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There Are Several Types of Long Term Care
LONG TERM CARE ALTERNATIVES LONG TERM CARE ALTERNATIVES Types of Long Term Care When we talk about "long-term care," we are generally speaking of care for a person who is mentally or physically disabled to the extent that he or she cannot function -- or perhaps live -- without assistance from others. The types of care the such a person may consider based upon his or her condition include the following: Acute Care. If a person’s medical needs are such that can only be provided for in a hospital, that person needs acute care. Intermediate or Skilled Care. Intermediate or skilled care is care provided in a traditional nursing home. In the case of private pay residents, the resident, his or her family, and the physician can determine if this level of care is needed or desired. However, if Medicaid assistance will be sought, the affected individual will likely have to meet some type of "medical necessity" criteria established by the Medicaid Program. Residential Care or Assisted Living. The level of care below skilled or intermediate care is Residential Care which is provided in a Residential Care or Assisted Living Facility (RCF). Generally, people who need this level of care do not meet the criteria for skilled or intermediate services, but require a great deal of supervision and assistance - such as early stage Alzheimer’s or dementia patients. The primary difference between a nursing home and a residential care facility is the absence of nurses. Nursing homes must have nurses on staff while Residential care facilities are not required to have nursing staff. The cost of Residential Care is moderate -- from a low of about $800.00 per month to a high of about $2,800 per month depending on the needs of the patient and where the patient lives. Medicaid does not cover Residential Care, but some states do provide optional payments ("supplementation") to help individuals meet the cost of residing in such a setting. Home Care. Home care is generally limited to those people who can operate with some degree of independence or who have a family structure that allows them to remain at home. It is possible to obtain nursing assistance through various Home Health Agencies for the person residing at home. And, if the person meets the proper criteria, Medicare may pay for this care - although the requirements are very strict. An additional method of alleviating some of the burden on a family keeping a family member at home is to use Adult Day Care. These facilities are located in most communities. Medicaid assistance for services such as in-home assistance and adult day care may be available to some persons under a Medicaid home and community-based program. © 1997 Flying Solo®
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