Crazyjames-Health

Posts Tagged ‘Elder’

Providing long-term care for the elderly is of increasing importance due to demographic shifts coupled with increased life expectancy within our population. The ethnic composition of our elderly population will also change. Because of these shifts, it is crucial for us to acknowledge the needs of these elderly individuals and to create ways to provide them with adequate care. The current distribution of services for African Americans is neither sufficient nor equal to that of their white counterparts. The trend of utilization of in-home services by older adults is increasing as seniors discover it more cost effective and healthier alternative than a nursing home. Home care services are divided into three levels of care based on the intensity of services provided. The first level is skilled care ordered by a physician and administered by a licensed nurse, including care for clients with wounds, catheters, fractures etc. The second is personal care services for those who need assistance with daily living, including assisting with bathing, ambulating and exercising. The third and most basic level of care is homemaker-chore services, which includes housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and other activities necessary to allow a person to remain in his or her home. These services can be used in conjunction with one another and can change to meet the client’s changing needs. Those who utilize in-home care can use several different means to pay for their services.