Many families face the difficult decision of placing a loved one in the care of others. While this transition can be challenging, understanding your long term care options can make this decision easier.
According to the National Institute on Aging, the purpose of long term care is:
“… to meet a person’s health or personal care needs during a short or long period of time. These services help people live as independently and safely as possible when they can no longer perform everyday activities on their own.”
Long term care providers serve patients by acting as rehabilitation centers, medical support, and, most importantly, home.
Common Types of Long Term Care
- Independent Living Communities: These communities are designed exclusively for older adults. These communities usually include an apartment or condominium-style complex with amenities like fitness centers, swimming pools, daily meals, and basic housekeeping.
- Assisted Living Communities: Residents have increased supervision in a home-like setting. Assisted living communities provide health care and assisted living services (like assistance bathing, cleaning and eating) in addition to social and recreational activities.
- Nursing Homes: These skilled nursing centers provide care for individuals who need constant care, including rehabilitation or complex medical needs. Nursing homes provide meals, more intense medical care, supervision and activities for residents.
- Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: These facilities provide ongoing evaluation, planning, 24-hour supervision, coordination and integration of health or rehabilitative services to help each individual with a disability function at their greatest ability in a protected residential setting.
Long Term Care Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
See above for an explanation of the different types of long term care and facts about the industry.
Frequently, long term care is needed when an individual has serious, ongoing health conditions or disabilities. Long term care facilities provide quality care for chronic and traumatic health issues while giving families peace of mind that their loved one is cared for.
No. Long term care facilities serve a variety of patients, including those in need of rehabilitation after a hospital stay. Some long term facilities serve individuals with specific needs such as those living with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, those who need physical, occupational or speech therapy, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Use our Care Finder to search for facilities that accommodate varying needs.
Long term care staff deliver personalized, custom care to residents. Over the past 40 years, nursing homes have advanced to provide care that is tailored to patients’ individual needs.
Dedicated long term care staff are working hard to keep residents safe during the pandemic, following guidance issued by federal and state public health officials, including upholding strong infection control policies. See some of the ways staff protect long term care patients here.
In addition to protecting residents’ physical health, long term care facilities are prioritizing patients’ mental health during COVID-19 by finding innovative ways to entertain and connect residents with loved ones. These stories show how communities are coming together to make residents smile.
