There Are Various Options When Chronic Care Is Needed

By Cathy Mercer


Long-term health care, also referred to as chronic care, involves a variety of services that include providing assistance to those with disabilities or illnesses of a chronic nature. A person may need only moderate assistance, or he or she may be completely incapacitated. Such circumstances can affect people of all ages, but many individuals who require help of this type are elderly.

It is predicted by experts that by the year 2014, more than twelve million American senior citizens will need the type of assistance mentioned above. This is why it is vital to plan for such help in advance if one anticipates that it will eventually be needed. Speaking to one's family about long-term health care plans is in the best interest of essentially every individual, particularly the elderly. This way, the patient's wishes will be carried out if and when he or she becomes incapacitated or disabled.

Services of this kind can be acquired even if the person is still residing at home.

 Volunteers, employees from home healthcare agencies, or a combination of both alternatives can often be utilized in order to allow the person to maintain his or her independence for longer period of time than if no assistance was given.

 In other cases, a long-term care facility is the only realistic option.

Those who have illnesses or disabilities that make it impossible for them to remain at home may he enrolled in adult day care.

The latter is a service for those who needs supervision, but can return home when other adults are present to offer assistance if it is needed.

Such facilities typically take only a limited number of individuals, so that each person has proper supervision during the time they are at the establishment.

Residential facilities or group homes are other options one has when it is no longer realistic to live independently.

Residents of such establishments are typically given assistance with the activities of daily living, and if a nurse is on staff, the administration of medications.

Individuals are usually on staff twenty-four hours a day to help residents of such homes.

A similar option to the one outlined above is an assisted living establishment.

The latter also provide personal care twenty-four hours a day, but this help is limited to moderate assistance.

Those who choose to dwell at such an establishment must be able to move and walk and without help.

Skilled nursing facilities are the best choice for those who cannot live safely in one of the aforementioned communities.

Also called nursing homes, such establishments offer a wide range of health services including medical treatment and the administration of medication.

 Registered nurses are typically on staff at all times, and residents are also offered recreational activities if they are able to participate.

Regarding payment for services of this type, clients have various alternatives in most instances.

For example, if the person has reached the appropriate age, he or she may qualify for Medicare.

The person may also have a medical insurance policy that includes long-term care benefits.

In some instances, services of this kind are paid for by the patient's family, which is referred to as private-pay.

Those in need of chronic care should consider all their alternatives before a final decision is made.




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