What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care consists of a variety of services that include medical and non-medical care to people who have a chronic illness or are disabled. Wisconsin long-term care helps a person meet their health or personal needs. Most long-term care is to assist people with support services such as activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living or in nursing homes. It is important to remember that you may need long-term care at any age.

You may never need long-term care. This year, about nine million men and women over the age of 65 will need long-term care. By 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term care. Most will be cared for at home; family and friends are usually the sole caregivers for 70 percent of the elderly. A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that people who reach age 65 will likely have a 40 percent chance of entering a nursing home. About 10 percent of the people who enter a nursing home will stay there five years or more.

Wisconsin Medicare and Long-Term Care:

While there are a variety of ways to pay for long-term care, it is important to think ahead about how you will fund the care you should receive. Generally, Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care. Wisconsin Medicare pays only for medically necessary home health care and hospice care. However, you must meet certain guidelines for Medicare to pay for these types of care. Most Wisconsin long-term care is used to assist people with support services such as the activities of daily living, for example dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom.

Wisconsin Medicare doesn’t pay for this type of care called "custodial care". Custodial care (non-skilled care) is referred to as care that would help you with your activities of daily living. It may also include care that most people can usually provide for themselves, for example, diabetes monitoring. Some Medicare Advantage Plans (formerly Medicare + Choice) may offer limited skilled nursing facility and home care (skilled care) coverage if the care is medically necessary. You may have to pay some of the costs.

For more information about Medicare Advantage Plans, look at the Medicare Personal Plan Finder.

Medicaid and Wisconsin Long-Term Care:

Medicaid is a State and Federal Government funded program that pays for certain health services and nursing home care for seniors with low incomes and limited assets. In most states, Medicaid also pays for some long-term care services at home and in the community. Who is eligible and what services are covered vary from state to state. Most often, eligibility is based on your income and personal resources.

Choosing Wisconsin Long-Term Care:

Choosing the proper Wisconsin long-term care is an important decision. Planning for Wisconsin long-term care requires you to think about possible future health care needs for yourself or a loved one. It is important to look at all of your choices. You will have more control over decisions and be able to stay independent longer. It is extremely important to think about long-term care before you may need care or before a crisis occurs. Even if you plan ahead, making long-term care decisions can be very difficult and confusing. http://www.medicare.gov/longtermcare/static/home.asp

If you have loved on who may not be able to take care of themselves, please go to our Caregiver Corner and see what your next steps might be.

To see what choices you have for Senior Living Facilities, click here.