What is long-term care?

As adults age, they're prone to developing one or more chronic illnesses. The most common are heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity and arthritis.

Evidence shows that elders with chronic conditions have more physician visits, hospital admissions and use more medications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 117 million people have one or more chronic health conditions, and one of four have two or more.

When a person lives with a chronic illness or disability, they need support for and help with medical needs, meals, personal care, and other daily activities over an extended period. Long-term care delivers support at home, in the community like adult day care, meal programs or senior centers, or in a residential care facility like a nursing home or an assisted living community.

Types of Long-term Care

Home care is in your home and provided by family members, friends, volunteers or paid professionals. It helps you with daily living needs and nursing care if needed. Short-term, nursing care is called home health care, and Medicare may pay depending on the circumstances. Hospice home care is for the terminally ill. Most people pay for home care out-of-pocket.

Community support services are adult day care, meal programs, senior centers, transportation, and other. They help adults who receive care from family members. This type offers health, social and support services in a protective setting during the day. It gives the family a break. Most community support services are out-of-pocket or paid by Medicaid if the person qualifies financially.

Assisted living delivers 24-hour administration, assistance, meals and health care services in a residence. Provisions consist of help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, taking medicine, transportation, laundry and housekeeping. It includes social and recreational activities. Personal funds or long-term care insurance pay for assisted living services.

Nursing homes provide skilled care to people who cannot live at home any longer. The services include rehabilitation and medical help, meals, activities, daily living assistance with supervision. People can stay in a nursing home short-term after hospital care. Personal funds or long-term care insurance pays for nursing home services.

learn more about long-term care in your area

Visit the Eldercare Locator or call at 800-677-1116.

Reach the local Area Agency on Aging for help with meals, home care, adult day care, transportation, housing, home repair and legal services. Call 610-824-7830.

The state or local Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a state employee who visits residential care facilities and inspects and resolves complaints, protects residents' rights, and gives emotional support to lonely older people. To find your local ombudsman call 800-677-1116.

When reviewing skilled nursing homes, visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid website, Nursing Home Compare. It helps you locate facilities in your local area and supplies inspection records for nursing homes that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding.

Carol Marak is an aging advocate, and editor of SeniorCare.com and creator of the Aging Matters weekly column. She offers anyone an open invitation to dialogue with her at Carol@SeniorCare.com.