What is Long Term Care?

According to a recent study by AARP, seven million Americans age 65 or older will need long-term care services this year. That number is expected to nearly double to 12 million by 2020.

Long-term care is different from traditional medical care. Someone with a chronic physical illness, a disability, or a memory or thought problem (such as Alzheimer’s disease) often needs long-term care.`

Long-term care is made up of many different services and may include help with activities of daily living – dressing, bathing, eating, and using the bathroom – as well as help with things most people can do for themselves, such as using eye drops. These services may be provided in your home, in senior centers, at community centers, in assisted living facilities, or in nursing homes. (The above is from the Texas Cares web site of the Texas Department of Human Services)

The entire matter of having to deal with decisions regarding long term care can be very distressing both mentally and financially. If you have someone in your family whom is in need of “long term care” we would be pleased to assist you with information on what kind of care might be available – often home care is available – and how it might be paid for. Please contact our offices for a confidential consultation.

You can also find more information regarding long term care alternatives at the following web sites:

Texas Cares: http://www.dhs.state.tx.us
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: http://www.cms.hhs.gov

You Can Count On Us

  • To provide an interdisciplinary approach to patient care, in the comfort and familiar surroundings of the patient’s home
  • To ensure continual quality of care during the post hospital phase
  • To facilitate all medical needs throughout the wellness process
  • To be your medical liaison, in coordination of care between the hospital and the physician
  • To provide you with the most qualified nursing personnel available, while meeting each patient’s individualized needs.

Your Benefits

  • Peace of mind, knowing that your parent or loved one has a professional care giver assisting them with activities of daily living
  • Regular visits by a skilled nurse who manages and evaluates the care plan
    and keeps the patient’s physician informed of the patient’s status and progress.
  • Patients recuperate faster in a familiar home environment
  • The increase in outpatient surgeries has led to much shorter hospital stays
  • Patient’s family and friends lack the time and knowledge to properly care for them
  • With regular supervision by trained home health care personnel a patient with
    signs and symptoms of complications or declines is reported quickly to the
    doctor and family so proper remediation can begin.