Long Term Care

The aim of this essay is to define a long term condition (LTC) and explain why this is important for nurses. Common symptoms may accompany many LTC’s and how these are treated, along with the impact on patient and carer will be considered. The patient chosen for this case study shall be referred to as John to

Acute care and long-term care are both continuum care, but there are many differences between these types of facilities. When people are severely injured or ill, they seek treatment at an acute care facility. “Acute care is medical care designed to treat and/or cure an acute condition, for example, a heart attack or stroke” (http://eldercarehelper.com, 2016). Acute care facilities usually release patients before the 30th day and treatment is provided by a physician. In long-term is provide for patients that need continuum care, but less intensive treatment. “Long-term care facilities offer medical care to patients who need…less intensive level then that provided at an acute care facilities” (Gartee, 2011). The patients usually stay longer

Long term care facilities use Joint Commission Accreditation as a benefit to show the quality and commitment to the health care organization. A long term care facility that is Joint Commission accredited will have a more appealing look to reimbursement centers and to the patient and families that they care for. Having this accreditation is also a risk management tool. The likelihood of a bad outcome is reduced if a facility is accredited by the Joint Commission. There is a team put together to come up with accreditation standards and to make sure facilities stay compliant with these standards. Performance is evaluated to ensure standards are followed.

Imagine that you are a patient in an hospital in Ontario - you have undergone acute care and are now ready to enter a Long-term care (LTC) facility for additional care. Now imagine that you have entered a complex maze, like the Waterloo County County Corn Maze, only much trickier. Why?

This assignment with look at long term conditions and the associated multiple pathology and the impact both physically and the financial burden placed on the NHS. It is reported that globally over 36 million deaths every year are accounted to long term conditions (World Health Organisation, 2013). The most common LTCs are reported to be Mental health problems, Diabetes, Hypertension, Musculoskeletal problems, Heart disease and Asthma. (Department of Health, 2012). The DH state that one third of the population are reported to have one or more long term conditions, these are described as conditions that cannot be cured but can be managed. (The Kings Fund, 2012)

Another part of the continuum is health care resources available to the patients. Long-term care does contribute to the management of these resources. Without LTC, these resources would not be in such high demand. According to Medicare.gov, there are many resources that go along with long-term care that need to be used, such as drug and health plans, doctors, hospitals, formulary finder, long-term planning, home health agencies, nursing homes, medical equipment suppliers, dialysis facilities, forms, and publications (Medicare.gov, Resource Locator). These resources will help the patients and their families find the best collaboration of services to meet their needs.

Long-term conditions (LTC) are defined as “any ongoing, long-term or recurring condition that can have a significant impact on people’s lives” (National Health Committee NHC, 2007, p. 116). Two out of three adults within NZ have or have had a LTC, resulting in the most prominent cause for hospital admissions, premature deaths and an increase in health expenditure (Auckland District Health Board, 2013). This assignment will cover Olivia’s (pseudo name) experience of living with a LTC and how this has impacted her life. A reflection on learning about LTC will be included as well as a discussion on the implications I may encounter in my future practice when caring for a LTC patient will conclude the assignment.

Long-term care sometimes abbreviated LTC, focuses on the providing services that promote independent living and quality of life, while still meeting an individual's medical and non-medical goals. There are many varieties of long-term care which include in-home care, assisted living facilitates, nursing homes, and retirement communities. While long-term care facilities typically offer an array of services, including meals, laundry, and housekeeping services, history has shown that greater areas of success have been achieved with these bundling of services in a smaller, more intimate facilities, such as Jefferson Park at Dandridge.

This essay discusses the core principles of long-term conditions and management. Government guidelines and standards are also discussed in relation to how these will impact the care of the patients who are experiencing long term conditions. The reports, guidelines and plans that play an important role in directing the current nursing system today, are discussed with regard to the management of chronic conditions and lastly, palliative care and outcomes from the publication “Together for Health – Delivering End of Life Care” (2013)

Long-term care has and is continuing to become an important part of the continuum of care. Years ago Long-term care (LTC) was considered only to be for the elderly, but as time passes it is for anybody and everybody who needs it. Barton (2006) stated, “Regardless of the length of time (i.e., from weeks to years), long-term care is an array of services provided in a range of settings to individuals who have lost some capacity for independence due to injury, chronic illness, or condition” (p. 367). According to Barton (2006), it states that the services long-term care provides help the consumer with basic needs and shows the individuals how to do daily living activities, along with therapy and being able to

Shared decision making should involve both health professionals and patients in discussions about their care. “While health professionals hold the expert clinical and technical knowledge, patients are experts about their own lives and treatment objectives, and also what is important to them when making decisions. (Lally, Macphail, Palmer, Blair and Thomsom, 2011).

As for Ms. Sanchez, since she is a long term care resident, assessments are not done as often as for skilled nursing patients that are also clients to Baptist. Her assessments are spread out further than those for the clients in the skilled nursing floor. While she did ask what these assessments were for, she was also glad the student did this. The client stated how sometimes people are too worried about the medical aspect and overlook the fact that there are other things they should look for. Aside from helping the facility by keeping it out of trouble with the state, it also helps Ms. Sanchez pay for her stay at the facility as she is on Medicaid and often times, scores on these assessments may help her qualify for the benefits.

Growing up with your grandparents has its benefits. I remember waking up to freshly baked biscuits and fried sliced ham on Saturday mornings just before cartoons. Riding to the pharmacy with my grandfather to pick up his medicine was one of my favorite trips. We would always stop for ice cream before we returned home. Soaking in the knowledge that streamed from the lips of your elders can go unappreciated until you are an adult. Watching people age gives you an understanding of what is important to seniors as they transition to retirement and lonIg-term care. Seniors value the ability to live and enjoy a life that includes independence, family, and home. In today's economy, there is a shortage of health care professionals. Home healthcare services are vital due to the aging US population and need for increased continuum of care.

In long term care facilities, or nursing homes as they are often referred to are facilities in which residents live, whom are usually of the older population and are cared for by nurses and nursing assistants. The ratio of residents to nursing assistants can vary by state and shift, for example in Ohio there may not be more than fifteen residents per nursing assistant in a shift in order for residents to receive the optimum amount of care possible. Nursing homes can not only include parts in which they provide skilled care by Nurses and Nursing Assistants, but also assisted living for those who just need help from time to time or assistance managing their medication. Residents still have the right to choice when in a nursing home and they are

The first author of the article, Medicaid Funding for Assisted Living Care: A Five-State Examination, is Eric Carlson. Carlson is the directing attorney under the National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC). He graduated summa cum luade from the University of Minnesota, and obtained his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California Berkeley. Most of his career has been spent advocating for older adults in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Carlson is very knowledgeable on these topics, and frequently presents to other attorneys and social workers at conferences nation-wide about these issues (NSCLC).