What is Long-term Care

If you or a loved one are exploring care options, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions regarding long-term care.

What is Long-term Care?

Long-term care is an umbrella term for medical and non-medical services designed to meet a person’s needs when they can no longer perform everyday activities of daily living for long periods. Based on your priorities, lifestyle, and needs, there are many options for where you can receive long-term care:

• Continuing Care at Home: If you want to continue living in your own home but need support, you can receive home services.
• Adult Day Centers: If you live with family or friends who cannot support your long-term care during the day, you can attend these centers for an engaged lifestyle.
• Subsidized Senior Housing: If you want to live in an apartment and receive a low or moderate income, this federal program supports older adults needing long-term care.
• Residential Care Facilities: If you want to live with others in a smaller setting, these group homes act as a senior living community with many of the services you’d receive.
• Senior Living Communities: If you want to enjoy social living while receiving quality care, these communities can exist as purely assisted living facilities or in conjunction with independent living options. There are also usually apartments, condos, or patio homes available to choose from.
• Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC): If you want to experience a thriving lifestyle in every stage of life and never have to move as your needs change, this is the perfect option for you.
• Skilled Nursing and Therapy: If your condition is temporary or one that will improve over time, attending skilled nursing, therapy, or a rehabilitation center may be the best route.

Who is Eligible for Long-term Care?

Those who benefit from long-term care are patients who:

• Have dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other cognitive impairments that impact quality of life.
• Need assistance managing medications or medical appointments.
• Have long-term or temporary disabilities or physical impairments that affect mobility or the ability to manage basic activities of daily living.
• Have complex medical needs that require intense medical care or monitoring.
• Have difficulty managing household tasks like cooking, cleaning, paying bills, and grocery shopping.

What Services Does Long-term Care Provide?

Some Medicare and Medicaid plans can cover different services in senior living, so review your plan to see how long-term care may be covered. There are a variety of services you can receive in long-term care:

• Home care, including housekeeping, laundry, shopping, meal prep, and transportation
• Skilled nursing and therapy
• Nutritional care that supports specialized diets
• Personal care assistance, including hygiene, dressing, eating, and mobility
• Medication management and use of medical and adaptive equipment
• Memory care

When is it Time for Long-term Care?

Once unexpected medical events, accidents, and decline in health affect your ability to live independently, it’s time to consider long-term care. Everyone’s needs are different, which means the length of long-term care is, too. Some people may need long-term care indefinitely, while others may only need it for a short period of time as they recover from life-altering experiences.

Questions to Ask in a Long-term Care Facility

Every organization operates a little differently, so when you’re touring long-term care facilities, be sure to ask questions like:

• Who does the laundry?
• Can we bring furniture from home?
• What are the visiting hours?
• Can patients use their own doctor?
• What does Medicare or Medicaid cover?
• Are patients allowed to leave with family for the day?
• Are pets allowed?
• If patients can still drive, are they allowed to go out?
• How does your staff accommodate special diets?
• Can couples stay in the same room?
• What is included in the room and board?

Explore all the ways you can make the most of retirement in our ebook, Lifestyle Opportunities in Senior Living Communities!

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring you feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.