Long Term Care Basics

When a person requires someone else to help him with his physical or emotional needs over an extended period of time, this is long-term care. This help may be required for many of the activities or needs that healthy, active people take for granted and may include such things as:

* Walking
* Bathing
* Dressing
* Using the bathroom
* Helping with incontinence
* Managing Pain
* Preventing unsafe behavior
* Preventing wandering
* Providing comfort and assurance
* Providing physical or occupational therapy
* Attending to medical needs
* Counseling
* Feeding
* Answering the phone
* Meeting doctors' appointments
* Providing meals
* Maintaining the household
* Shopping and running errands
* Providing transportation
* Administering medications
* Managing money
* Paying bills
* Doing the laundry
* Attending to personal hygiene
* Helping with personal grooming
* Writing letters or notes
* Making repairs to the home
* Maintaining a yard
* Removing snow

The need for long-term care help might be due to a terminal condition, disability, illness, injury or the infirmity of old age. Estimates by experts are that at least 60% of all individuals will need extended help in one or more of the areas above during their lifetime. The need for long-term care may only last for a few weeks or months or it may go on for years. It all depends on the underlying reasons for needing care.

Long-term care services may be provided in any of the following settings:

* In the home of the recipient
* In the home of a family member or friend of the recipient
* At an adult day services location
* In an assisted living facility or board-and-care home
* In a hospice facility
* In a nursing home