Helps The Elderly in Medical Care, Personal Activities, Social Life And Much More

As Americans are living longer than ever, supportive care has become more of a necessity for all activities as they age. Long-term care (LTC) provides the most beneficial services for families, pre-retirees, and retirees. LTC provides excellent quality services at house residences and institutional locations for adults from the age of 65 and older. These care plans assist aged individuals with medical care, personal activities, social life, and much more. The services include in-home care, nursing home, independent living, and assisted living facilities. Other plans include community service for adult day care, respite care, continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR), and palliative and hospice care. However, most of these services are not covered by Medicare so, individuals have to determine which one is best suited for them. In order to select the best LTC service, research is important to understand what is included and necessary.

Medicare protects the elderly by providing medical insurance and covering charges for most medical interventions in LTC. This federally funded health insurance plan is offered to adults from ages 65 and older as well as adults under the age of 65 that have a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease. Medicare Advantage plans vary depending on which plan is best suited for individuals’ needs. Medicare Part A and Part B do not cover the cost of most LTC services, however, is used by many individuals due to the low charges applied. Medicare C offers some community LTC services such as skilled nursing facilities. Medicare will not cover for non-medical related services such as in-home care, adult day care, personal care, and hospice care for individuals living longer than six months. Furthermore, medical-related services are only provided for a certain period of time. Overall, most LTC services are not covered by Medicare and must be out of pocket or by a private provider.

In home care provides services at home by caregivers, volunteers, or paid specialists. This care plan assists with all aspects of personal care thus, fulfilling the needs required for everyday living. Some services include meal preparation, transportation, house cleaning, reminders for medication, dressing, bathing, and grooming. There are two different subtypes of in-home care plans, non-clinical service with no medical concerns and clinical service for individuals with chronic medical conditions. Home health care is a clinical service for older adults that need care from skilled nurses, home health aides, and counselors for a short period of time. Also, it covers services that include physical and speech therapy. Non-clinical care is covered by personal expense, however, clinical services can be covered by Medicare depending on state regulations. Other coverage plans include private health insurance, donations and private pay. In-home care is a temporary service best suited for individuals with or without chronic health problems who are unable to leave or choose to stay in their own homes.

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The nursing home is provided for adults that need medical and personal care. These facilities are offered to individuals who are abandoned by loved ones or prefer to be surrounded by the company of others. The nursing homes are arranged with skilled nurses and volunteers who assist with medication reminders, meal plans, activities, therapy amenities and assistance with everyday living. Providing meal plans can help manage their diet and nutrition. Most elderly patients are on medications, thus implementing the importance of managing medication routines. Several nursing residences give short-term or periodic care in replacement for hospital care. Moreover, this decreases the cost of post-operation hospital care. Most nursing care homes are covered by Medicare. Furthermore, Nursing homes allow individuals to endure in social life and help build companionship amongst patients.

Assisted Living Facility

Assisted living facility is a 24-hour service. This living provision provides meals, assistance, and medical care. These individuals have the option to live in their own housing or in rooms provided by this service. These rooms are chosen depending on the preference of room size, furnished options, and roommates. Assisting living facility will provide companionship with other members, social, and physical activities. The certified nurse’s assistants (CNAs) assist with individual care, such as feeding, dressing, medication supervision, bathing, housekeeping, and transportation (NIH, 2017). However, this service would not be covered by Medicare and it will be a personal expense. This type of facility is appropriate for seniors that need help with various daily tasks.

Community Services

Adult day care facilities offer temporary support services. This service includes private care, household tasks, and home assistance. Also, other facilities include meal programs, transportation, case supervision, senior centers, and other services (Lohmann, 2019). Adult day care is for individuals who do not want to stay alone when their caregiver is occupied and not present. This service can also benefit the elderly who are lonely by socializing with other members. The cost of this care depends on the facility and duration of stay.

Respite Care is provided for the elderly that prefer to stay at a community driven facility when recovering from surgeries, or other health conditions for a temporary time. This care is also offered when caretakers take a leave for a break. Respite care can be charged by the hour or the number of days/weeks of the stay (Lohmann, 2019). Medicare will only cover five days of respite care for patients in hospitals. This will cover services from skilled nurses, management and treatment plans (NIH, 2017). Other service costs must be paid out-of-pocket. Adult day care and respite care also offer care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia although, it is not recommended. This plan is useful for individuals that need to be supervised for a short period of time in a friendly and safe environment.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

CCRC help those who require support in everyday living. Benefits of CCRC include the elderly to stay in one place and receive assistance in activities such as using the restroom or taking a shower, medical care, transportation, and housekeeping services. As adults start to age health conditions may change or progress. CCRC provides facilities to aid in those changes by providing more care and additional support if needed. Furthermore, Medicare would not cover CCRC for a long period of time, it will only cover charges for hospital care and doctor visits for these patients. This care is effective for individuals who are retired and require assistance for everyday care.

ICF/MR is a home-based venue for mental related disorders who are codependent. This institution delivers highly trained nurses with active care, therapy, and medical care for all age groups. This health care offers a 24-hour service. These services will assist people to learn to be more independent. ICF/MR health care is covered by Medicare. So, therefore individuals would have to find a source to cover charges for this service.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is for individuals that suffer from a medical illness at any given stage. These stages include diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and life support. This service can be provided in hospitals, residential care, and palliative home care. Patients with medical conditions are best elidable for this plan. Some medical conditions include cancer, heart failure, chronic respiratory diseases, and Alzheimer’s. For example, patients receiving palliative care to recover from surgeries or chemotherapy also manage symptoms and reduce the psychological impact. Medicare covers for the first six months, then the patient is obligated to cover further charges.

Hospice care

Hospice care is health care that provides terminally ill patients with end of life support. This can include ranges from helping them with managing their symptoms to mentally preparing them for death. To qualify for hospice care, the patient must meet all disease criteria’s which include death within six months in order to be covered by Medicare. This type of support can be offered in a patient’s own personal environment or a nursing home. To provide service efficiently the team would require medical supplies, medications, therapy, and counseling.

Supportive Housing Programs

Around 34 states in the U.S., supportive housing programs are used by senior citizens that have low income. The federal and state Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers residents housing plans. Essential services of supportive housing include meal assistance, meeting deadlines for payments, and necessary tasks or errands. These programs are nonprofit organizations that are based on federal funds. Residents pay rent for a third of their income. Long Term Care services will benefit many elderly adults and families. Selecting the best suitable plan for a given individual can be difficult. However, staying informed of what each service provides can allow one to make the right decision. Most of these services cover the daily necessities one may require. Medicare covers short term care although, most LTC services are paid out of pocket or funded privately. Overall, the decision of LTC can be based upon individuals’ needs and financial status.

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