What You Should Know About: Long-Term Care in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvanians are fortunate to have a robust continuum of care available to them. At one end of the spectrum is home care and care provided in a community setting, such as adult day care. At the other end of the spectrum is nursing home care. In the middle are personal care homes, commonly called assisted living residences.
- Nursing Homes provide around-the-clock medical care and daily living assistance to residents who are the sickest or who may be recovering from a hospitalization and need short-term rehabilitation. Nursing homes provide our frailest and most vulnerable residents with quality care while maintaining their dignity, giving families peace of mind.
- Personal Care Homes - also known as assisted living residences -- help people who need help with day-to-day living including cooking, bathing and personal hygiene, but do not need round-the-clock medical attention. Personal-care homes do not provide 24-hour nursing care, but they can provide limited medical services such as assistance with insulin injections or medications.
- Home & Community-based Services give residents access to long-term care assistance in their own homes or at a nearby community setting. These residents typically do not need as much care and assistance as residents in personal care homes or nursing homes.
Each setting offers services tailored to the needs of the individual. The most important consideration when trying to decide what is right for you or your loved one is your unique situation. For example, the elderly resident often has different needs than the younger resident. Some residents, such as those with dementia or Alzheimer’s, may have different needs, preferences and desires that need to be considered in the selection of an appropriate facility. Families that live far away from loved ones, or who work fulltime, may make different choices than families who live next door. The most important thing is choosing what’s appropriate for your own situation.