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Long-term care involves a
variety of services for people with a prolonged physical
illness, disability or cognitive disorder. Long-term
care is not one service, but various different services
aimed at helping people with chronic conditions
compensate for limitations in their ability to function
independently. Long-term care differs from traditional
medical care in that it is designed to assist a person
to maintain his or her level of functioning; traditional
medical care or service is designed to rehabilitate or
correct certain medical problems that the individual
experiences.
Types of Long-Term Care
Following are brief descriptions of the major types of
long-term care:
Nursing homes offer
care to people who cannot be cared for at home or in the
community. They provide skilled nursing, rehabilitation
services, meals, activities, assist with daily living,
and supervision. Many nursing homes also offer temporary
or periodic care.
Assisted living
provides 24-hour supervision, assistance, meals, and
health care services in a home-like setting. Services
include help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting,
medicine, transportation, laundry, and housekeeping.
Social and recreational activities also are provided.
Home care can be
given in your own home by family members, friends,
volunteers, or paid professionals. This type of care can
range from help with shopping to nursing care. Some
short-term, skilled home care (provided by a nurse or
therapist) is covered by Medicare and is called home
health care. Another type that can be given at home is
hospice care for terminally ill people.
Community services
are services that can include adult day care, meal
programs, senior centers, transportation, and other
services. These can help people who are cared for at
home-and their families. For example, adult day care
services provide a range of health, social, and related
support services in a protective setting during the day.
This can help adults with impairments such as
Alzheimer's disease continue to live in the community.
This can also provide a necessary break for those
friends or family members who provide majority of the
care and support for the individual.
Supportive housing
programs offer low-cost housing to older people
with low to moderate incomes. The Federal Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and State or local
governments often develop such housing programs. A
number of these facilities offer help with meals and
tasks such as housekeeping, shopping, and laundry.
Residents usually live on their own.
Continuing care retirement
communities (CCRC) provide a range of
services and care based on what each resident needs over
time. Care usually is provided in one of three main
stages: independent living, assisted living, and skilled
nursing, depending on the situation.
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