Simply defined, long term care is when you are not able to take care of your basic daily needs.
A nurse or an assistant will need to come into your home and help you with everyday simple things.
You may require long term health care for the rest of your life or during your present condition due to illness, injury or aging. Such care affords you the
opportunity to live a life with a lot more ease, and this long term care review can help inform you about it.
Long term illness can happen to anyone anytime. While looking for the best long term care insurance, first look at why you would need long-term health care insurance. Ask yourself, "What would long term care do for me?"
LTC is not only for the aging but also for disabled and accident victims. Some people who are in a car accident
have physical injuries that disable them for life or for a period of time. Long-term acute care helps you get back to some normal living by being helped with your daily needs such as transportation to and from the doctor or physical therapy, food shopping and preparation, bathing. With a long term plan a family may be unburdened with the high costs of full time nursing.
Home health care is when a nurse, therapist or assistant comes into your home.
Respite care is when a person or family member takes care of a person if s/he needs periodic rest from everyday care for a short period of time.
An Assisted living residence or facility provides 24-hour care and combines assistance in healthcare, housing and supportive services to help you with your daily needs such as medication reminders, bathing, dressing, housework, meals balancing your checkbook (although I would prefer to have a trusted family member or friend attend to my finances).
You may have your own suite, small apartment or room or share your living quarters with a spouse or roommate. In some of the apartments you are able to cook meals and have one or two meals with the rest of the residents. Most places have
congregate living facilities such as a room where everyone comes to eat their meals or gather for group entertainment.
Unlike living at home alone, assisted living provides ongoing supervision of residents and is responsible for their well-being.
A nursing staff is on duty to help with limited personal daily needs.
A nursing home or a long care facility provides care to a person that is unable to stay at home or live on their own. They monitor your medical care as well as assist you with your personal care such as bathing, washing your clothes and making all your meals.
Hospice care is for the terminally ill who have less then 6 months to live. There are free standing hospice facilities as well as hospital rooms set aside just for this purpose.
Adult day care is provided by a community based center for adults who need assistance during the day. Adult day care will provide meals, companionship, supervision and personal care.
Skilled care or personal care are terms that are used for different types or level of care.
Skilled care is often preformed by nurses, therapists and other health professionals that monitor your care. Skilled care can be either at home or in a long term health care facility.
Personal care is given when you are not able to help yourself with daily activities or are limited to taking care of yourself. This would include bathing, dressing, shopping, transportation and eating.
Personal care is not skilled care and a personal care worker is known as a CNA, (Certified Nursing Assistant). A CNA long term care worker will not be able to perform the same tasks as a skilled nurse, professional therapist or health care professional.
After you (or a family member if you are unable to) discuss and have a plan for your long term care, your insurance company will permit you to hire the type of care you will need. To obtain even more information about your particular possibilities, get a free long term care insurance quote today.
For more definitions of terms look in our LTC glossary.
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