----

Common Stock,        1,300,000 Shs.      $2.16       $2,808,000    $ 968.28
par value of $.01
per share

********************************************************************************
(*)      Estimated pursuant to Rule 457 solely for the purpose of calculating
         the registration fee. Estimate based on the average of the high and low
         share prices for the Company's Common Stock on June 28, 1996, as
         reported on the NASDAQ National Market System.




<PAGE>   2




                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         Except as set forth below with respect to Items 4, 7, 8 and 9 of Form
S-8, the contents of the registration statements on Registrant's Annual Report
and Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 1995 containing audited
financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1995, Form 10-Q for
the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996, and the
description of the Registrant's common stock appearing in the Registrant's
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 to Form S-1 effective August 28, 1991
(File Nos. 33-35424 and 33-36572).

         All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the
completion or termination of this offering of shares of Common Stock shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4.           Description of Securities.  Not Applicable.

Item 6.           Indemnification of Officers and Directors.

         The Registrant's Articles provide that no director of the Registrant
shall personally be liable to the Registrant or its shareholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty by such director as a director; provided,
however, that such provision in the Registrant's Articles shall not eliminate or
limit the liability of the director to the extent provided by applicable law (i)
for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its
shareholders, (ii) for acts of misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii)
under Sections 302A.559 (liability of directors for illegal distribution) and
80A.23 (liability for violations of state securities laws) of the Minnesota
Statutes, (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit, or (v) for any act or omission occurring prior to the date
when such provision of the Registrant's Articles became effective. The
Registrant's Articles further provide that if the Minnesota Business Corporation
Act is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the
personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the
Registrant shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the
Minnesota Business Corporation Act as so amended.

                                        2


<PAGE>   3




         Minnesota state law provides for indemnification of the Registrant's
officers, directors, employees and agents. Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota
Statutes requires, among other things, the indemnification of persons made or
threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of acts or omissions
performed in their official capacity as an officer. director, employee or agent
of the corporation against judgments, penalties and fines (including attorneys'
fees) if such person is not otherwise indemnified, acted in good faith, received
no improper benefits, reasonably believed that such conduct was in the best
interests of the corporation, and, in the case of criminal proceedings, had no
reason to believe the conduct was unlawful. In addition, Section 302A.521,
subdivision 3, of the Minnesota Statutes requires payment by the corporation,
upon written request, of reasonable expenses made in advance of final
disposition in certain instances if a decision as to required indemnification is
made by a disinterested majority of the Board of Directors present at a meeting
at which a disinterested quorum is present, or by a designated committee of the
Board, by special legal counsel, by the shareholders, or by a court.

         The Registrant has insurance coverage totaling $10,000,000 per year
which provides reimbursement in the event it is required to pay out amounts for
costs of defense, settlements and judgments pursuant to the obligation to
indemnify its officers and directors.

Item 7.           Exemptions from Registration Claimed.  None.

Item 8.           Exhibits.

4                 In Home Health, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan

5                 Opinion regarding legality of shares to be offered.

23(i)             Consent of Deloitte S. Touche, L.L.P.

23(ii)            Consent of James H. Rempe, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5)

24                Powers of Attorney authorizing execution of registration
                  statement of Form S-8 on behalf of certain directors of
                  Registrant.

                                        3


<PAGE>   4





Item 9.           Undertaking.

                  (a)      Rule 415 Offering.

                  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
                  made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                  statement;

         (i)      To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
                  the Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
                  the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
                  recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
                  or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                  information set forth in the registration statement;

         (iii)    To include any material information with respect to the plan
                  of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
                  statement or any material change to such information in the
                  registration statement;

         provided, however, that paragraphs (a) (1) (i) and (a) (1) (ii) do not
apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

                                        4


<PAGE>   5




         (b)      Filings incorporating subsequent Exchange Act documents by
                  reference.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (c)      Request for acceleration of effectiveness or filing of
                  registration statement on Form S-8.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                        5


<PAGE>   6



                                   SIGNATURES

         The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8, and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minnetonka,
State of Minnesota, on this 3rd day of July, 1996.

                                  IN HOME HEALTH, INC.

                                  By:      *
                                      ------------------------
                                      Mark Gildea,
                                      Chief Executive Officer

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature                         Title                           Date
- ---------                         -----                           ----
   
*                                                                 July 3, 1996
- -----------------------------     Chief Executive Officer
Mark L. Gildea                    and Director
                                  (Principal Executive Officer)

*                                 President and                   July 3, 1996
- -----------------------------     Director                        
Judy M. Figge                     


*
- -----------------------------     Executive Vice President,       July 3, 1996
Kenneth J. Figge                  Chief Financial Officer,

                                  Secretary, and Director
                                  (Principal Financial Officer)

                                        6


<PAGE>   7




*                                                                July 2, 1996
- -----------------------------   Director
James J. Lynn



*                                                                July 2, 1996
- -----------------------------   Director
Joseph Buckley



*                                                                July 2, 1996
- -----------------------------   Director
Donald C. Tom

/s/ James H. Rempe              Director                         July 2, 1996
- -----------------------------
James H. Rempe

* By: /s/ James H. Rempe
      -----------------------
      James H. Rempe
      Attorney-in-fact

                                        7


<PAGE>   8






                                 EXHIBITS INDEX

                                                                SEQUENTIAL
EXHIBIT  NO.                        DESCRIPTION                 PAGE NO.
- ------------                        -----------                 ----------

 4            In Home Health, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan           9

 5            Opinion regarding legality of shares                 21
              to be offered.

 23(i)        Consent of Deloitte & Touche, L.L.P.                 22

 23(ii)       Consent of James H. Rempe, Esq.
              (included in Exhibit 5)

 24           Powers of Attorney authorizing execution of
              registration statement of Form S-8 on behalf
              of certain directors of Registrant.                  23

            
                                             8
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14822}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "IN HOME HEALTH INC /MN/", "cik": "0000818645", "assigned-sic": "8082", "irs-number": "411458213", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-07511", "film-number": "96590815"}, "business-address": {"street1": "601 LAKESHORE PKWY STE 500", "street2": "CARLSON CENTER", "city": "MINNETONKA", "state": "MN", "zip": "55343-3837", "phone": "6124497500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "601 LAKESHORE PKWY", "street2": "STE 500", "city": "MINNETONKA", "state": "MN", "zip": "55305"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "IN HOME HEALTH INC", "date-changed": "19880803"}}
1
             As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                                 July 3, 1996.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO._______________
********************************************************************************

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              IN HOME HEALTH, INC.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

         Minnesota                                    41-1458213
(State or other jurisdiction                         (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                    Identification No.)

601 Lakeshore Parkway, Suite 500
Minnetonka, Minnesota                                55305
(Address of Principal                                (Zip Code)
Executive Offices)

                              IN HOME HEALTH, INC.
                             1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                  Robert Horner
                              In Home Health, Inc.
                        601 Lakeshore Parkway, Suite 500
                              Minnetonka, MN 55305
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (612) 449-7500
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
********************************************************************************
                                      Proposed       Proposed
Title of                              Maximum        Maximum       Amount
Each Class of        Amount           Offering       Aggregate     Of
Securities           To Be            Price Per      Offering      Registration
To Be Registered     Registered       Share*         Price*        Fee*
- ----------------     ----------       ------         ------        ----

Common Stock,        1,300,000 Shs.      $2.16       $2,808,000    $ 968.28
par value of $.01
per share

********************************************************************************
(*)      Estimated pursuant to Rule 457 solely for the purpose of calculating
         the registration fee. Estimate based on the average of the high and low
         share prices for the Company's Common Stock on June 28, 1996, as
         reported on the NASDAQ National Market System.
2

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         Except as set forth below with respect to Items 4, 7, 8 and 9 of Form
S-8, the contents of the registration statements on Registrant's Annual Report
and Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 1995 containing audited
financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1995, Form 10-Q for
the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996, and the
description of the Registrant's common stock appearing in the Registrant's
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 to Form S-1 effective August 28, 1991
(File Nos. 33-35424 and 33-36572).

         All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the
completion or termination of this offering of shares of Common Stock shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4.           Description of Securities.  Not Applicable.

Item 6.           Indemnification of Officers and Directors.

         The Registrant's Articles provide that no director of the Registrant
shall personally be liable to the Registrant or its shareholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty by such director as a director; provided,
however, that such provision in the Registrant's Articles shall not eliminate or
limit the liability of the director to the extent provided by applicable law (i)
for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its
shareholders, (ii) for acts of misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii)
under Sections 302A.559 (liability of directors for illegal distribution) and
80A.23 (liability for violations of state securities laws) of the Minnesota
Statutes, (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit, or (v) for any act or omission occurring prior to the date
when such provision of the Registrant's Articles became effective. The
Registrant's Articles further provide that if the Minnesota Business Corporation
Act is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the
personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the
Registrant shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the
Minnesota Business Corporation Act as so amended.

                                        2
3

         Minnesota state law provides for indemnification of the Registrant's
officers, directors, employees and agents. Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota
Statutes requires, among other things, the indemnification of persons made or
threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of acts or omissions
performed in their official capacity as an officer. director, employee or agent
of the corporation against judgments, penalties and fines (including attorneys'
fees) if such person is not otherwise indemnified, acted in good faith, received
no improper benefits, reasonably believed that such conduct was in the best
interests of the corporation, and, in the case of criminal proceedings, had no
reason to believe the conduct was unlawful. In addition, Section 302A.521,
subdivision 3, of the Minnesota Statutes requires payment by the corporation,
upon written request, of reasonable expenses made in advance of final
disposition in certain instances if a decision as to required indemnification is
made by a disinterested majority of the Board of Directors present at a meeting
at which a disinterested quorum is present, or by a designated committee of the
Board, by special legal counsel, by the shareholders, or by a court.

         The Registrant has insurance coverage totaling $10,000,000 per year
which provides reimbursement in the event it is required to pay out amounts for
costs of defense, settlements and judgments pursuant to the obligation to
indemnify its officers and directors.

Item 7.           Exemptions from Registration Claimed.  None.

Item 8.           Exhibits.

4                 In Home Health, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan

5                 Opinion regarding legality of shares to be offered.

23(i)             Consent of Deloitte S. Touche, L.L.P.

23(ii)            Consent of James H. Rempe, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5)

24                Powers of Attorney authorizing execution of registration
                  statement of Form S-8 on behalf of certain directors of
                  Registrant.

                                        3
4

Item 9.           Undertaking.

                  (a)      Rule 415 Offering.

                  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
                  made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                  statement;

         (i)      To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
                  the Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
                  the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
                  recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
                  or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                  information set forth in the registration statement;

         (iii)    To include any material information with respect to the plan
                  of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
                  statement or any material change to such information in the
                  registration statement;

         provided, however, that paragraphs (a) (1) (i) and (a) (1) (ii) do not
apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

                                        4
5

         (b)      Filings incorporating subsequent Exchange Act documents by
                  reference.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (c)      Request for acceleration of effectiveness or filing of
                  registration statement on Form S-8.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                        5
6

                                   SIGNATURES

         The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8, and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minnetonka,
State of Minnesota, on this 3rd day of July, 1996.

                                  IN HOME HEALTH, INC.

                                  By:      *
                                      ------------------------
                                      Mark Gildea,
                                      Chief Executive Officer

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature                         Title                           Date
- ---------                         -----                           ----
   
*                                                                 July 3, 1996
- -----------------------------     Chief Executive Officer
Mark L. Gildea                    and Director
                                  (Principal Executive Officer)

*                                 President and                   July 3, 1996
- -----------------------------     Director                        
Judy M. Figge                     

*
- -----------------------------     Executive Vice President,       July 3, 1996
Kenneth J. Figge                  Chief Financial Officer,

                                  Secretary, and Director
                                  (Principal Financial Officer)

                                        6
7

*                                                                July 2, 1996
- -----------------------------   Director
James J. Lynn

*                                                                July 2, 1996
- -----------------------------   Director
Joseph Buckley

*                                                                July 2, 1996
- -----------------------------   Director
Donald C. Tom

/s/ James H. Rempe              Director                         July 2, 1996
- -----------------------------
James H. Rempe

* By: /s/ James H. Rempe
      -----------------------
      James H. Rempe
      Attorney-in-fact

                                        7
8

                                 EXHIBITS INDEX

                                                                SEQUENTIAL
EXHIBIT  NO.                        DESCRIPTION                 PAGE NO.
- ------------                        -----------                 ----------

 4            In Home Health, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan           9

 5            Opinion regarding legality of shares                 21
              to be offered.

 23(i)        Consent of Deloitte & Touche, L.L.P.                 22

 23(ii)       Consent of James H. Rempe, Esq.
              (included in Exhibit 5)

 24           Powers of Attorney authorizing execution of
              registration statement of Form S-8 on behalf
              of certain directors of Registrant.                  23

            
                                             8