Long Term Care Services

When you purchase a long term care insurance policy, you will need to have an idea of the kind of care you would like to have in your later years. If you are positive that you want to stay in a nursing home facility, you could save money on your long term care insurance premiums by having a policy that only covers nursing facility care. On the other hand, if you are not quite sure what type of long term care you desire, or you think you would prefer other options such as home-based long term care, you may need a different type of policy. A comprehensive long term care insurance policy will usually provide more options. A policy with coverage for a nursing facility only is generally less expensive than a more comprehensive long term care insurance policy.

Skilled nursing facilities are for individuals who have extremely serious health problems or disabilities that require around the clock monitoring. They provide medical treatment and custodial care.

Custodial care nursing homes assist with activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, getting out of a bed or chair, using the toilet, meal preparation and more. They cannot provide acute or intensive medical care like skilled nursing facilities but are usually less expensive. If you don't have a condition that requires 24-hour monitoring, a custodial care nursing home could be a more cost-effective option.

Assisted living facilities are becoming more popular. They fall somewhere between living independently and nursing home care. They are for elderly ones who do not need constant monitoring, but cannot live by themselves. They can give seniors assistance with ADL's however if needed. This long term care option is generally less expensive than a custodial care nursing home.

Sources

Choosing and Paying for a Long-Term Care Facility, Joseph L. Matthews. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/pg/1/objectId/361824E8-DC7B-4A3D-ABF9CBA2BD5CCF65/catId/BFE84B26-9700-4B05-8789C10C1784B06E/118/207/251/ART/