The Continuum of Long-Term Care
The Continuum of Long-Term Care
Lukita Wilson
November 28, 2010
David Olsen
Long-Term Care
A variety of services that provides medical and non-medical needs toward individuals who are suffering from chronic illness, disability or old age is known as long-term care. Long- term care meets the needs of individuals who are no longer able to do many activities, which include bathing, dressing, cooking, and using the bathroom. This year, about nine million men and women over the age of 65 will need long-term care (Medicare.gov). By 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term care. Most will be cared for at home; family and friends are the sole caregiver for 70 percent of the elderly. A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that people will likely have a 40 percent chance of entering a nursing home will stay there five years or more (Medicare.gov). The goal for long-term care in the twenty-first century is to be organized as an efficient, coordinated continuum of high-quality care (Evashwick, 2005). According to Evashwick and Rundall continuum of care is defined as more than a collection of fragmented services; it is an integrated system of care. Therefore, in order for long-term care to provide an quality of care, each services provided must work together as an organization.
Managing Health Care Resources for Long-Term Care In order for long-term care to continue providing services they have adapted to change during the last decades. The organization has created different ways of providing services to individuals, especially now that a lot of individuals are at a certain age and they know exactly what type of service they want. Long-term care consumers want to maintain their current lifestyles and increasingly willing to shop around for providers who can accommodate them (Pratt, 2004). They want to receive care at home whenever possible, resulting in more demand for home health care and
Lukita Wilson
November 28, 2010
David Olsen
Long-Term Care
A variety of services that provides medical and non-medical needs toward individuals who are suffering from chronic illness, disability or old age is known as long-term care. Long- term care meets the needs of individuals who are no longer able to do many activities, which include bathing, dressing, cooking, and using the bathroom. This year, about nine million men and women over the age of 65 will need long-term care (Medicare.gov). By 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term care. Most will be cared for at home; family and friends are the sole caregiver for 70 percent of the elderly. A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that people will likely have a 40 percent chance of entering a nursing home will stay there five years or more (Medicare.gov). The goal for long-term care in the twenty-first century is to be organized as an efficient, coordinated continuum of high-quality care (Evashwick, 2005). According to Evashwick and Rundall continuum of care is defined as more than a collection of fragmented services; it is an integrated system of care. Therefore, in order for long-term care to provide an quality of care, each services provided must work together as an organization.
Managing Health Care Resources for Long-Term Care In order for long-term care to continue providing services they have adapted to change during the last decades. The organization has created different ways of providing services to individuals, especially now that a lot of individuals are at a certain age and they know exactly what type of service they want. Long-term care consumers want to maintain their current lifestyles and increasingly willing to shop around for providers who can accommodate them (Pratt, 2004). They want to receive care at home whenever possible, resulting in more demand for home health care and
References: Evashwick, C. (2005). The Continuum of Long- term care. (3rd edition). Clifton Park (NY): Delmar. Gleckman, K. (2009). The future of Long-Term Care: What is its place in the Health reform Debate. Retrieved from http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411908_longterm_care.pdf Medicare.gov (2009). Retrieved from http://www.medicare.gov/longtermcare/static/home.asp National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.longtermcare.gov/LTC/Main_Site/index.aspx Pratt, J.R. (2004). Long-Term Care: Management across the continuum. (2nd edition). Sudbury (MA): Jones and Bartlett Publishers.