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Understanding Continuum of Health Care Services

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Understanding Continuum of Care ServicesAccording to "National Care Planning Council" (2012), “When a person requires someone else to help him with his physical or emotional needs over an extended period of time, this is long-term care.” Long-Term care is usually needed by people who are disabled, injured and the elderly. While some people might need assistance in many activities some people may only require minimum assistance. Long-Term care patients can usually be found in a nursing facility, retirement centers, and rehabilitation facilities.Some of the help long-term care provides is help with bathing, dressing, eating, daily household chores such as laundry, house cleaning, and ensuring their monthly expenses are being paid. Long-Term care patients may also need help with transportation to appointments and other daily obligations.("National Care Planning Council", 2012).Long-Term Health Care is one of the biggest challenges the United States faces today because of the expense it requires to take care of people who are in need of this type of care. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services the amount of people who need long-term care is on the rise. In 1982 the amount of people who required this care was 29.2 million people. It is estimated by the year 2020 the amount of people will be 52.1 million people. Applebaum and Kunkel (1991)Often times, people do not think about the future, and they do not properly prepare for life altering events; such as needing long term-care, and do not have the money to pay for this service. Often times it is left to the government to fund their needs.The continuum of care in the United States is: According to "National Cancer Institute" (n.d.), is “In medicine, describes the delivery of health care over a period of time. In patients with a disease, this covers all phases of illness from diagnosis to the end of life.”

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