Chapter One

 

What Do We Mean By "Long Term Care?"

 

 

What is "long term care?"

Long term care includes housing, services and supports that make it possible for a person with a disability or chronic illness to maintain the greatest possible independence, dignity, & control over their own lives. Long term care services provide assistance with functional and cognitive impairment and can include episodic or frequent medical "skilled" care. The need for long term care is assessed by a person's functional ability to perform activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom.

 

 

A lot of people think the term “long term care” means nursing home care. While long term care includes nursing home care, it also includes ongoing care and assistance provided at home, in the community, and in assisted living or other residential settings. A person may need long term care at any age.

 

What are “activities of daily living?”

 

Activities of daily living—usually referred to as “ADLs,” are those very basic self-care tasks and functions that you do as you go through the day. They include feeding oneself, bathing, dressing, walking, going to the bathroom , getting in and out of a chair or bed (also called “transferring”), and moving about. Indiana also considers taking medications as an ADL.

 

 

 

>>>Click here for Chapter 2: Overview of long term care services in Indiana