What is long-term care?
Long term care refers to medical and non-medical support services needed to improve or maintain one's health and daily functions. Services may be provided in an individual's home, community, or residential setting.
Long Term care is needed when you require help with everyday activities of daily living. Activities of Daily Living (or ADLs) include bathing, dressing, transferring from bed to chair, toileting, feeding). Because of injury, disease or age, many people will need some type of long term care services during their lifetime.
If you need long term care, you may need one or more of the following:
- Services in your home (home-delivered meals, homemaker, personal care, physical therapy or nursing services);
- Care in the community (congregate dining, respite, adult day care); and/or
- Care in a variety of long term facilities (enriched housing, assisted living, adult home, nursing home).
Who needs long-term care?
Long-term care is needed when you have a chronic illness or disability that causes you to need assistance with Activities of Daily Living. Your illness or disability could include a problem with memory loss, confusion, or disorientation. (This is called Cognitive Impairment and can result from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.)
This year, about 9 million Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care services. By 2020, that number will increase to 12 million. While most people who need long-term care are age 65 or older, a person can need long-term care services at any age. Forty (40) percent of people currently receiving long-term care are adults 18 to 64 years old.
What does long-term care cost?
Long term care in a New York State nursing home costs about $96,000 per year (more in the New York City area).
Source: NYS Office for the Aging
Who pays for long-term care?
An important part of planning for long term care is deciding how to pay for it.
There are variations in costs based on the type and amount of care you need, which provider you use, and where you live. Learning more about the "rules" for when Medicare, Medicaid, or other options might pay for long term care is important and may affect your decisions.
Washington County NY Connects staff can help you understand these "rules" and give you options that best meet you or your loved one's care needs.
Payment options may include:
- Personal savings or investments
- Long term care insurance
- Health insurance
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- SSI/SSD
- Veterans benefits
NY State
NY Connects (NYS Long-term care Information)
NYS Department of Health (Long-term care facilities)
New York State Partnership for Long-Term Care (Insurance)
Washington
County
Washington County Department of Social Services
Washington County Department of Public Health & Hospice
Washington County Department of Mental Health
US
Government
Medicare and Long-term Care
Medicaid and Long-term Care
Federal Long-term Care Insurance Program
U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs
