Long-Term Care



Future of Long Term Care

Introduction

An increasing proportion of elders in the population is projected for the next few decades. An increase of 76% is expected by 2030. Because the incidence of chronic illness and disability is correlated with advancing age, the demand for long-term care will correspondingly increase. Older persons will also be more ethnically and racially diverse. These circumstances cause concerns about the adequacy of long-term care services to assist culturally dissimilar elders with the management of chronic illnesses, functional impairment, and promotion of health to forestall institutionalization, maintain safety, and enhance quality of life. Although there are a number of options with specific advantages available for long-term care, these vary by state jurisdiction, have specific disadvantages, and typically present a difficult decision for older persons and their families (Ellis & Roadman, 2011).

Long-term care refers to assisting persons with health care and activities of daily living over an extended period of time. Long-term care takes place in the home and in a variety of community-based facilities. Mainly older people need long-term care, but younger persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses may also require the services. There is a continuum of long-term care options, ranging from home without services, home with services, adult day care and respite, board and room homes, elder group homes, residential facilities, assisting living facilities, and nursing homes (Sammer, 2011)

Discussion

According to the Centers for the Disease Control (CDC), the population of Americans is increasing because the death rate is decreasing. People are getting in the old age. The long-term care is also required to be considered within the national health reform by the policymakers. The paper aims to discuss the expected future of long-term care. The main points of discussion are the problems occurring in this area in the field of long-term care and also the innovations and developments technological advancements is bringing in this area and how it s making a positive change in long term care. The main idea discussed in this paper is the future of long term care in the country; how it is developed with technology and research with time. This evidence is supported by different journals and articles which demonstrate which problems are faced by the long term care and how the technological advancements is helping the long term care. Aging population demands more of the long-term care services and support. About 10 million citizens require the long-term care support and services. Many elderly and disable people require assistance at home. A few reside in the nursing homes to receive Medicaid benefits. The long-term care system facilitates many middle-income families (Gleckman, 2009). Assisted living is the fastest growing long-term care option, primarily developed and owned by for-profit corporations.

Aged people with disabilities require such facilities. 80% of the frail elderly and disable adults are given the long-term care at their homes by their family and friends. In 2007, paid services cost for $230 billion whereas the informal care's economic value became $375 billion. It is expected that with the ...