Defining Community Long Term CareCommunity long term care services are finding resurgence as an attractive and more cost effective alternative to institutional care. Even the law itself through a Supreme Court ruling has required states to make evaluations of their long term care systems and to promote and expand community based ones. Most importantly, the court has ruled that disabled individuals can no longer be required to seek service in an institution as this discriminates their right to be serviced in the community if such a setting is appropriate for their condition. In addition, the court ruled that states are required to provide such community long term care to disabled individuals provided that it best suits their condition as determined by a doctor; that they prefer such an arrangement; and that the state has sufficient resources to provide satisfactory community long term care. Community-based settings range from foster homes for adults, so-called board and care homes, and continuing care retirement communities to assisted living facilities, all of which are combined with housing and necessary social support. These are essentially recommended for people who may need assistance in their homes but are well enough not to be provided with 24-hour watch which is usually the case in nursing homes. Categories for community long term care services are ADL or activities of daily living or IADL which is instrumental activities of daily living. ADL oriented community long term care involves assistance in eating, bathing and dressing while IADL may mean meal preparations and assistance with medications. Community long term care is also inclusive of a number of other types of services. Caregivers or assistants can provide personal care services, homemaker or chore assistance to accomplish everyday tasks; they can even do home modifications and buy personal care supplies as necessary. Schedule of service can be made in accordance of one's needs; a respite care-substitute can come in during days only or on weekends, nights and on emergencies. The respite care-substitute can also be asked to relieve the family caregiver through short stays in the long term care facility that the patient is staying in. Community long term care also includes therapeutic and socially stimulating activities such as adult day programs which includes all meals and transportation. If the patient recovers well enough and is of an age in which going back to work is a viable option, there are even supported employment programs as well as training and placement. If the patient has been out of work for sometime, there are also provisions for work adjustment. If there is an inclination towards a vocational course, there are vocational evaluations and other vocational services available. In general, community long term care indeed ensures that the quality of life that a patient has formerly enjoyed may be restored in some capacity. While there may be certain restrictions of course on what one can now do given whatever condition one has, the programs and services offered by such care ensures that enjoyment, comfort and other mentally and physically healthy pursuits can still be enjoyed. |