FAQs - PREPARING for Long-Term Care

Advance Preparation

Nearly half of all Americans will need long-term care at some point in their lives. In fact, one in five over the age of 50 is at a high risk of needing long-term care within the next 12 months. Therefore, planning is crucial if you are to designate a facility that will be able to provide your loved one, relative or friend with the highest quality of care and quality of life in a safe and secure environment. It helps to diminish the feeling of loss or guilt that some experience, either when entering or placing a loved one or relative in an assisted living residence or a nursing facility. In addition, it aids in making the transition less stressful for the new residents, families and loved ones. Having a conversation about a person's long-term care wishes in advance will be helpful when the time comes to make more concrete decisions about the daily care of loved ones or friends who can no longer care for themselves.

Yet, the decision to reside in a long-term care setting can be a difficult one to make. The best scenario is one where all parties realistically evaluate both the current situation and how it may change in the short or long-term future. Ideally, being proactive will help everyone arrive at a mutual decision that is the best solution. The first step in the planning process is having the conversation about a person's long-term care wishes.

Having the Conversation About Long-Term Care

Talk Sooner Rather Than Later

Prepare Yourself

Prepare Your Loved One

Choose the Right Time and Environment

Stay Positive

Be a Good Listener

Involve Others in Decision-Making

Signals To Look For

Living In A Nursing Home: Myths and Realities

Many myths, or misconceptions, persist about nursing facility life. In the past decade, nursing facilities, like all areas of health care, have changed dramatically in terms of staffing, policies, procedures, and general approach to the needs of their residents. The goals of the long-term care profession are to provide both quality care and quality of life in a safe and secure environment.

Understandably, some people are apprehensive about a move from their own home to a nursing facility. People do not know what to expect, and worry about what they believe is relinquishing control over their lives. long-term care providers understand these concerns, and want residents and their families to know the difference between the myths and the realities of life in a nursing facility.

Myth: A nursing facility is like a hospital.

Myth: Nursing facility residents are confused.

Myth: There's no privacy in a nursing facility.

Myth: Nursing facility residents never leave.

Myth: I will not be able to make my own decisions.

Myth: Nursing facilities have unpleasant odors.

Myth: Nursing facilities do not provide quality care.

Myth: Husbands and wives must live apart in a nursing facility.

Myth: Nursing facility residents are not visited regularly by family and friends.

Myth: Meals are not appetizing.

Myth: Residents are controlled by medications.

Myth: Physical restraints/restrictive devices are common.

Myth: Nursing facilities are expensive.

Myth: Medicare or my health insurance will pay for a lengthy stay in a nursing facility.

Having Your Say – Advance Directives

Experience shows that a catastrophic medical event, such as an accident or a stroke, can leave a person incapacitated and unable to make decisions or to communicate with others. That leaves treatment decisions concerning what is in your best interest up to family members, significant others, health care providers or the judicial system. In order to avoid this difficult situation, all adults--not just the adults with chronic diseases or other medical conditions--should plan for their future health care treatment preferences and complete an Advance Directive document that specifies personal preferences regarding acceptable and unacceptable medical treatments.

There is a fairly easy way to stay in control--to "Have Your Say"--about these events that are often filled with emotions. An Advance Directive document can provide specific guidance regarding a person’s treatment preferences in a situation such as an irreversible coma following a debilitating stroke.

Typically, a person may not know what medical treatments he or she may prefer or reject. The advantage of preparing an Advance Directive is that the process serves as a guide for those who may need to make informed decisions regarding major treatments such as tube feeding or ventilator care. You decide in different scenarios how you wish to be treated and even "if" you wish to be treated. Since an Advance Directive prescribes your care plan if you are incapacitated, it may be wise to involve family, significant others, a religious advisor, your physician, other medical professionals or an attorney (however, an attorney may not be required to complete this document).

Each state government may regulate the preparation of an Advance Directive differently. This makes it important to work within a state’s framework to ensure that health care providers, including nursing facilities and assisted living residences, honor your choices regarding, for example, situations involving permanent coma, persistent vegetative state, brain death, and comfort care.

Two Types of Advance Directives

Living Will vs. Medical Power of Attorney

Modifying an Advance Directive

Retrieving the Advance Directive

Additional Information on Advance Directives

 

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