Long-Term Care Options

Eventually a stage is reached when caregivers may no longer be able to care for their relatives at home, and institutionalization in some type of health care facility becomes a serious consideration.

Assisted Living Facilities

The term "assisted living" usually refers to a residence that provides living arrangements and services, such as housekeeping and help with daily activities, for the elderly. Services frequently include: meals, housekeeping, recreational activities, help with bathing, short-term assistance with illness, supervision, and help with medications. If considering this option, make sure to inquire about specific services provided by each facility, and the level of functioning required of its residents. For more information on assisted living, contact the The Assisted Living Federation of America, the Alzheimer's Association or any of the sites mentioned above.

Nursing Homes

A nursing home is a facility outside of a hospital that provides 24-hour nursing care to its residents. It may also be called an extended care facility or a convalescent home. A nursing home may provide skilled care, basic care, or both types of care.

"Skilled care" is care that requires the involvement of a nurse, doctor, or other licensed staff member in the performance of certain health care tasks, such as assessments and treatments.

"Basic care" is usually provided by nurse aides, and is defined as a type of care that meets everyday needs.

Hospice Care

Hospice care is designed to provide sensitive and supportive care to people who are in the final phase of a terminal illness.  The specific objective of hospice care is to enable people to spend their last days pain-free in a caring environment (usually in the person's home).

Hospice programs also provide social, emotional, and spiritual services to the terminally ill and their families.

Specific services vary from program to program but often include: nursing care, medical social services, physician services, spiritual support and counseling, homemaker-home health aide services, continuous care, respite care, in-patient care, and physical, occupational, and speech therapy. For more information, contact the National Hospice Organization.