Chronic care, also referred to as long-term healthcare, involves numerous services that center on offering help to individuals with illnesses or disabilities of a chronic nature. A patient may only need mild assistance, or the person may be entirely incapacitated. Individuals of all ages can be affected by such handicaps, but many who need help of this type are elderly.
By 2014, it is predicted that over 12 million older Americans will require the aforementioned assistance. For this reason, advance planning is imperative if it appears that one will eventually need help of this type. Discussing long-term healthcare plans with one's family is always a wise course of action for any individual, especially senior citizens. This way, the person's wishes will be carried out when and if he or she becomes disabled or incapacitated.
Such services can be obtained even if one is still living in his or her home. Home healthcare agencies, volunteers, or combination of these options sometimes allow one to remain independent much longer than if he or she was completely without assistance. Other times, it is necessary for one to be placed in a long-term care facility.
Adult day care is an option for certain individuals with disabilities or diseases that make it dangerous for them to stay at home unsupervised. As its name implies, when one enrolls in adult day care, he or she is supervised throughout the day, but can return to his or her dwelling when other individuals are present to provide assistance when required. Such organizations usually only take a low number of clients at one time, and therefore each individual has an adequate amount of supervision.
Residential facilities or group dwellings are additional alternatives one may wish to consider when living independently is no longer an option. At such establishments, residents are generally given assistance with their daily living activities. Additionally, if the staff includes a qualified nurse, help with medications is also available. 24-hour employees are present at such facilities, so that each resident has the assistance he or she needs.
A similar option to the one outlined above is an assisted living establishment. The latter also provide personal care twenty-four hours a day, but this help is limited to moderate assistance. Those who choose to dwell at such an establishment must be able to move and walk and without help.
Nursing homes are the wisest choice for individuals who can no longer live safely in any of the aforementioned environments. Also referred to as skilled nursing facilities, such establishments provide a broad spectrum of assistance including help with medications and medical treatments. In most cases, registered nurses are on staff around the clock, and clients are given the opportunity to participate in recreational activities if they are not physically or mentally limited.
With regard to payment for such services, individuals have a variety of options in many cases. For example, a standard health insurance policy may include benefits for long-term care. An individual may also qualify for Medicare if he or she is of the appropriate age. In certain cases, such services are paid for privately by the patient's family. Anyone in need of chronic care should review all his or her options prior to making a final decision.
By 2014, it is predicted that over 12 million older Americans will require the aforementioned assistance. For this reason, advance planning is imperative if it appears that one will eventually need help of this type. Discussing long-term healthcare plans with one's family is always a wise course of action for any individual, especially senior citizens. This way, the person's wishes will be carried out when and if he or she becomes disabled or incapacitated.
Such services can be obtained even if one is still living in his or her home. Home healthcare agencies, volunteers, or combination of these options sometimes allow one to remain independent much longer than if he or she was completely without assistance. Other times, it is necessary for one to be placed in a long-term care facility.
Adult day care is an option for certain individuals with disabilities or diseases that make it dangerous for them to stay at home unsupervised. As its name implies, when one enrolls in adult day care, he or she is supervised throughout the day, but can return to his or her dwelling when other individuals are present to provide assistance when required. Such organizations usually only take a low number of clients at one time, and therefore each individual has an adequate amount of supervision.
Residential facilities or group dwellings are additional alternatives one may wish to consider when living independently is no longer an option. At such establishments, residents are generally given assistance with their daily living activities. Additionally, if the staff includes a qualified nurse, help with medications is also available. 24-hour employees are present at such facilities, so that each resident has the assistance he or she needs.
A similar option to the one outlined above is an assisted living establishment. The latter also provide personal care twenty-four hours a day, but this help is limited to moderate assistance. Those who choose to dwell at such an establishment must be able to move and walk and without help.
Nursing homes are the wisest choice for individuals who can no longer live safely in any of the aforementioned environments. Also referred to as skilled nursing facilities, such establishments provide a broad spectrum of assistance including help with medications and medical treatments. In most cases, registered nurses are on staff around the clock, and clients are given the opportunity to participate in recreational activities if they are not physically or mentally limited.
With regard to payment for such services, individuals have a variety of options in many cases. For example, a standard health insurance policy may include benefits for long-term care. An individual may also qualify for Medicare if he or she is of the appropriate age. In certain cases, such services are paid for privately by the patient's family. Anyone in need of chronic care should review all his or her options prior to making a final decision.
About the Author:
Read more about There Are Various Options When Chronic Care Is Needed visiting our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment