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Long
Term Care
WHAT IS IT?
Needing
help with the activities of daily living (ADL) such
as bathing, continence, dressing, eating, toileting,
and transferring is known as long term care.
Cognitive
impairment such as dementia or Alzheimers is also
included. (You might be capable of doing the activities
of daily living, but forget to turn the stove off
or do not remember where you live). Long term care
insurance will help with alternatives so that you
can live with dignity should this occur.
The
type of care described above, ADL's, are often referred
to as non-skilled/custodial care. They can be the
result of physical injury, illness, old age or mental
impairment.
Long
term care can be received in the following places:
Nursing
Home - Offers 24-hour care. There are optional
private rooms but the semiprivate rooms are the
majority. Nursing homes are required to have at
least one registered nurse on duty.
Home
Health Care - A home health care provider visits
your home for a few hours or up to 24 hours per
day to help with the activities of daily living.
(FOR
EXAMPLE: Betty could walk when she came home from
physical therapy. However, she could not bathe or
dress herself. If insured for long term care, she
could have home health aids visit each day to shower
her and dress her. This would help Betty to stay
home and stay out of a nursing home).
Assisted
Living - Assisted living facilities are for
people who need minor assistance with the activities
of daily living. These facilities are an alternative
to a nursing home and provide many activities for
the residents. Residents have their own apartment
settings.
Adult
Day Care - These facilities are for people whom
have caregivers at home. Adult day care provides
a place where people can be cared for while the
primary caregiver goes to work or needs to attend
to personal matters. This option also helps to keep
you out of a nursing home.
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