Continuum of Care Options Matrix
Use the matrix below to identify and describe 5 options available for long-term care populations across the continuum of care. Each description must be at least 50 words. Also indicate the level of care for this option along with a brief explanation of how this level is different from the others.
| Continuum of Care Options | ||||||
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Long-Term Care Option
| Independent living facilities | Assisted living | Skilled Nursing Homes | Alzheimer’s care | Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) | |
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Description
| Members housed here are moderately able to carry out some day to day work with little medical impediment (Medcare.gov, 2017). The community comprises of a multi-unit senior housing development that with complete apartment setups. These facilities provide patients with various social amenities including meals, social outings, entertainment, cleaning, and transportation (Malone, 2011). They are also known as senior apartments, congregate homes or retirement villages | As the name implies, patients here require help living as they cannot safely do it on their own but do not need a highly comprehensive medical care. Typically, they live outside their own homes where they receive basic assistance with daily tasks such as meal preparation, help with bathing, dressing, eating and transportation, toileting, medication reminders or assistance, socializing and general housekeeping. They offer patients private apartments where they receive help with their activities of daily living (ADLs). Staffs are on a 24-hour standby schedule to increase the safety (Malone, 2011). Additionally, most of these facilities offer licensed nursing, services when the need arises
| These facilities are fully licensed to carry out medical treatment with nurses, provided they comply with a particular patient to nurse ration. Besides strict regulations demand that nurses be on duty all the time. The services given to a patient are dependent on their physician who decides what they require, that is either rehab care or special attention. Also known as level 1 care, Rehab care is given to patients who are expected to make a full recovery soon (Malone, 2011). Special care further branches into two. The first part includes patients with unique medical conditions while the other is for patients with dementia related behavior problems. These patients share rooms and receive meals at a communal dining area unless one is too ill to partake
| As denoted by the name the facilities mainly cater for patients with memory impairments as a result of either Alzheimer’s or dementia. The patients receive with 24-hour monitoring and care for safe and quality life. Residents in these homes are given semi-private apartments to facilitate their observing (Malone, 2011). The facilities are locked to prevent wandering off and equipped with staff trained to handle patients with memory issues. | These communities are a blend of independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing homes house in one. They are structured to offer a tiered approach to the process of aging by being adaptable to the changing needs of the patients. Upon admission, healthy adults have the option to stay independently in single family homes, condominiums or apartments. As time progresses and ADLs assistance is needed, they are transferred to assisted living or nursing centers, depending on their needs (Medcare.gov, 2017). These facilities are convenient for adults who want to spend the remaining duration of their lives in one location | |
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Level of Long-Term Care Service (include differences)
| These facilities provide patients with various social amenities including meals, social outings, entertainment, cleaning, and transportation | Patients are assisted with daily tasks such as meal preparation, help with bathing, dressing, eating and transportation, toileting, medication reminders or assistance, socializing and general housekeeping | The services given to a patient are dependent on their physician who decides what they require, that is either rehab care or special attention | These facilities are specifically designed for memory compromised patients | CCRCs are a well-rounded long term care option. They offer a the services offered in Independent living, Assisted living and Skilled nursing homes. | |
References
Malone, R. (2011, Sept 26). A Guide to Different Levels of Elder Care. Inside Elder Care. Retrieved from
http://www.insideeldercare.com/assisted-living/a-guide-to-different-levels-of-elder-care/
Medcare.gov. (2017). What are my other long-term care choices? Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/part-a/other-long-term-care-choices.html#collapse-4920
