Long-Term Care
Insurance: Additional Long-Term Care Environments
In addition to the family home, assisted living communities, and
nursing homes, there are several other environments where long-term
care services can be received:
Adult Day Centers
Adult day centers provide people with a
safe,
supportive, supervised place to stay during the day while their
informal caregivers are at work or taking a much needed respite.
These centers allow people to get out and
interact socially, making them more likely to pay attention to their
personal care, focus more on outside events, and spend less time
focusing on their disabilities.
Most adult day centers provide
well-balanced meals and a variety of recreational activities.
Senior Centers
Senior centers are defined as places where
older
adults can come together for services and activities that reflect their
experience and skills, respond to their diverse needs and interests,
enhance their dignity, and support their independence.
Typical Services include:
• Health
and wellness programs
• Meals
and nutrition
•
Education in arts and humanities
• Transportation
• Leisure travel
•
Information and Referrals
By using a combination of adult day centers
and
the services provided by senior centers, thousands of people are able
to significantly extend the time they are able to stay in their home
environment.
Board and Care Homes
Board and care homes are private dwellings
where
a family or group provides care for a limited number of people with
disabilities. The typical number of residents is 2 to 10.
For a home-like environment, care provided
by
familiar faces, and relatively low cost, these homes can be a good
solution for people who need simple assistance, such as help with meal
preparation, medication monitoring, and personal care.
Since the federal government does not
certify board and care homes,the quality of care provided in these
homes can vary widely.
Continuing Care Retirement
Communities
Continuing Care
Communities (CCRC's) have
a high price tag, but they offer an excellent approach to aging in
place for those who can afford the fees.
CCRC's are able to accomodate the full
spectrum
of long-term care needs on the same campus and within the same
community. A resident may begin their stay in an apartment designed for
active, independent living. If their health declines, they may move
into assisted living in the same community. If their health continues
to decline, the community may offer skilled nursing facilities.
The up-front fees for CCRC's range from
$20,000
to $400,000. Once you pay that lump-sum, you still face monthly rent
and fees that rival the costs of assisted living communities
Alzheimer's Facilities
Individuals who suffer
from Alzheimer's
Disease can require care for 8 years or longer, the longest average
duration of long-term care services.
Finding and receiving specialized care can
be
difficult because people with Alzheimer's Disease have a different set
of needs than those with simpler age-related health
conditions. In addition to assistance with ADL's, they require ongoing
social stimulation and close supervision.
Alzheimer's facilities are very similar to
assisted living communities but are designed with smaller spaces to
accommodate multiple activities. The hallways are designed in a
circular fashion, and in many cases, the resident's doors are color
coded.
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