Long-term care is a variety of services and supports to meet
health or personal care needs over an extended period of time. Most long term
care is non-skilled personal care assistance, such as help performing
everyday Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), which are:
- Bathing,
- Dressing,
- Using the toilet,
- Transferring (to or from bed or chair),
- Caring for incontinence, and
- Eating.
The goal of long term care services is to help you maximize your independence
and functioning at a time when you are unable to be fully independent.
Long-term care is needed when you have a chronic illness or disability
that causes you to need assistance with Activities of Daily Living. Your
illness or disability could include a problem with memory loss, confusion,
or disorientation. (This is called Cognitive Impairment and can result
from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.)
This year, about 9 million Americans over the age of 65 will need long term
care services. By 2020, that number will increase to 12 million. While
most people who need long term care are age 65 or older, a person can need
long term care services at any age. Forty (40) percent of people currently
receiving long term care are adults 18 to 64 years old.
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About 70 percent of individuals over age 65 will require at least some
type of long term care services during their lifetime. Over 40 percent
will need care in a nursing home for some period of time. Factors that
increase your risk of needing long term care are:
- Age - The risk generally increases as you get older.
- Marital Status - Single people are more likely to need care from a
paid provider.
- Gender - Women are at a higher risk than men, primarily because they
tend to live longer.
- Lifestyle - Poor diet and exercise habits can increase your risk.
- Health and Family History - also impact your risk.
It is difficult to predict how much or what type of care any one person
might need. On average, someone age 65 today will need some long term
care services for three years. Service and support needs vary from one
person to the next and often change over time. Women need care for longer
(on average 3.7 years) than do men (on average 2.2 years). While about
one-third of today's 65-year-olds may never need long term care services,
20 percent of them will need care for more than five years.
If you need long term care, you may need one or more of the following:
- Services at your home from a nurse, home health/home care
aide, therapist, or homemaker;
- Care in the community; and/or
- Care in any of a variety of long term facilities.
Generally you pay a provider for these services. But most people receiving
paid services in their home or community need to supplement these services
with help from family and friends.
Many people who need long term care develop the need for care
gradually. They may begin needing care only a few times a
week or one or two times a day, for example, help with bathing
or dressing. Care needs often progress as you age or as your
chronic illness or disability become more debilitating, causing
you to need care on a more continual basis, for example help
using the toilet or ongoing supervision because of a progressive
condition such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Some people need long term care in a facility for a relatively
short period of time while they are recovering from a sudden
illness or injury, and then may be able to be cared for at
home. Others may need long term care services on an on-going
basis, for example someone who is disabled from a severe stroke.
Some people may need to move to a nursing home or other type
of facility-based setting for more extensive care or supervision
if their needs can no longer be met at home.