Many people don’t want to rely on children or family members for their support and long-term care, which is often paid out-of-pocket.
Long-term care can vary from place to place, but it’s generally quite costly. In 2021, for instance, the average annual cost of a private room in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home was $108,405, according to Genworth’s Long-Term Care Report.
Here comes the long-term care insurance – the most cost-effective care solution for older adults and patients. But the question is, what exactly does the long-term care insurance cover? In this breakdown, we’ll outline some services that are included in this type of coverage.
Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Long term care insurance provides critical support for individuals requiring assistance with essential daily tasks, often referred to as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This type of assistance often includes, but is not limited to:
Bathing and Dressing – Professional caregivers assist with personal hygiene routines, which may include help with showering, bathing, and sponge baths. In terms of selecting and dressing in appropriate clothing, they can also assist insured individuals.
Eating – Another inclusion is support for individuals who are unable to prepare meals or feed themselves. Additionally, LTC insurance covers managing dietary restrictions that necessitate special dietary practices.
Transferring – Whether you’re an older adult or a person with mobility issues, you can seek assistance in safely moving from one position to another, such as getting from a bed to a wheelchair or from a chair to a standing position.
Using the Toilet and Managing Incontinence – This involves assistance with using the bathroom and maintaining dignity and cleanliness for individuals experiencing incontinence.
Variety of Care Settings
Long-term care (LTC) coverage is flexible in nature. It can extend beyond various care environments, accommodating the unique needs of individuals across different levels of care. Let’s take a look at the care settings where patients and older adults can be served:
Home Health Care – In the comfort of individuals’ own homes, most licensed professionals offer skilled nursing, personal care, and therapy services.
Adult Day Care – During the day at community-based centres, structured programs offer social activities, therapeutic programs, and meals. The medical support (if needed) is, above all else, essential.
Assisted Living Facilities – Based on the individual needs, combining housing solutions with personalized care services form a supportive environment. That’s where residents can live independently and well-cared for.
Nursing Home Care – Unlike assisted-living facilities, comprehensive care facilities offer 24-hour skilled nursing supervision. Such care is often required for individuals with complex medical needs or chronic illnesses.
Other Services
Depending on the policy specifics, long-term care insurance can also cover a variety of additional services to help both patients and their caregivers:
Respite Care for Caregivers – Respite care, which gives caregivers short-term relief from caring responsibilities, allowing them to rest or attend to other matters, while ensuring that the care recipient is still being attended to.
Therapy Services – Essential rehabilitative therapies, such as physical therapy to improve mobility, occupational therapy to enhance daily living skills, or speech therapy to aid with communication and swallowing disorders, may be covered.
Final Words
Long-term care costs can rapidly drain the savings of an individual and/or their family. But this all-inclusive coverage ensures that individuals receive the support and healthy lifestyle they need without any financial burdens.
