Long term care is a variety of services which help meet the needs of people with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Long term care can be provided at home, in the community, or in institutional settings such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
Services may include personal care, homemaking, meals, transportation, and social activities.
Long term care is generally not covered by health insurance or Medicare, and can be quite expensive.
There are a number of ways to pay for long term care, including private insurance, government programs, and self-payment. Long term care costs can vary widely depending on the type and level of care required.
What Are The Different Types Of Long Term Care?
The different types of long term care include:
- Home care: Home care services are provided in the home and can include personal care, homemaking, and other services.
- Community-based care: Community-based care includes services such as adult day care, transportation, and social activities.
- Facility-based care: Facility-based care is provided in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or other type of long term care facility.
What Are The Different Levels Of Long Term Care?
The different levels of long term care include:
- skilled care: Skilled care is provided by licensed professionals such as nurses, therapists, and social workers.
- intermediate care: Intermediate care is provided by paraprofessionals such as aides and home health aides.
- custodial care: Custodial care is non-medical care that helps with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
What Are The Different Types Of Long Term Care Facilities?
The different types of long term care facilities include:
- nursing homes: Nursing homes provide skilled care, intermediate care, and custodial care for residents who are unable to live independently.
- assisted living facilities: Assisted living facilities provide custodial care and some skilled care for residents who are unable to live independently.
- adult day care centers: Adult day care centers provide a place for adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities to receive custodial care during the day.
- home health agencies: Home health agencies provide skilled care and some custodial care for people who are unable to live independently.
- hospices: Hospices provide end-of-life care for people who are terminally ill.
What Determines Long Term Care?
There are a number of factors that will determine whether or not you will need long term care. These include:
Your age: The older you are, the more likely you are to need long term care.
Your health: If you have a chronic illness or disability, you may need long term care.
Your care needs: If you need a lot of help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating, you may be more likely to need long term care.
Your lifestyle: If you live a lifestyle that is unhealthy, you may be more likely to need long term care. For example, if you smoke or if you are obese, you may be more likely to develop health problems that require long term care.
Your living situation: If you live alone or if you have no family nearby, you may be more likely to need long term care. This is because you may not have anyone to help you with your care.
Your family history: If your family has a history of chronic illnesses or disabilities, you may be more likely to need long term care.
Your family situation: If you do not have family or friends who can help you, you may be more likely to need long term care. This is because you may not have anyone to help you with activities of daily living.
Your housing situation: If you do not have a safe and accessible home, you may be more likely to need long term care. This is because you may not be able to take care of yourself if your home is not safe or accessible.
Your financial situation: If you have a limited income or assets, you may be more likely to need long term care.
Your insurance coverage: If you have long term care insurance, you may be less likely to need long term care. Some private insurance policies cover long term care, but most do not.
Long term care can be expensive: The average cost of a private room in a nursing home is more than $87,000 per year . The average cost of an assisted living facility is more than $39,000 per year. The average cost of home health care is more than $21 per hour .
How well you function: If you have trouble with activities of daily living, such as dressing or bathing, you may be more likely to need long term care.
Your lifestyle: If you have a lifestyle that includes risky behaviors, such as smoking or not exercising, you may be more likely to need long term care.