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Long Term Care includes a wide range of medical and support services for
people with degenerative conditions (e.g. Parkinson's, stroke, etc.),
care required during a prolonged illness such as (cancer) or cognitive
disorders such as (Alzheimer's).
Long Term Care is not necessarily medical care but rather "custodial
care." Custodial care involves providing an individual assistance with
what is called Activities of Daily Living or supervision of someone who
is cognitively impaired.
It may be helpful in understanding Long Term Care if you think of the
normally routine activities that you performed as you started your day
this morning. You probably:
- Climbed out of bed
- Walked to the bathroom
- Used the toilet
- Used the bath or shower
- Got dressed
- Ate breakfast
It is easy and natural to take for granted these Activities of Daily
Living (ADL's) before a chronic illness strikes or an sudden accident
changes how we have to handle our lives. Thousands of people are
discovering every day that, when you or a loved one is stricken with a
degenerative condition such as a stroke or Alzheimer's, performing these
ADL's becomes impossible without the assistance of another person.
This is the type of care that we are discussing when we talk about Long
Term Care. In a very real sense this is the same type of care that a
parent provides for their new baby. This type of care is chronic
(full-time) and as a result becomes very expensive. The settings in which
Long Term Care can be provided include nursing homes, your own home, the
home of a relative or friend, assisted living facilities and adult day
care.
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Long-Term Care
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Supplement
