U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services offers insights into Long Term Care:
Column by SUE HOFMANN
Consumers may hear many confusing statements regarding the topic of long term care, both published in the public domain and repeated by misinformed individuals. Over the next few weeks, I will be submitting a series of columns containing accurate information provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, website http://longtermcare.gov. I encourage you to watch for and read these informative columns.
The LTC Basics #5:
Where can you receive Long Term Care?
Most long term care is provided at home. Other kinds of long term care services and supports are provided by community service organizations and in long term care facilities.
Examples of home care services include:
- An unpaid caregiver who may be a family member or friend.
- A nurse, home health or home care aide, and/or therapist who comes to the home.
Community support services include:
- Adult day care service centers.
- Transportation services.
- Home care agencies that provide services on a daily basis or as needed.
Community support services often supplement the care you receive at home or provide time off for your family caregivers.
Outside the home, a variety of facility-based programs offer more options:
- Nursing homes provide the most comprehensive range of services, including nursing care and 24-hour supervision.
- Other facility-based choices include
- Assisted living, board and care homes, and continuing care retirement communities (CCRC). With these providers, the level of choice over who delivers your care varies by the type of facility. You may not get to choose who will deliver services, and you may have limited say in when they arrive.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, http://longtermcare.gov.
Sue Hofmann is an Agent and Long Term Care Professional (LTCP) at The Jemez Agency, http://www.thejemezagency.com, 2610 Trinity Dr, Los Alamos, and can be reached at sue@thejemezagency.com or 505 662 5181.
