Long Term Care
What does the Illinois government do for its long-term care?
Funding
- "However, it is estimated that only a third of the aging have enough financial resources to pay for one year of nursing home care and another third do not even have enough to pay for one full month of such care."
Medicare:
- Medicare is the public health insurance program for senior citizens; however, few realize that Medicare does not cover long-term care.
-Medicare pays for short term stays in nursing homes or home care associated with post-acute care and rehabilitation, doctor/hospital visits, and prescription drug costs. It does not pay for the kinds of long-term care support services many healthy older adults need as they age.
- "Medicare generally does not pay for home health care for longer than 60-day episodes. Home health care does not pay for nursing home care, 24-hour home care, or custodial support services, such as assistance with maintaining a home, meal preparation or personal care tasks (bathing, dressing, etc.)."
Medicaid:
-Consequently, "Medicaid -the federal-state health care program for low-income individuals and families- plays a vital role in providing basic long-term care services for older adults with little or no financial resources." Though it is commonly viewed as a program for low-income individuals, it has become increasingly important for older adults who had been middle class. This is due to the lack of finances of most older adults when basic long-term care becomes necessary.
Rights
"No resident shall be deprived of any rights, benefits, or privileges guaranteed by law, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, or the Constitution of the United States solely on account of his status as a resident of a facility.”
- A resident has the right to manage his/her own financial affairs.
- They have the right to retain and use/wear personal property in immediate living quarters "unless deemed medically inappropriate by a physician"
- In such cases when clothing is provided to a resident by the facility it must fit properly.
- A resident may retain his/her own personal physician at his own expense.
All nursing home residents diagnosed with a serious mental illness must be re-screened by the Department of Human services after 90 days, 6 months, and annually from thereon-out to assess their need for nursing facility care..
Safety
- The facility must provide storage for the residents' personal property, along with a means of keeping valuable items safe, and preventing loss and theft. The facility must also develop procedures for promptly investigating complaints of theft.
Drug Treatment
- Residents shall not be given any unnecessary drugs. This includes any drug used in excess, or without adequate monitoring and indications for use. It also includes any drug used when there are symptoms/indications that the drug should be reduced or discontinued.
Restraints:
- Restraints or confinements are not for punishment or the convenience of any facility personnel. They shall not be used unless ordered by a physician and properly documented. However, in situation where it is necessary for emergency care, restraints may be used for brief periods of time.