Continuum of Long-Term Care
The Continuum of Long-Term Health Care
Lisa Lewis
HCS/310
August 9, 2010
John Dean
The Continuum of Long-Term Health Care
Health care is a fascinating industry. So many types of care are included within the industry. Health care can be very broad or very specific. Health care is also comprised of different types of health care. One specific sector is long-term health care. Long-term care plays a huge role in the health care continuum. This paper will define long-term care and a continuum as well as discuss the services provided and how these services fit in the continuum of care, the resources that go along with long-term care and how it contributes to overall health care resources, and how long-term care services will be impacted in the future. Long-term health care tends to many types of people. “Long-term care (LTC) typically refers to settings in which individuals reside for ongoing care. Long-term care also refers to health care needs or supervision that an individual may require for undetermined time, or even lifelong” (Long-Term Care, para. 1). Long-term care is not specific to a certain age group, and long-term care can be given in various settings. “Long-term care can be acquired in one’s home or more typically in sheltered care or independence-supporting settings described continuing care retirement communities” (Long-Term Care, para. 1). To make sure long-term care is provided at the optimum level, it must be a part of a continuum of health care. “A continuum of aging services is a comprehensive and integrated network of services that guides and tracks patients/clients over time and includes acute, transitional, long-term, and preventative care” (Clapp, 1993, General Definition, para. 1). A continuum in the long-term care field will help ensure quality care because more resources are involved to make sure the patient is being taken care of properly. “An integrated continuum requires active collaboration among local
Lisa Lewis
HCS/310
August 9, 2010
John Dean
The Continuum of Long-Term Health Care
Health care is a fascinating industry. So many types of care are included within the industry. Health care can be very broad or very specific. Health care is also comprised of different types of health care. One specific sector is long-term health care. Long-term care plays a huge role in the health care continuum. This paper will define long-term care and a continuum as well as discuss the services provided and how these services fit in the continuum of care, the resources that go along with long-term care and how it contributes to overall health care resources, and how long-term care services will be impacted in the future. Long-term health care tends to many types of people. “Long-term care (LTC) typically refers to settings in which individuals reside for ongoing care. Long-term care also refers to health care needs or supervision that an individual may require for undetermined time, or even lifelong” (Long-Term Care, para. 1). Long-term care is not specific to a certain age group, and long-term care can be given in various settings. “Long-term care can be acquired in one’s home or more typically in sheltered care or independence-supporting settings described continuing care retirement communities” (Long-Term Care, para. 1). To make sure long-term care is provided at the optimum level, it must be a part of a continuum of health care. “A continuum of aging services is a comprehensive and integrated network of services that guides and tracks patients/clients over time and includes acute, transitional, long-term, and preventative care” (Clapp, 1993, General Definition, para. 1). A continuum in the long-term care field will help ensure quality care because more resources are involved to make sure the patient is being taken care of properly. “An integrated continuum requires active collaboration among local
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