Defined: Long-Term Care
Long-term care is defined as needing either assistance or supervision from someone when you are unable to care for yourself as a result of a disabling chronic illness, physical injury, cognitive or mental impairment, or just due to old age and frailty. This type of care is considered custodial care, or non-skilled 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 due to a cognitive impairment (memory loss, dementia, etc.). You may be able to dress yourself, but you may not remember to take your medications.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimate that about nine million men and women over the age of 65 in the US will need long-term care in 2006. By 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term care. It is anticipated that most will be cared for at home; family and friends are the sole caregivers for 70 percent of the elderly. A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that people who reach age 65 will likely have a 40 percent chance of entering a nursing home. About 10 percent of the people who enter a nursing home will stay there five years or more.Wikipedia, Long-Term Care
