People who are older and require help with basic tasks of living — bathing, dressing, personal care, housekeeping or preparing meals — are candidates for long-term care services. LongTermCare.gov estimates that most people in the U.S. turning 65 will need some form of long-term care during their lives.
Reasons for needing long-term care include:
If you have a medical issue or a disability, many long-term care options are available to you. You can get services in:
Given the choice, most people would prefer to live in their own home or with their family. By getting help with everyday tasks, this often can happen. Some types of services you may be able to get at home are:
Whether you live alone or stay by yourself when your family goes to work, you do not have to be lonely. If you go to a daytime program, also called adult day care, you can have fun, learn and be with others. You also may get help with some tasks, such as taking medicine.
Sometimes it’s not possible to live by yourself or with your family. In those cases, assisted living or a nursing home might be right for you. These facilities are professionally staffed businesses that provide different levels of care, depending on what you need.
If you choose to live in an assisted living facility, you will usually have your own room or apartment. You can bring your things with you to make it feel like home. You will usually eat with others. Services might include:
If your doctor says you need full-time care from a nurse, a nursing home may be right for you. Nursing homes are the highest level of care most people will receive outside of a hospital. This type of care is sometimes called custodial care. In addition to a high level of medical care, residents get help with feeding, bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed, and other activities.
If you do not have much income or other resources, Medicaid may pay for a nursing home. You can talk to a Texas Health and Human Services Commission employee about Medicaid. You will have to live in a nursing home for 30 consecutive days before you can apply for services.
Many people think that Medicare will pay for their long-term care expenses, but this is usually not true. Instead, people have to rely on their savings, long-term care insurance or Medicaid to cover the costs.
And while Medicaid pays for the largest share of long-term care services, to qualify your income and assets must be below a certain level and you must meet the minimum state eligibility requirements. To find out if you might be eligible for Medicaid or to apply for benefits, visit Your Texas Benefits.
Note: Texas is required by federal law to have a Medicaid Estate Recovery Program. This means that if you received Medicaid long-term care services, the state of Texas has the right to ask for money back from your estate after you die. In some cases, the state may not ask for anything back, and the state will never ask for more money back than it paid for your services.