Long-term care is a broad-based term used to describe the many facilities and services that specialize in at-home and residential care. From independent living to assisted living to nursing home care, today's long-term care providers present various options to fulfill the care needs for seniors as well as for people of any age with chronic conditions and diseases and/or disabilities. Much of this guide focuses on today's senior population as it comprises most of the market for long-term care services. However, the guide's purpose is to help everyone currently or potentially associated with long-term care options including those who have illnesses or disabilities and the caregivers in their family and circle of friends to:

• become more aware of the different types of care available
• learn some of the best ways to search for the answers to care levels and facility types
• locate professionals equipped to help in the search and placement processes
• learn about residents' and patients' rights as set forth by the Commonwealth and other concerned health-related organizations
• learn how to work through some of the challenges faced in making a decision involving long-term care and
• learn some of the industry terms to enhance a clear understanding of all options.

The five types of licensed care services and facilities covered are:

• Home Care and Community Based Care
• Adult Day Care
• Continuing Care Retirement Communities
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Nursing Homes

To provide the best service and appropriate level of care to the individual resident as well as prepare programs that contribute positively to the overall well-being of an assisted living facility's population, it is important for each facility to have a thorough understanding of each resident's physical and emotional needs. Therefore, as with other long-term care services and facilities, assisted living facilities require that an assessment be conducted prior to admission as part of the admission process. The assessment is reviewed and a reassessment is performed at least once a year and whenever there is a significant change in the resident's condition.

Homes that accept non-ambulatory residents are required to meet special building code requirements. Depending on a facility's compliance levels under the Uniform Statewide Building Code, assisted living facility residents may be:

• ambulatory--in response to an emergency physically and mentally capable of exiting the facility without assistance
• non-ambulatory--unable to exit the facility in an emergency without the assistance of another person.

When a resident is admitted from an institution for people with developmental disabilities or mental illnesses, an agreement between the assisted living facility and the local community services board, a state mental health clinic or a private facility or physician for the provision of appropriate services is required.