What is Long Term Care?
Long-term care refers to a variety of services and supports that help you with health or personal care needs over an extended period of time. You may need long-term care if you develop a prolonged or chronic illness, or sustain a serious injury or disability. Long term care may also be needed if you develop a cognitive impairment that causes memory loss or disorientation, such as Alzheimer's or even if you just need assistance due to the normal frailties of aging.
Health care versus Long term care
There is a difference between traditional health-care services and long-term care services. Health-care services focus on the prevention and treatment of medical conditions. Long-term care services are designed to help you maintain your current lifestyle as much as possible at a time when you may not be able to be fully independent.
There Are Several Types of Long Term Care
The type of care you receive can vary depending on your particular need. "Skilled care" refers to care given by medical personnel, such as a registered nurse or professional therapist. It requires a physician prescribed plan of care. "Personal Care" focuses on helping with your activities of daily living. It is less involved and may be provided by trained professionals or even a family member.
It Isn't Just for the Elderly.
Most of us think of long-term care as being only for the elderly and those in nursing homes, but that's only part of the story. Forty percent of people currently receiving long-term care services are adults aged 64 and under. And, most people receive long-term care services either in their own home or in the home of a family member--not in a nursing home.
Anyone could need help with everyday routines.
The fact is, anyone at any age may need long-term care at some point in their life. If you sustain an extensive injury or go through a prolonged illness, you may need help with your normal daily activities (ADL) such as bathing, getting dressed, or just getting around the house. If you become cognitively impaired, you may need help with meal preparation and eating, reminders to take medications or other kinds of support.
Although these everyday activities may seem mundane, they are essential to maintaining your independence. Your ability or inability to perform these regular activities of daily living give long-term care professionals a very practical measure to use when deciding if you need long-term care. Activities of daily living often referred to as ADLs, include such regular activities as bathing, dressing, using the toilet, transferring to or from the bed or a chair, caring for incontinence, and eating.