What is Long-Term Care?

LTC CaregiverMany people think the phrase “long-term care” refers to an insurance policy. While insurance may be part of your strategy, long-term care encompasses everything from long-term services and supports for personal care needs, to where you will live and how you will navigate the myriad of legal, family, and social dynamics along the way.

It is important to note that most long-term care is not considered medical care, and therefore not covered by Medicare.  Most long-term care is actually custodial care, or help with basic personal tasks of everyday life (often referred to as “Activities of Daily Living,” or “ADLs”).

Activities of Daily Living include:

  • Eating, Bathing, Dressing, Transferring, Toileting and Continence

Other common long-term care services and supports are assistance with everyday tasks, sometimes called “Instrumental Activities of Daily Living” or “IADLs,” including:

  • Housework, managing money, taking medication, preparing and cleaning up after meals, shopping for groceries or clothes, using the telephone or other communication devices, caring for pets, or responding to emergency alerts such as fire alarms

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, LongTermCare.gov, “What is Long-Term Care?” Rev. 10/10/2017