What Is Long Term Care?
Long term care services help you perform the activities of daily living when you are unable to care for yourself.
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Long Term Care refers to the full range of services and assistance you can receive when you are unable to take care of yourself due to an illness, accident, a cognitive impairment or the effects of aging.
Long Term Care is different from acute or recovery care. For example, in the event of an acute or short term medical condition such as a hip replacement, medical care typically begins with a hospital stay. If the patient needs further care during a period of recovery, they usually move to a rehabilitation hospital or could receive skilled nursing care at home. Rehabilitative care services like these are usually paid for by Medicare or private-pay medical insurance, but for only limited time or while the patient is continuing to recover. It is when the condition becomes chronic that “custodial” Long Term Care becomes necessary, and the need for care can last for years. How LTC Services Are Provided
Many people think of Long Term Care as being in a nursing home, however most Long Term Care services are provided in the home or community. The “Continuum of Care” as it is sometimes referred to, encompasses the variety of Long Term Care services and the places in which they can take place. The first level of care is often provided by family and friends, however their assistance is not always available or adequate depending on the degree of care needed. Beyond family and friends, professional care can be described in four categories: Home Health Care Receiving care in the home is usually the preferred location. Not only is it familiar and therapeutic for the patient, but it supports the emotional well-being of the family. 70% of the LTC benefits paid by private Long Term Care insurance are for care provided in the home, and one of the main benefits of personal LTC insurance. Home Health Care Providers can be: |
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Custodial or Informal Caregivers - which can include Home Health Aides, Personal Care Attendants or Nursing Assistants. They take care of many of the personal and home maintenance functions including hygiene, cooking and cleaning, and can assist with the activities of daily living.
Skilled Caregivers – which can include Registered Nurses, and Speech and Physical Therapists. These professionals perform only their specific services such as administering medications, monitoring medical conditions and therapy.
Adult Day Care
When care is being provided at home informally by family and friends, they often have work or other responsibilities that require their attention during the day. Adult Day Care Centers provide a safe, professional environment where the long term care recipient can be taken to receive their required care and supervision, while also enjoying social interaction with their peers.
Assisted Living Facilities
With some variations, Assisted Living Facilities are residential apartment or condominium environments where those needing some care, but who for the most part are still able to live on their own, can reside. They allow people to maintain their independence to the extent they can, while having the care services and assistance they require readily available.
Nursing Facilities
When the level of care that is needed becomes greater than can usually be delivered at home or from community based services, nursing facilities can provide the highest level of care required. Nursing facilities provide 24/7 skilled nursing, intermediate and custodial care and supervision
Long Term Care Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI) provides the money to pay for Long Term Care services when you need them. Medical insurance is intended to provide coverage for doctor visits, hospitalization and sometimes prescription medicines, and does not cover Long Term Care costs. Nor does Disability Income insurance, which is intended to replace most, but not all of your salary, when you are employed but off work due to an accident or illness and no longer receiving your paycheck. Long Term Care costs are above and beyond the normal living expenses that people budget for, can occur at any age and can last for years, and require specific insurance coverage to address.
Some LTCI policies can be chosen to only cover Home and Community based care, or to only cover Facility care, but most LTCI policies today provide comprehensive coverage. A comprehensive policy can pay for long term care costs through the entire “Continuum of Care”, and help people continue to receive their care at home for as long as possible.
Comprehensive LTCI helps people maintain their independence and freedom of choice over how and where they receive care. Comprehensive LTCI also allows people to protect their assets and retirement income from having to be spent on care, and helps prevent their need for care from becoming a financial, physical or emotional burden on their family.
Skilled Caregivers – which can include Registered Nurses, and Speech and Physical Therapists. These professionals perform only their specific services such as administering medications, monitoring medical conditions and therapy.
Adult Day Care
When care is being provided at home informally by family and friends, they often have work or other responsibilities that require their attention during the day. Adult Day Care Centers provide a safe, professional environment where the long term care recipient can be taken to receive their required care and supervision, while also enjoying social interaction with their peers.
Assisted Living Facilities
With some variations, Assisted Living Facilities are residential apartment or condominium environments where those needing some care, but who for the most part are still able to live on their own, can reside. They allow people to maintain their independence to the extent they can, while having the care services and assistance they require readily available.
Nursing Facilities
When the level of care that is needed becomes greater than can usually be delivered at home or from community based services, nursing facilities can provide the highest level of care required. Nursing facilities provide 24/7 skilled nursing, intermediate and custodial care and supervision
Long Term Care Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI) provides the money to pay for Long Term Care services when you need them. Medical insurance is intended to provide coverage for doctor visits, hospitalization and sometimes prescription medicines, and does not cover Long Term Care costs. Nor does Disability Income insurance, which is intended to replace most, but not all of your salary, when you are employed but off work due to an accident or illness and no longer receiving your paycheck. Long Term Care costs are above and beyond the normal living expenses that people budget for, can occur at any age and can last for years, and require specific insurance coverage to address.
Some LTCI policies can be chosen to only cover Home and Community based care, or to only cover Facility care, but most LTCI policies today provide comprehensive coverage. A comprehensive policy can pay for long term care costs through the entire “Continuum of Care”, and help people continue to receive their care at home for as long as possible.
Comprehensive LTCI helps people maintain their independence and freedom of choice over how and where they receive care. Comprehensive LTCI also allows people to protect their assets and retirement income from having to be spent on care, and helps prevent their need for care from becoming a financial, physical or emotional burden on their family.