Long-Term Care Glossary
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- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
- daily routine and functions that an individual is no longer capable of doing on their own. Such functions include, bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, eating, being mobile, and the ability to maintain control of bowel and bladder functions.
- Adult Day Care
- is usually at a center that provides both health care and social services for persons who cannot be left alone during the day.
- Assisted Living Care
- care designed to meet the individual needs of people who need some help with daily activities but do not require the skilled care of a nursing home.
- Benefit Period
- determines how long your Long Term Care insurance policy will continue to pay for your care. Benefit periods can be a set number of years, a set number of dollars or unlimited benefits.
- Benefit Triggers
- term used by insurance companies to describe when to pay benefits.
- Cognitive Disorder
- when a person's mental capacity has deteriorated resulting in the inability to remain in the same environment without assistance.
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)
- offer an innovative approach by combining independent housing with assisted living facilities and nursing home care, usually at the same location.
- Daily Benefit
- the maximum dollar amount your Long Term Care insurance policy will pay for each day you need assistance. Usually between $50 and $300 per day.
- Downgrade
- the ability to change your policy to a less comprehensive policy with a lower premium.
- Elimination Period
- during this period, the policy will not pay the cost of service. It is a waiting period where benefits do not begin until the specified waiting period has ended.
- Home Health Care
- medical services provided by a professional (nurse, therapist, social worker) in a home setting. They also provide help with everyday activities and functions, such as, dressing, bathing, light housekeeping and errands.
- Hospice Care
- helps the terminally ill and their families cope with physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of dying.
- Inflation Protection
- provides for increases in benefits depending on increases in the cost of long-term care services.
- Long-Term Care
- health care that provides service to those with a disabling or chronic condition who can no longer care for themselves.
- Nursing Home Care
- care for people with chronic or disabling illnesses who can no longer care for themselves but who do not need hospital care.
- Personal Care
- provides a supportive environment for people who need help with daily living.
- Premium Refund at Death
- any premiums paid minus any benefits paid are refunded to your estate at your death.
- Professional Care
- falls between skilled and personal care. Professional care provides attention of a registered nurse or professional therapist but does not require 24-hour supervision.
- Respite Care
- provides a break for the primary caregiver of a disabled person at home.
- Restoration of Benefits
- describes when you use only part of your benefits, recover and do not use them for a specified period of time, they are then restored in full.
- Skilled Care
- round-the-clock care provided by registered or licensed nurses, as well as therapy and rehabilitation conducted by skilled professionals.
- Survivorship Benefits
- in the event of death of a spouse the policy for the surviving spouse will be fully paid-up.
- Tax-Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance Policy
- a policy that offers certain federal tax advantages.
- Waiver of Premium
- is the option to stop paying a premium once you are in a nursing home and benefits become effective.
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