Long-Term Care Insurance: The Continuum of Long-Term Care

For example, older people experiencing the frailties of aging may first require only a minimal amount of assistance in their home for a few hours each week.

If the condition worsens and they experience problems with maintaining their balance, taking medications, or loss of memory, a move to an assisted living community may be the next step on the continuum of care.

Unless the condition worsens, or a terminal illness develops, the need for more comprehensive care in a nursing home will probably never be required. Owning long-term care insurance will lower your odds of ever needing to receive care in a nursing home care.

Where is Long-Term Care Received?

The severity of the condition and the level of care required will dictate the environment in which a person's care can be safely and adequately received. The 3 main environments are:

Home

The preferred environment for receiving long-term care is and always has been the family home, which is where the continuum of care begins.

Although the lower cost of home care is an obvious factor in the decision to receive care at home, most people who can afford to pay for institutional care will still remain at home for as long as possible.

Medical advances and training have made home care even more practical by allowing home care providers to administer an ever-expanding array of services in a person's own home.

Not surprisingly, the home care benefit of an LTC insurance policy has been cited as one of the most important reasons for owning LTC insurance. These benefits relieve the family from having to perform the exhausting physical caregiving tasks, allowing them to be more involved in the emotional well-being of the person needing care.

Assisted Living Communities

Assisted Living is the fastest growing type of care setting because it meets the needs of people who cannot make it entirely on their own, but do not need or want the skilled nursing care and institutional environment of a nursing home.

The Assisted Living Federation of America defines an assisted living residence as "a combination of housing, personalized support services, and health care, designed to meet the needs of those who need help with the activities of daily living.

Assisted living communities typically offer the following services:

• Three meals a day in a common dining room

• Housekeeping services                                                                                       

• Assistance with such activities as eating, bathing, and dressing

• Transportation

• 24-hour security and staff

• Emergency call systems in each room

• Social and recreational services

The term assisted living covers a variety of settings, which can range from remodeled Victorians to high-rise apartments.

The typical residence has from25 to 120 units, which may vary in size from single rooms to full-size apartments. Accommodations cover the spectrum from luxurious to spartan, with fees to match.

Assisted living is paid for with private dollars- either out-of-pocket, or through benefits from a long-term care insurance policy.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are the last stop on the continuum of long-term care for 2 reasons:

1. Most people will only go into a nursing home as a last resort

2. By planning ahead for long-term care, it's very unlikely that you will need to enter a nursing home for an extended period of time.

Nursing homes are designed to provide mostly medical care to severely physically and cognitively disabled patients during their declining months or years.

As with any type of long-term care services, the quality of care can vary widely from one nursing home to the next. Unfortunately, the quality of care is often determined by the ability to pay.

Private pay patients are assured bed availability and quality care in the facility of their choice. This may not be the case if Medicaid is paying for the care.

There are other environments in addition to the three above where long-term care can be received.

By planning ahead long before there is a need for care, you and your family will have more control over your long-term care delivery options and the quality of care you receive.