What It Is
Long term care is the type of care that you may need if you can no longer perform "activities of daily living" by yourself, such as eating, bathing or getting dressed. It also includes the kind of care you would need if you had a severe cognitive impairment like Alzheimer's disease. Care can be received in a variety of settings, including your own home, assisted living facilities, adult day care centers or hospice facilities.

What It Isn't
Long term care isn't the type of care that you receive in the hospital or your doctor's office. It isn't the medical care you need to get well from a sickness or an injury. It isn't short-term rehabilitation from an accident or recuperation from surgery.

Long term care
Can be covered completely or in part by long term care insurance. Most plans let you choose the amount of the coverage you want, as well as how and where you want to use your benefits. A comprehensive plan includes benefits for all levels of care, custodial to skilled.

A long-term care insurance policy covers a variety of medical, personal and supportive services provided at home, in an assisted care facility or in a nursing home for an extended period of time. It can help you avoid depending on others for care, preserve your independence, protect your standard of living and give you greater choices if you need confined care or home health care.