Long-term care (LTC) refers to a broad
range of services designed to provide
assistance over prolonged periods to
compensate for loss of function due to
chronic illness or physical or mental
disability.1
LTC includes hands-on,
direct care as well as general supervisory
assistance. The type, frequency, and
intensity of services vary; some people
need assistance for a few hours each
week, whereas others need full-time
support. LTC differs from acute or
episodic medical interventions because
it is integrated into an individual’s daily
life over an extended time.2
LTC spans
three realms: (1) assistance with essential,
routine activities such as eating, bathing,
dressing, and tasks required to maintain
independence, such as preparing meals,
managing medications, shopping for
groceries, and using transportation;
(2) housing; and (3) medical care. Often,
LTC is associated with institutional
settings such as nursing homes (NHs).
However, LTC is also provided in a
variety of noninstitutional settings
collectively referred to as Home and
Community-Based Services (HCBS).
For this report, we compared LTC for
older adults delivered through HCBS
with care delivered in NHs.