Long-term care is ongoing support for people who need help with daily life or have health needs that continue over time. It can look very different from one person to the next, from a few hours of help at home to 24-hour care in a nursing facility.
Quick takeaways
- Long-term care is ongoing support for people who need help with daily activities or have health needs over months or years.
- It can be provided at home, in adult day programs, in assisted living or in a nursing facility.
- In a nursing facility, long-term care combines daily support with 24-hour nursing and medical oversight.
- Long-term care focuses on health, safety, comfort and quality of life.
What long-term care includes
Long-term care usually involves help with the everyday activities most of us take for granted, sometimes called activities of daily living:
- Bathing and grooming
- Dressing
- Eating
- Using the bathroom
- Moving around, such as getting in and out of bed or a chair
Depending on the setting, it can also include medication management, nursing care, therapy, meals, housekeeping, social activities and emotional support. Help with daily activities is sometimes called custodial care.
Who benefits from long-term care
People of any age can need long-term care, but it is most common among older adults living with conditions such as:
- Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia
- Effects of a stroke
- Parkinson’s disease
- Heart failure, COPD or other chronic illnesses
- Frailty or limited mobility
If you are caring for someone with memory changes, our guide to the stages of dementia can help you understand how needs may change.
Where long-term care is provided
- At home, through family caregivers, home care aides or home health services
- Adult day programs, which offer daytime supervision, activities and meals
- Assisted living, for people who need some help but not round-the-clock nursing
- Nursing facilities, for people who need 24-hour care and nursing oversight
Our overview of senior care options compares these settings side by side.
Long-term care is about more than medical needs. It is about helping someone live each day with comfort and dignity.
Long-term care vs. skilled nursing
The two often happen under the same roof, which can be confusing. Skilled nursing is care that must be given by licensed nurses or therapists, and it is often short term, such as rehab after a hospital stay. Long-term care is ongoing support for daily life and health over months or years. Many people in long-term care also receive skilled nursing services as part of their care.
Life in a long-term care community
A good long-term care community feels like home. Days often include meals together, activities, visits with family and friends, and time for rest, all with nurses and caregivers available around the clock. A personalized care plan guides each resident’s care and is reviewed regularly with the family.
Next steps
If you think a loved one may need long-term care, start by talking with their doctor about current needs. From there, our guides on choosing a nursing home in Baltimore, paying for long-term care and Medicaid in Maryland can help you plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is long-term care?
Long-term care is a range of services that help people who need ongoing support because of a chronic illness, disability, memory changes or frailty. It includes help with daily activities as well as health care.
What is the difference between long-term care and skilled nursing?
Skilled nursing refers to care that must be provided by licensed nurses or therapists, often short term after a hospital stay. Long-term care is ongoing support that may include skilled nursing along with help with everyday activities.
What is custodial care?
Custodial care is help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, using the bathroom and moving around. It is a core part of long-term care.
Who needs long-term care?
People who can no longer safely manage daily life on their own, often because of conditions like dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure or general frailty, may benefit from long-term care.
Where is long-term care provided?
It can be provided at home, in adult day programs, in assisted living communities and in nursing facilities, depending on how much support a person needs.
This article is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Coverage rules can change, so confirm details with Medicare, your plan or your care team.
