What is Long-Term Care?

Long-Term Care is a variety of services that includes medical and non-medical care to people who have a chronic illness or disability.  Long-term care helps meet health or personal needs.  Most long-term care is to assist people with support services such as activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom.  Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living or in nursing homes. 

This year, about nine million men and women over the age of 65 will need long-term care.  By 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term care.  Most will be cared for at home; family and friends are the sole caregivers for 70 percent of the elderly.  A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that people who reach age 65 will likely have a 40 percent chance of entering a nursing home.  About 10 percent of people who enter a nursing home will stay there five years or more.

Medicare and Long-Term Care:

While there are a variety of ways to pay for long-term care,  it is important to  think ahead about how you will fund the care you get.  Generally, Medicare doesn't pay for long-term care.  Medicare pays only for medically necessary skilled nursing facility or home health care.  However, you must meet certain conditions for Medicare to pay for these types of care.  Most long-term care is to assist people with support services such as activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom. Medicare doesn't pay for this type of care - called "Custodial Care".  Custodial care (non-skilled care) is care that helps you with activities of daily living.  It may also include care that most people do for themselves, for example, diabetes monitoring.  Some Medicare Advantage Plans (formerly Medicare + Choice) may offer limited skilled nursing facility and home care (skilled care) coverage if the care is medically necessary.

Medicaid and Long-Term Care:

Medicaid is a State and Federal Government program that pays for certain health services and nursing home care for older people with low incomes and limited assets.  In most states, Medicaid also pays for some long-term care services at home and in the community.  Who is eligible and what services are covered vary from state to state.  Most often, eligibility is based on your income and personal resources.