Frequently Asked Questions

Long-term care encompasses the organization, delivery and financing of a broad range of services and assistance to people who are severely limited in their ability to function independently on a daily basis over a relatively long period of time, specifically chronically disabled elderly whose limitations had persisted or were expected to persist for at least 90 days.

Specialists who assess your needs, help create a plan for services and supports, and arrange, coordinate, manage and monitor those services. These specialists are also called case managers, service coordinators, or supports coordinators. They are often social workers or nurses.

Assessment, treatment and training to maintain or improve functioning such as strength, muscle tone and mobility.

Assessment, treatment and training to increase a person's ability to perform self-care and other activities in order to maximize independence and quality of life.

Assessment, treatment and management of breathing disorders.

Assessment and treatment for speech and language communication disorders and swallowing.

A form of psychotherapy used to change a person's way of thinking and behavior.

A form of psychotherapy that uses learning techniques to change behavior.

Therapy that uses recreation and activities to improve a person's functioning, independence and quality of life.

Interventions that focus on maintaining or improving an individual's ability to function independently.

Services to get a person to medical appointments, shopping centers and community services or activities. Transportation may include curb-to-curb taxicab services, public buses or vans that are wheelchair accessible.

Adult Day Care Services include:

• Social/therapeutic adult day services: Social, recreational and therapeutic activities provided in a community-based program for adults with physical, mental or cognitive impairments.
• Medical adult day services: Health and medical-related care provided in a community- based setting in addition to social, recreational and therapeutic activities. Examples of health and medical-related care include medical monitoring, medication administration and, in some cases, skilled nursing services.
• Mental health day treatment: A community-based, coordinated set of individualized treatment services to individuals with mental illness who are not able to function full-time in a normal school, work and/or home environment and need additional structured activities. This service includes diagnostic, medical, psychiatric and psychosocial methods of treatment.
• Day habilitation: Assistance to individuals with developmental disabilities or brain injury to develop or maintain socialization and self-help skills. raining in day habilitation programs may include such topics as money management, nutrition, household management, social skills and using community resources

Products, devices or equipment that enable people to maintain or improve their functional capabilities and achieve greater independence, such as:

• Physical aids: Examples include canes, walkers, built-up utensils, computer keyboard aid, transfer bench
• Cognitive aids: Examples include cognitive software, personal digital assistants (PDA) with reminder alarms linked to calendars, pillbox reminders, electronic memory aids
• Sensory aids: Examples include talking equipment such as clocks, closed circuit television for magnification, large button phones, hearing aids, TDDs/TYYs devices, vibrating bed alarms
• Communication aids: Examples include communication boards, mouth sticks, text-to- speech devices

Assistance with activities of daily living and daily tasks. Can include help with bathing, oral hygiene, shaving, dressing, transferring, meal planning, meal preparation and cleanup, toileting assistance, running errands, housecleaning and other day-to-day activities.

Visits to older adults or persons with disabilities who live on their own or while a caregiver takes a break.

Meals that comply with national nutritional guidelines and that are served in senior centers, a nutrition site or other approved setting at a reduced cost to eligible participants.

Devices and appliances such as wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and lifts that assist a person with a medical need or increase their mobility and independence.

Adaptation of an existing home to make it more accessible and/or safer and to help make it easier to get around and do daily activities. Examples of modifications include adding ramps, hand rails, grab bars, lever handles on doors, lifts and wider doors.

Training to improve a family caregiver's or individual's ability to care for themselves or another. Includes training in use of equipment and treatment regimens.

Nutritionally sound meals delivered to an individual's home.

Skilled nursing care or therapies ordered by a doctor and provided or overseen by licensed health care professionals such as nurses or physical therapists.

Assistance with household tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, making and cleaning up meals, doing dishes, grocery shopping and running errands.

Assistance with activities of daily living provided by an agency, an attendant hired by the consumer, or family or friends.

Short-term, temporary supervision or care of an individual when the primary caregiver cannot be there or needs a break or "time off" from caregiving responsibilities. Can include someone coming into your home, a stay in a nursing home or assisted living facility, or adult day services.

A center in the community that provides a variety of services including nutrition, recreation, health, social and educational services and comprehensive information and referral to help older adults find care/services.

Services provided for people with serious medical conditions and complex health care needs that require specific skilled nursing services that cannot be provided by non-nursing personnel. Skilled nursing may be provided in the person's home or other community setting on a regularly scheduled or intermittent (on and off) need basis. Nursing services are ordered by a physician and are provided by a registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse under the supervision of a registered nurse.