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What is Long Term Care?
Levels of Long Term Care
Types of Long Term Care
What is Long Term Care?
Long term care is assistance provided to a person who experiences a chronic
debilitating illness or injury which makes it difficult or impossible for that
individual to care for themselves. It can also be a result of growing older and
becoming frail which may last for months, years, or even the remainder of a persons
life.
Long term care also consists of various services aimed at helping people with
chronic conditions compensate for limitations in their ability to function independently.
These conditions are commonly referred to as activities of daily living or ADL'S.
Presently, there are seven ADL'S which include bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, continence, ambulating and transferring. Also, cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's Disease, Senile Dementia or Parkinson's Disease, can inhibit a persons ability to perform ADL'S.
Simply Stated, Long Term Care Is:
Support for people who need care or help with activities essential to daily living.
Custodial, intermediate, skilled care, not acute care.
Not just care in a facility, but also:
Home care
Assisted living care
Adult day care
Respite care
Hospice care
Different Levels of Long Term Care
Skilled Care
Intermediate Care
Custodial Care
Skilled Care
Medically necessary
Provided continuously, day in and day out
Provided by licensed medical professionals, doctors, nurses, therapists, working
under orders or direct supervision of a physician
Intermediate Care
Nursing and rehabilitative services
Provided intermittently, not necessarily on a continuous or daily basis
Provided by licensed medical personnel such as nurses and therapists and non-professionals such as aides
Custodial Care
(Most common level of care at home and in a facility)
Assistance care primarily to meet needs essential to (ADL'S), such as continence,
dressing, eating, toileting and transferring. Licensed medical professionals are
not required.
Types of Long Term Care
1. NURSING HOME
Means a facility that is licensed by the state in which it is located; or if not
licensed in the state in which it is located, meets the following standards:
A. It is a separate facility or a distinct part of another facility physically
separated from the rest of such facility;
B. It provides Confined Nursing Care to individuals who are not able to care
for themselves and who require nursing care; and
C. Its primary function is to provide nursing care, and room and board; and
the facility charges for these services. The care must be performed under the
direction of a licensed physician, or registered graduate professional nurse (RN),
or licensed practical nurse (LPN).
2. HOME HEALTH CARE
Home health care refers to services provided in the home. These services may include
personal care, skilled nursing care, speech therapy, social services or the services
of a home health aide. Care can be provided several times a day, a week…or
as often as needed.
3. ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
Assisted living is a middle-ground for persons who need daily assistance, but
don't need full-time skilled nursing care. Assisted living facilities provide
varying levels of personalized care delivered in a homelike setting. Examples
are licensed rest home and adult foster care facilities.
4. ADULT DAY CARE
Adult day care refers to daytime programs for adults that may include a variety
of social, medical and personal services. Adult day care centers may be operated
by hospitals, nursing homes, local governments, religious or other civic groups.
For many caregivers who must work during the day, but want to keep a family member
at home, adult day care can be very helpful.
5. RESPITE CARE
Respite care provides family caregivers relief, or respite. Respite care allows
the caregiver to have some time off by paying for temporary, formal care services
in an approved facility.
Please contact us for free professional consultation services available
through our agency.
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