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Before you begin to search for a care facility talk with people
you trust and who can help you make a good choice. This group could
include family and friends. It also could include a variety of health
professionals like doctors, dietitians, social workers, and hospital
discharge planners, who understand your special needs. Discuss your
care needs and options with your group. They may be willing to help
you.
If you are helping someone who is about to go into a nursing home,
get them involved from the beginning so they are better prepared
when they move into a care facility. If the person you are helping
is not alert or able to communicate well, keep his or her values
and preferences in mind. Finding a care facility that provides the
right services in a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere often requires
work.
Ideally, you will have enough time to plan ahead, examine several
nursing homes, and make good financial plans. Planning ahead gives
you more control over the selection process, eases the stress of
choosing a nursing home, and helps you make a good choice.
We have provided you with a nationwide Long-term care facility
database that includes all the adult day care centers, assisted
living facilities, home health agencies, nursing homes, hospices,
and rehabilitation hospitals in the country. Click on the type of
facility to take you to that page.
Adult Day Care is sometimes referred to as Senior Day Care, and
consists of care services ranging from basic to comprehensive for
functionally and/or cognitively impaired adults. Available at a
center usually open during normal business hours. Allows caregivers
to have some time to themselves and the impaired adult to reside
at home.
There are two types of Adult Day Care:
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Adult Day Health, necessary care by health care professionals
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Adult Day Social, social interaction, activities, meals and
outings
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The Assisted Living
Federation of America defines an Assisted Living residence as
"a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services
and health care designed to meet the needs - both scheduled and
unscheduled - of those who need help with activities of daily living
." If you only need help with a small number of tasks, such as cooking
and laundry, or reminder to take medications, assisted living facilities
may be an option worth considering. "Assisted living"
is a general term for living arrangements in which some services
are available to residents who still live independently within the
assisted living complex. In most cases, assisted living residents
pay a regular monthly rent, and then pay additional fees for the
services that they require.
(Source : HCFA)
Assisted living facilities usually provide:
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Breakfast, lunch, & dinner - group dining
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Maid service
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Limited chauffered transportation
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Aid with eating, bathing, dressing, bathroom, and personal
mobility
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Around the clock security and supervision
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Individual emergency alert systems in each resident's room
or apartment
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In their discussion of "What is Home Care?" The National
Association for Home Care states, "Home care is a simple phrase
that encompasses a wide range of health and social services. These
services are delivered at home to recovering, disabled, chronically
or terminally ill persons in need of medical, nursing, social, or
therapeutic treatment and/or assistance with the essential activities
of daily living."
Generally, home care is appropriate whenever a person prefers to
stay at home but needs ongoing care that cannot easily or effectively
be provided solely by family and friends. More and more older people,
electing to live independent, non-institutionalized lives, are receiving
home care services as their physical capabilities diminish. Younger
adults who are disabled or recuperating from acute illness are choosing
home care whenever possible. Chronically ill infants and children
are receiving sophisticated medical treatment in their loving and
secure home environments. Adults and children diagnosed with terminal
illness also are being cared for at home, receiving compassion and
maintaining dignity at the end of life. As hospital stays decrease,
increasing numbers of patients need highly skilled services when
they return home. Other patients are able to stay at home to begin
with, receiving safe and effective care in the comfort of their
own homes.
Hospice
Hospice care is a humane and compassionate way to care for a patient
whose disease cannot be cured. Hospice care is a covered benefit
under Medicare Part A for patients with a prognosis of living 6
months or less. Hospice care can be implemented in a variety of
settings - in the home, hospital, nursing home, or freestanding
hospice facilities.
The hospice benefit covers palliative rather than curative treatment.
Patients sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of standard
Medicare benefits.
Hospice benefits cover all services, medications and equipment
related to the terminal illness including:
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physician services
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nursing services
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home health aides
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medical equipment and supplies
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spiritual, dietary, and other counseling
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continuous care during crisis periods
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bereavement services
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short term acute inpatient care, including respite care
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physical, occupational, and speech therapies
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Who pays
Hospice care is a covered benefit under most private insurance
plans including managed care and HMO's, Champus/Tricare and also
by Medicare and Medicaid in most states.
A Nursing Home is a residence that provides a room, skilled nursing
and rehabilitative care, medical services, and protective supervision
to residents. It also provides residents with help with daily living
and recreational activities.
Nursing homes are certified by State and Federal government agencies
to provide levels of care which range from custodial care to skilled
nursing care that can only be delivered by trained professionals.
(Source : HCFA)
There are three general levels of care provided:
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Basic or Custodial- Aid with a resident's activities of daily
living ( eating, dressing, bathing, bathroom, getting out
of bed, moving around)
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Skilled - Care provided by a registered nurse or therapist
required in the administration of medical procedures, rehabilitative
and maintenance therapies.
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Sub-acute or Intermediate - A level of care for patients
who do not need to be in an acute care hospital but still
need skilled nursing before discharge to a lower level of
care.
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Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation services are delivered in a free-standing hospital
specializing in rehabilitation or in a separate rehabilitation unit
of a short-term acute care hospital. Care is provided usually by
a "team" of specialized physicians, nurses, case managers, physical
therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers,
and dieticians. These professionals provide intensive and personalized
care to patients experiencing a variety of injuries and illnesses
including: stroke, spinal cord injury, amputation, arthritis, brain
injury, acute and chronic pain, and more. Patients are closely followed
to achieve their highest level of independence and generally go
home after an average hospital stay of 12 to 15 days.
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