UNDERSTANDING PROFESSIONAL LONG-TERM CARE
Understanding Professional Long-Term Care
It is common to require more assistance over time as people age and live with chronic or progressive health conditions. Many people diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy( PSP), corticobasal degeneration( CBD) or multiple system atrophy( MSA) have partners, relatives or friends who are able to provide the necessary care to support their needs. Still, some people do not have the support system they need to offer this care. Even for those who do have care partners, many still decide that additional professional care is needed for the safety and wellbeing of the individual and their family.
Many of us do not think about exploring professional in-home, adult day or facility-based care(“ long-term care”) until faced with the need to consider it. Services, availability and cost of professional long-term care greatly vary based on many factors, including type of care and geographic area. Exploring options for long-term care can be confusing or feel overwhelming.
Through providing brief summaries of different types of professional care, our aim is to hopefully clarify the options as you make care decisions that are right for you.
1. In-Home Care
• Services can include companionship( e. g., games), meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, assistance with walking or personal care( e. g., bathing, grooming, dressing).
• In-home care is provided through an agency or by private individuals. 2. Adult Day Services
• Community-based, daytime group programs for adults with decreased cognitive and / or physical functioning.
• Adult day care centers offer monitoring, socialization, recreational activities, exercise, meals or snacks.
• Adult day health centers can often additionally offer personal care services, such as toileting or sometimes even showering, as well as some medical or skilled care services.
3. Independent Living: Senior Apartments, Active Senior Communities, Retirement Homes
• Age-restricted( e. g., 55 and over) residences are often not licensed to provide personal or nursing care services.
• Basic services may include a certain number of meals( per day, week or month), housekeeping or laundry, social activities, wellness checks, outings and transportation for medical appointments.
• Some independent living communities offer the option to purchase à la carte in-home care or other services for an additional cost.
4. Assisted Living Facilities
• This type of facility, which may be independent or could be a part of a larger retirement community, is licensed to provide closer monitoring and assistance with daily care, such as showering, in addition to meals, housekeeping and social programs.
• Services offered by assisted living facilities may vary by geographic location and by individual facility.
• Assisted living facilities do not provide skilled nursing care such as wound care or management of lifeprolonging medical interventions( e. g., feeding tube).