What is Long-Term Care?

In the healthcare industry, there are a variety of terms and jargon that can make it confusing for the average person to understand what type of care is right for an aging loved one. As a leader in the senior living industry, it’s Springpoint’s goal to make these terms less confusing so you can feel confident in your and your loved one’s decisions for future care.

When it comes to long-term senior health care services, the definition of long-term care is “a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time.” Long-term care services include medical care, social services and housing options designed to improve the quality of life of individuals living with chronic health conditions.

Unlike short term care, which usually lasts a few days or up to a month, long term care is usually provided within a skilled nursing or healthcare center and can last upwards of a month. In some cases, depending on the needs of the individual, long-term care services may be needed for the foreseeable future. For example, if a loved one is left with severe disabilities after a stroke. Or, perhaps a family member is in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Long-term senior care services can be provided indefinitely, especially if the individual’s needs exceed those that can be met in a home caregiving situation.

Who Needs Long-Term Care?

While those of all ages might need long-term care for various reasons, it’s more commonly needed by older adults. In fact, around 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will need long term care services throughout their lifetime.

The need for long-term care services often increases as with age. When you begin to notice your loved one is showing difficulty completing daily living activities like dressing, bathing or preparing meals, or he or she has increasing mobility issues due to chronic conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis, a community that provides long-term skilled nursing care allows for a higher quality of life. Your loved one will receive the care he or she needs from a skilled medical team in a comfortable, home-like environment.

There are factors other than age that can impact who will need long-term care. Statistics show women outlive men by about five years, making them more likely to require some long-term care in the future. An accident or disability can also increase the need for long-term care, and almost 70 percent of people age 90 or older suffer from some sort of disability. Additionally, a family history of chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, the risk of dementia, and poor lifestyle habits can all increase your loved one’s need for long-term care.

Long-Term Senior Healthcare Services

Because individuals need long-term care due to serious or ongoing health conditions, residents in long-term skilled nursing centers are offered around-the-clock medical care by highly trained professionals. Additionally, they receive the following senior care services:

• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, bathing and toileting
• Physical, occupational and speech/language therapy
• Medication management
• Daily meals
• Social activities
• Transportation
• Memory support programs (where available)

Communities that offer long-term care services also ensure residents are enjoying the highest level of independence possible. However, knowing that assistance is available whenever it may be needed provides peace of mind that all their needs will continue to be met.

Long-Term Care at our Springpoint Continuing Care Retirement Communities

If your loved one needs long-term care, you can trust our Springpoint continuing care retirement communities to provide the right services, right when they are necessary. Each of our communities offer professional skilled nursing care from a team of professional physicians, nurses and therapists, developing individualized care plans to meet all residents’ specific needs.

Find a Life Plan community near you in New Jersey or Delaware today. Or, contact us to learn more.