What is "Long-term Care"?

From old age, to mental/physical illness, some people find theselves in need of help eating, bathing, dressing, toileting or continence, and.or transferring (e.g., getting out of a chair or out of bed). These six actions are called Activities of Daily Living-sometimes referred to as ADLS. In general, if you can't do two or more of these activities, or if you have a cognitive impairment, you are said to need "Long-Term Care."

Many people think that long-term care is provided exclusively in a nursing home. It can be, but it can also be provided in an adult day care center, an assisted living facility, or at home.

Assistance with ADLs, called “custodial care,” is confused with skilled care.” Skilled care means medical, nursing, or rehabilitative services, including help taking medicine, undergoing testing (e.g. blood pressure), or other similar services. This distinction is important because Medicare and most private health insurance pays only for skilled care–not custodial care.

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