LTC choices for UPSA members Introduction

LTC (Long Term Care) is an attempt at assisting people of any age with their daily activities and/or medical needs for an extended duration of time (WebMD, 2019). This type of care may be offered in various care facilities, inside a community, and at home. This is an educational brochure focusing on LTC choices for UMUC Premier Student Association (UPSA). When seeking for long term care it is necessary to bear in mind that quality is likely to vary based on the caregiver and/or place where the LTC is provided. It is fundamental to critically think and assess the alternatives available prior to making a decision. Arriving at an LTC decision may be quite difficult even when sufficient planning has been done.

One of the quick ways to assess the quality of care is to verify that the LTC service is established and/or accredited by the state agency and widely confirmed as delivering quality care, offers the services required, the caregivers satisfy the client needs, and the services provided are within the set budget (WebMD, 2019). In order to further enhance the chances of making the correct choice it is important to consider the available options in light of the client and family needs including the financial, emotional, medical, and physical needs (WebMD, 2019). In order to obtain the best possible LTC services it is also fundamental to have good comprehension of the LTC care categories. Discussed below are some of the LTC care categories.

· Palliative Care

Palliative care can be defined as expert/dedicated medical care for the people who have serious illnesses (GetPallicativeCare.org, 2019). Palliative care focuses on relieving the sick patient from their stress and symptoms caused by the acute illness (GetPallicativeCare.org, 2019). The objective of palliative care is to enhance life quality for the patient and their family. This type of care is provided by specialized and highly trained nurses, doctors, and other health experts (GetPallicativeCare.org, 2019). The experts work hand in hand with other doctors to offer layered professional support (GetPallicativeCare.org, 2019). Palliative care is suitable for any age and can be offered at any stage of an illness. Palliative care can be offered simultaneously with remedial/therapeutic treatment (GetPallicativeCare.org, 2019).

· Hospice Care

Hospice care is the type of care designed to offer support to the category of people who are battling terminal illnesses (MedicineNet, 2018). The focus of hospice care is to offer quality life and comfort to the patient instead of trying to cure the terminal illness (MedicineNet, 2018). The objective is to make it possible for patients to enjoy some comfort and get some pain relief in order to make it possible for them to live each day as comfortably and as fully as possible (WebMD, n.d.). Hospice care may entail extreme ways of trying to control pain (MedicineNet,...

The general arrangement for hospice programs is home based care although hospice programs may at times be provided in another venue (MedicineNet, 2018). Some of the hospice facilities may include hospitals, nursing homes, and freestanding facilities. Hospitals have a philosophy of providing spiritual, social, and emotional support for patients’ needs concurrently with medical support in order to offer wholesome treatment for the patient (MedicineNet, 2018).
Generally, hospice programs employ the multidisciplinary group approach (MedicineNet, 2018). This approach may entail the support of social workers, clergy, doctor, and nurse in the provision of care (MedicineNet, 2018). Some of the provided services include pain control using drugs, and other symptom management plans including speech therapy, occupational, and physical therapy, medical, equipment, and medical supplies social services, dietary counseling and other types of counseling, bereavement services, and...…(WebMD, 2019). This helps the elderly people with impairments like disability, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s to continue with their lives in a community. Other alternative care venues include the support housing programs and CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities) (WebMD, 2019). Intermediate care venues are also appropriate for the people who are mentally retarded (WebMD, 2019). They offer various services to the mentally retarded and for those who have developmental disabilities. Intermediate care venues are appropriate for the elderly and the youth.

How to Pay for This Care

LTC services may be quite expensive. Generally health programs and plans will not cover for LTC as a routine either in the nursing home or at home. Medicare is specific for the people aged above 65 and for those that are disabled (WebMD, 2019). Medicare doesn’t cover long term assistance with routine activities and covers for regulated skilled nursing care at home following hospital stay (WebMD, 2019). Medicaid will pay for LTC and health services for the low income patients of any age (WebMD, 2019). The rules involved vary depending on the state. Medicaid encompasses nursing care at home for eligible people. Some States pay for community and home services under Medicaid (WebMD, 2019). Private insurance can be used to supplement Medicare (WebMD, 2019). This policy can assist in the payment for skilled care only if the care is under Medicare covering. This is however not detailed in LTC. Personal resources like life insurance and savings can be used to fund LTC. Out of pocket payments are common for people entering nursing homes. Often, the patients who stay for long in nursing homes become Medicaid eligible (WebMD, 2019). Fundamental LTC information can be acquired from SHIP (State Health Insurance Program). From SHIP information regarding Medicaid, Medicare, Managed care, and other health insurance plans that supplement Medicare can be obtained…