What is Long Term Care?

Long-term care, sometimes referred to as long-term care services and supports, refers to any assistance over a prolonged period to help address the social, psychological, environmental, medical, or financial needs of a person.

Long-term care often includes assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs are fundamental life tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting (e.g., getting to/from and on/off the toilet), and mobility (e.g., getting around or transferring from a bed to a chair/wheelchair). Long-term care can also include assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as housekeeping, meal preparation/cleanup, shopping, accessing transportation, running errands, using the telephone/computer, and banking/managing money.

There is a spectrum of long-term care services, from receiving limited assistance in our home to receiving around-the-clock care in a skilled nursing facility. The level of care a person requires may increase and decrease over time. However, all long-term care should be tailored to individual needs and preferences.

The North Carolina system of long-term services and supports is complicated and confusing. Figuring out how to get quality services that fit our needs can be difficult. FOR can help!