Full Time Care

Full time care can often be offered by informal care givers living with the patient. But this arrangement is not always in the interest of the care giver. Because of the demand on a care giver's time and attention, this arrangement will often result in the care giver suffering from depression, social isolation and the development of medical ailments. Again, the decision is often dictated by the lack of funds to pay for professional care. But when the need for care has progressed to fa full time basis, advisors or family should be looking to implement formal care delivery either in the home or in a facility. As with other care options mentioned in earlier posts a care manager could prove invaluable in selecting the setting and the care providers.

Depending on what causes the need for long term care a patient could start out at any point on the curve. For instance a stroke, injury or sudden illness may result in the immediate need for part time or full time care. On the other hand the slowly progressing infirmity of old age, the slow onset of dementia or a progressively deteriorating medical condition may only require occasional help; beginning with intermittent care from an informal care giver but gradually progressing to the need for full time formal care.

The care progression curve also illustrates and important principle with long term care. It takes time for the need for formal care to manifest itself. Short duration, long term care situation scan often be handled by health insurance or Medicare service providers. In addition, families may have the resources and the stamina to get through short periods of care without paying for help. As the days turn into months, the patient typically worsens and requires more attention and the ability of informal care givers weakens. Long duration care situations almost always result in the need for bringing in paid, formal care givers of for placement in a facility.

Although the need for long term care will happen to about one out of twso of us, that need may not be longer than a few weeks or for a few months. But none of us know whether our need for care will be of long duration or short duration and it is important when for for long term care to plan for the worst case scenario.