As chronic illnesses, aging, and other long-term health conditions take their toll on our well-being, we may find ourselves in need of extra care. Whether a supportive hand, or advanced medical attention, such as skilled nursing care, long-term care can provide the best solutions our loved ones need to continue living in comfort and dignity.

Long-term care refers to numerous services designed to support people facing various physical and emotional challenges — but what does that entail? In this blog post, we will explain all you need to know about long-term care, and the services we offer at Quality Life Services to help you and other family caregivers make informed decisions about health and well-being.

What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of services designed to meet the physical and emotional needs of those who cannot take good care of themselves due to chronic illness, disability, or old age. This care can be provided in various settings, including in-home, facility, and community.

Long-term care involves assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as personal hygiene, eating, dressing and bathing, medication supervision, transportation, companionship, laundry, and other household chores. It may also include more specialized services like physical therapy or speech therapy to help people live independently and safely while maintaining their dignity and quality of life.

Why Would I Need Long-Term care?

Long-term care is often necessary when you can no longer take care of yourself or your daily activities due to an ongoing health condition or disability. You may also require this care for various reasons, such as accidents, illnesses, advancing age, stroke, or other chronic diseases.

As people age, they are likely to experience changes in vision and hearing, mobility issues, and cognitive decline, which can significantly compromise their ability to live independently. For instance, according to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four seniors over 65 falls each year, and nearly half of these falls may result in severe injuries such as hip fractures or head traumas. Without long-term care, which may include long-term medical care or home care, recovering from such injuries may be difficult, if not impossible.

Cognitive decline is a major concern that can warrant long-term care in itself. It may result in illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer’s, which are increasingly common, especially among our senior loved ones. These conditions can also make it difficult for someone to manage everyday activities such as bathing, eating, or dressing.

Short-Term Vs. Long-Term Care

While long-term and short-term care services are related and are aimed at helping people enjoy quality health and general well-being, they differ in terms of timeframe, goals, and services provided.

As the name goes, short-term care refers to healthcare services that last anywhere between a few days to months. They are designed to help someone recover from injuries, illness, surgery, or other health conditions expected to heal and improve quickly. They may also include rehab services such as speech therapy (for people with strokes), occupational therapy, physical therapy, or custodial care services like bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and using the restroom.

On the other hand, long-term care involves comprehensive treatment and support that can last about two years to a lifetime. This care is ideal for people, especially seniors, with progressive or chronic medical conditions and mental or physical challenges. The primary benefit of Quality Life Services’ long-term care is that our skilled nursing team provides short-term care in a long-term healthcare setting to boost patients’ mobility, ability, and self-reliance, and facilitate a fast recovery.

Where Can I Get Long-Term Care Services?

Quality Life Services is your number-one health partner if you or your loved one requires long-term care services in or around Western Pennsylvania! We offer unmatched standards of care at competitive
pricing, and the most comprehensive amenities, such as short-stay programs, that are lacking in other healthcare facilities. We provide our services in the following settings:

At Home Care

Quality Home Care is a family-run care provider dedicated to delivering ethical, nonmedical care with warmth and compassion. We proudly serve Allegheny, Washington, and Westmoreland counties in Western Pennsylvania – always striving for the health and well-being of each client through personalized plans tailored to their individual needs.

Daytime Program

Our facilities seek to provide daytime supervision, meals and snacks, personal care assistance, and therapeutic and recreational activities in a community setting. It may also include limited therapies and medical care. It is particularly relevant for caregivers requiring daytime breaks from respite care (caregiving duties) or family caregivers working during the day.

Residential Setting

This setting includes facility options such as:

  • Assisted Living facility-Health services and personal care is given in a residential facility. This option offers 24/7 care and a comprehensive suite of services to help clients lead comfortable lives.
  • Nursing Home-Residential facilities offer an extensive and high level of care and supervision to help people with their daily activities. They provide personal care, therapy, medication, rehabilitation, and lodging services around the clock.

Quality Life Services: Ensuring Long-Term Care Solutions

At Quality Life Services, we understand that quality is of paramount concern regarding healthcare needs for you and your loved ones. Our family-owned business chose Western Pennsylvania as its home – where we have been providing industry-leading care in various sectors for over 40 years, from skilled nursing services & personal care to hospice & an in-house pharmacy.

Contact us today and let us help provide what your health and well-being deserve.

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