Care Management And Long-Term Care Facilities

When you or a loved one requires long-term care, it's important to understand the role of care management in the process. Care management is an essential component of long-term care, and understanding what it is and how it works can help ensure that you get the most out of your long-term care experience.

What Is a Long-Term Care Facility?

A long-term care facility — sometimes referred to as an LTC and commonly known as a nursing home — is a facility that provides comprehensive care for individuals who are unable to live independently or need help with daily activities. These facilities provide a variety of services, ranging from basic activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing, to more advanced medical care.

What Is Care Management?

Care management is a service offered by many long-term care facilities. It involves designing and implementing individualized plans for each resident based on their specific needs and preferences. These plans include activities that maintain the resident's physical health as well as their psychological, emotional, and social well-being.

A team of professionals, including nurses, social workers, dieticians, therapists, and other specialists, is involved in the process. They work together to coordinate services that meet the needs of each resident in a nursing home or long-term care facility. These coordinated services often include:

• Providing medical attention
• Managing medications
• Arranging for transportation to appointments
• Coordinating meals
• Nutrition counseling
• Helping with daily activities such as bathing or dressing
• Providing mental health support services, if needed

Additionally, your team can arrange access to recreation activities tailored to the individual interests and abilities of you or your loved one.

What Are the Benefits of Care Management?

There are many benefits to care management, including:

• Coordinated care
• Ability to remain as independent as possible
• Provides assistance where needed
• Reduced stress levels 
• Access to services 
• Improved quality of life

Additionally, having a team of professionals working together ensures that all aspects of a resident's health are considered when developing individualized plans for their care, preventing potential issues from going unnoticed or untreated before they become serious problems. 

Care management plays an important role in ensuring that residents receive comprehensive long-term care tailored to their individual needs and preferences. By understanding what this service entails and its many benefits, patients can remain independent for as long as possible. If you have any questions about what kind of services your facility offers through its care management program, reach out to a local provider such as Affinialcare today.