Services Typical Of Long-term Care

Roughly nine million Americans over 65 years old required long-term care services in 2010

. This number is expected to increase by 25% in 10 years.

Long-term care is the umbrella term for the support and services provided to individuals needing assistance taking care of personal or health related issues over an extended period of time. It is estimated that 7 in 10 seniors will need some form of long-term care over the course of their lives. Most of this care will take place at the individual's residence or in the home of a family member.

By receiving long-term care at home, seniors are able to retain a sense of freedom and independence they wouldn't have if living in a nursing facility. Friends and family often assist seniors living at home with activities such as bathing, dressing and house chores if needed. However, there are also a slew of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) providing additional assistance for seniors who desire to live independently as long as they are able.

These services include:

Senior Centers: These centers enhance the quality of life for older adults by providing a variety of recreational, social and educational services. Senior centers are often the gathering place in a given community for older adults. The range of services and activities provided by senior centers impart a sense of personal fulfillment and confidence in older adults that has been shown to prolong their ability to remain independent.

Meals Programs: These programs provide seniors with free or reduced cost nutrition-rich meals through home delivery or in community settings. Senior centers and other community settings with meal programs also offer seniors opportunities to socialize with others. Research shows these programs especially benefit seniors with low incomes, health problems or those with little access to nutritious food.

Personal Emergency Response System (PERS): Also known as a medical alarm system, PERS allow users to report situations that require urgent attention from a cordless device that can be worn on the body. While PERS features vary depending on the manufacturer, these systems typically consist of a base unit that connects to a user's home line and a pendant worn around the neck or wrist of the user. These senior medical alert pendants feature a button that activates the medical alert system when pressed. The system then immediately connects to a dispatcher, who assesses the situation to determine the action needs to be taken. Additionally, PERS base units feature sensitive two-way speakers; allowing users to communicate directly with a dispatcher if they are able.

These are just some of the several services associated with long-term care. For a more detailed explanation of long-term care, consult the Office on Aging in your state.

by: Christine Roberts

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