subject: Long Term Care, Its Types, Sources and Levels of Care [print this page] Long Term Care, Its Types, Sources and Levels of Care
The main objective of long term care is to guarantee the best possible quality of life to a person who is considered to be not capable enough of performing self-care. This need for long term care is influenced by the continuous change in both physical and mental capabilities of a person. And, the types of care required and the duration of such treatment is often difficult to foresee making it a challenging task for everyone when searching for a good LTC.
As the WHO Study Group defined it, long-term care is an integral part of health and social systems. It includes activities undertaken for people requiring care by informal caregivers, by formal caregivers, including professionals and auxiliaries, and by traditional caregivers and volunteers.
According to WHO, there are different types and sources of LTC, which includes institutional or home-based, formal or informal. Institutional or residential care is defined such treatment with three or more independent persons in one place. For home care, it can be provided only at home or in conjunction with a care-associated community. It includes foster care.
While formal care is financed and organized, but the services can be provided by non-governmental organizations, NGOs or private sector. Informal care, on the other hand, includes members of the nuclear and extended family, friends and volunteers, and support structured by charitable associations such as religious organizations.
Within the next coming years, dramatic changes in the course of health needs are expected to happen. As the numbers of elderly people increases year after year, there will also be a remarkable growth in the demand for LTC. Thus, choosing the level of appropriate care is vital as well. These levels of care come in three varieties skilled care, intermediate care, and sheltered care.
With Skilled Care, skilled nursing facilities provide outpatient treatment for 24 hours, including medical, nursing, dietetics, and pharmacy and rehabilitation services. It is considered closest to hospital care and if residents are proved eligible for this level of care, government programs like Medicare and Medicaid pay for the costs.
In Intermediate Care, intermediate care facilities to provide patient care for residents who need nursing supervision and supportive care, but that does not require continuous nursing care. Individuals with illnesses and relatively stable disabilities are eligible for this level of care and Medicaid helps pay for the expenses. And lastly, in Sheltered Care, a supervised setting is offered for people who need a protective environment. Residents in this level do not need nursing care, but need help with eating, dressing, walking, and personal care. Checkups and other medical services are provided as needed. However, Medicare and Medicaid both will not pay for this kind of care.
Preparing for LTC is not just merely a growing talk-of-the-town issue; it has become as a rising concern as well involving health care. Therefore, it is very important to know what exactly are the considerations and supporting factors behind long term care.
