Long Term Care Insurance – The Basics

What is Long Term Care?

Long term care is a combination of services directed toward meeting the needs of someone who, due to reduced physical functioning and/or reduced intellectual functioning is unable to carry out every-day tasks without the help of another person.

Long term care goes beyond medical and nursing care to include all the assistance you could need if you ever have a chronic illness or disability that leaves you unable to care for yourself for an extended period of time – generally over 3 months. You can receive long-term care in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or in your own home. Though older people use the most long-term care services, a young or middle-aged person who has been in an accident or suffered a debilitating illness might also need long-term care.

Beyond nursing homes, there is a range of services available in the community to help meet long-term care needs. Visiting nurses, home health aides, friendly visitor programs, home-delivered meals, chore services, adult daycare centers, and respite services for caregivers who need a break from daily responsibilities can supplement care given by family members.

Planning for Long Term Care

Planning for long term care means thinking ahead and being prepared for the consequences of needing long-term care.

No one likes to think of the possibilities of becoming frail or needing the help of family members or professionals just to carry out day-to-day activities. Many older people and their families find it very difficult -- or impossible -- to talk about frailty or dependency and the financial and other consequences of needing long term care. As a result, they delay thinking about long-term care, learning about long-term care or preparing for long-term care.