LONG TERM CARE DEFINED

Long-term care is the personal care and other related services provided on an extended basis to people who need help with activities of daily living or who need supervision due to a severe cognitive impairment. This type of care is considered skilled care, non-skilled care, or custodial care. It is NOT acute or rehabilitative care, which is known as skilled care.

When you need long-term care you usually need help with your activities of daily living. These are items such as bathing, dressing, toileting, continence, eating, and transferring. Or, you may be able to do all of your activities of daily living but still need care and supervision due to a severe cognitive impairment (memory loss, dementia, etc.). You may be able to dress yourself, but you may not remember to take your medications.

Nearly one-seventh of the nation's current elderly population - an estimated 5.2 million - have a limitation in either activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), or both. More than one-third of these have limitations in 2 or more ADLs. Long-Term Care Insurance, Better Information Critical to Prospective Purchasers United States General Accounting Office, September 2000

See > Types of Long Term Care

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