Types of Long Term Care Services
While people of any age might require long-term care services at some point in their lives, it’s generally more commonly associated with the aging population. Long-term care can include living accommodations and medical care by a skilled team of healthcare professionals who are proficient in addressing some of the common issues the elderly experience.
If your loved one is beginning to exhibit some difficulties with activities of daily living or performing routine tasks, it could be time to consider researching long-term care facilities in your area so you can make the best possible decision concerning your loved one’s overall quality of life.
Popular Long-Term Care Options Today
Today, there are a variety of long-term care options available to provide just the right amount of assistance your aging loved one may need. Most of the options are designed to allow your loved one to maintain as much independence as desired while receiving assistance with daily tasks, like bathing, grooming, dressing, and meal preparation or eating.
When an aging loved one is no longer taking proper care of him or herself in the home, oftentimes the adult child becomes overwhelmed by caregiving duties, risking their own health and needs to care for their elderly parent. Or, the adult child may not be qualified to provide all the care needed on a daily basis. Long-term care for the elderly will give both the aging family member and the caregiver peace of mind that any healthcare needs will be met, now and in the future.
A few common long-term care options include:
- Assisted living – This long-term care option combines housing and assistance with daily living activities as needed. Residents enjoy private or semi-private apartments and amenities like scheduled transportation and social events, help with housekeeping, three daily meals and snacks, and much more.
- Alzheimer’s or dementia care – Many long-term care facilities or assisted living facilities include a special neighborhood for residents needing memory care. These neighborhoods or special wings offer specific memory care programming offered by specially-trained individuals, and usually include extra security features to ensure residents’ safety at all times.
- Skilled nursing facilities – Skilled nursing facilities provide around-the-clock care for those needing more medical attention and assistance. Most skilled nursing facilities also offer rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational and speech therapies following an illness, injury or surgery.
Long-Term Care Services Offered
Long-term care facilities offer a variety of services, including:
- Professionally-trained staff or geriatric nursing specialists available around the clock
- Medication management
- Assistance with activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, grooming, eating and mobility
- Personalized care plans designed for the resident’s specific needs
- Senior rehabilitative therapies, including physical, occupational and speech therapies
- Diabetes management with specialized diet plans
- Post-hospital care
These services are provided in a comfortable, home-like setting that encourages independence among residents. Most often, seniors who live in long-term care facilities enjoy a better quality of life and feel more independent than an elderly person aging in place in the home.
Article by American Senior Communities
