Long-Term Care Planning

Adults who need to live in nursing homes are generally older and more fragile than other seniors. Most have severe disabilities that require a great deal or care or suffer from dementia and are at great risk of injury. Many have lost control of bowel or bladder, need to be fed or have severe hearing loss. They may be confined to a nursing home and require some or complete assistance in moving from bed to wheelchair or even repositioning themselves in bed.

Nursing homes (also known as skilled nursing facilities) are staffed by nurses, nurse aides and generally have physical and occupational therapists on staff also.

Medicare does cover a limited number days of nursing home care, but it must meet medical necessity guidelines.