subject: Long Term Care Basics [print this page] You probably have heard a lot of bad news about long term care all over media sources. Long term care is one of the serious problems Americans are facing today. With simultaneous changes in the society plus the breakthrough in medicine and technology, many Americans expect longer life expectancy than before; however, this longer life span increases the demand for long term care services that are scarcely provided by families in todays society. Many of todays seniors are compelled to stay in nursing homes because their families are not willing to provide care, while others choose to remain alone for the fear of rejection and to lessen the burden they give to their families.
There are about nine million Americans over the age 65 require long term care services, and this figure will increase in the future. Since the demand for these services are high, the price for home care to institutional care has risen. Nationwide long term care costs averaged to about 75,000 dollars in 2010, and this cost will rise deliberately. Although most people with long term care needs are age 65 and older, anyone might require the same care at any age and time.
Long term care is required when you acquired illness or disability that prevents you from performing even the most basic activities of daily living. Cognitive illnesses such as Alzheimers or dementia also require assistance on daily activities that may drag on for a longer period.
Long term care covers broad range of services and support to help an individual cope with his or her health and personal needs. Often referred to as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), the following services are commonly offered:
Bathing
Dressing
Toileting
Moving around
walking
Eating
The goal of those services is to help you maintain your independence and dignified life, regardless of your incapacity and limitations of performing those activities.
How much care I need? Its hard to give the exact amount you need for your care, but the nationwide average is enough to assume that you will also pay exorbitant price like what others did. There are no two persons with exactly the same long term care needs, because the needs vary and change over time. You might prefer to receive care at home while others want it in nursing homes. Fortunately, long term care allows you to choose the setting you want home, nursing home, adult day care, community, and assisted living facility,
Why long term care changes over time? A persons health is very uncertain. If you have good health today, you might develop certain illness and failing health as you get older, causing you to add services and extend the time period for the care. Its important to anticipate all the possible scenarios that may happen in the future and create long term care plan.
