It can be difficult to make the decision to seek in-home care or long-term care for your loved one. However, when they can no longer live alone safely or comfortably, it’s important to find them the right care.
Navigating the complex world of senior care options in Arizona can be overwhelming. It’s important to find a caregiver or agency you can trust and who will protect your loved one’s health and safety.
The Arizona Long Term Care System is one option for affordable assisted living or hospice care options. You can also choose a private in-home care service. Here is a guide to your options for long-term care for seniors in Arizona.
What Is Long-Term Care?
Long-term care is any type of elder care service that is not temporary, and instead is offered on a daily or recurring basis. Your loved one may need long-term care if they can no longer safely take care of themselves or live independently.
Long-term care can occur in your home, your loved one’s home, or at an outside facility like an assisted living home or skilled nursing facility.
Most long-term care services offer assistance with the tasks of daily living, which are getting in and out of bed and to and from the bathroom, bathing, dressing, grooming and personal care, and eating.
The range of services provided depend on the caregiving agency you choose or the care facility your loved one moves into.
What Are the Different Types of Long-Term Care?
In-home care services can include personal care and/or skilled nursing care. Outside caregiving facilities offer different stages of care: independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care.
The type of long-term care you choose will depend on a number of factors:
- Your loved one’s age
- Their abilities
- Their mobility
- Their overall health
- How safe their home is
- Your budget
- The availability of care services in your area
- Your loved one’s wishes
- The ability of family members to share in caregiving tasks
Long-Term Care Services
Long-term care includes personal care and skilled care services. These services can be provided in a home or a facility. They typically offer some or all of these personal care services:
- Assistance with the tasks of daily living
- Mobility assistance
- Meal preparation
- Grocery shopping
- Light housekeeping
- Housework or maintenance
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Socialization and companionship
- Medication management
- Supervision and safety
They may also offer some or all of these skilled care services:
- Medical monitoring and vital sign monitoring
- Medication administration
- Wound care
- Mobility assistance
- Occupational, physical, or speech therapy
- IV treatments
- Feedings
- Administration of simple medical procedures
In-Home Care Services
In-home care services are services provided in the comfort of your own home by a licensed caregiver. There are a wide range of different in-home care services available, from occasional help and respite care to 24/7 caregiving.
Your loved one may prefer in-home care because they can remain in an environment they are comfortable in, surrounded by their own belongings. In-home care services are also a great compromise if you and other family members can provide caregiving services but can’t be with your loved one 24/7.
In-home caregivers offer assistance with the tasks of daily living, and may also provide socialization and companionship, memory care, housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation, medication management, mobility assistance, and safety monitoring.
If needed, you can also choose more advanced or comprehensive in-home care services, such as caregivers who offer memory care services, Alzheimer’s care services, in-home hospice care, in-home skilled nursing care, and joint replacement care.
Assisted Living
Assisted living homes are designed for seniors who need assistance with the tasks of daily living, but who cannot remain in their home.
This could be because they have no family caregivers, they don’t want to burden their family with caregiving tasks, or their home is no longer safe for them even with in-home care services.
Assisted living facilities typically offer a wide variety of personal care services, though they do not usually have registered nurses or physicians on staff. They may offer transportation to medical appointments and a concierge medical service.
They typically also offer amenities catered to seniors who are active or semi-active, including social events, movies, games, senior fitness classes, spiritual services, and more.
Skilled Nursing Care
Skilled nursing care is the next level of care after assisted living or in-home care services. Skilled nursing care can be provided in your home or at an outside facility.
If you choose in-home skilled nursing care, a registered nurse will come to your home at least once per day to provide more specialized and comprehensive medical care.
Your loved one may need skilled nursing care if they have an acute or chronic illness, injury, or disease. Skilled nursing care services include medical monitoring, wound care, diabetes management, stroke management, IV treatments, physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy services.
In-Home Hospice Care
In-home hospice care is end of life care provided in the home rather than in a clinical facility. Your loved one may need hospice care when they have a terminal illness, chronic medical condition, or degenerative disease and have six months or less to live.
Hospice care is meant to make patients comfortable, relieve pain, and provide palliative end of life care. No curative treatments are provided. Your loved one’s physician will let you know when it is time to consider hospice care.
Assisted Living Hospice Care
Assisted living hospice care includes hospice care services provided in a clinical facility. Visitors may be limited and may have to stick to specific visiting hours.
Your loved one will have 24/7 medical care from registered nurses and physicians. They may have a private room or a shared room, and it will look like a hospital room.
Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS)
The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) is a government program that is part of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS. This program provides health insurance coverage for Arizona seniors who need long-term care services.
Unlike Medicare, ALTCS was designed specifically for Arizona seniors who need long-term care. In order to qualify for ALTCS, your loved one must meet very strict financial and nonfinancial eligibility guidelines.
This means you can’t have more than $2,000 in countable resources or earn more than $2,382 in monthly income, including wages, Social Security Disability, Social Security Retirement, SSI, pensions, 401k accounts, and other income sources.
To learn more about the eligibility requirements or to apply for ALTCS, visit the AHCCCS website or visit your local ALTCS office.
Learn More About Long-Term Care for Seniors
If you’re interested in learning more about long-term care options for seniors in Arizona, our team at Placita In Home Care can help.
We offer a wide range of services for seniors and their families, including in-home care, assisted living placement services, in-home safety evaluations, and assistance applying for Care Bridge assisted living financial assistance.
Call us today or contact us online to learn more about our long-term care services or to schedule an appointment with us for a consultation.