Among the issues confronting America is long-term care for frail, older persons and others with chronic conditions and functional limitations that limit their ability to care for themselves. Improving the Quality of Long-Term Care takes a comprehensive look at the quality of care and quality of life in long-term care, including nursing homes, home health agencies, residential care facilities, family members and a variety of others. This book describes the current state of long-term care, identifying problem areas and offering recommendations for federal and state policymakers. Who uses long-term care? How have the characteristics of this population changed over time? What paths do people follow in long term care? The committee provides the latest information on these and other key questions. This book explores strengths and limitations of available data and research literature especially for settings other than nursing homes, on methods to measure, oversee, and improve the quality of long-term care. The committee makes recommendations on setting and enforcing standards of care, strengthening the caregiving workforce, reimbursement issues, and expanding the knowledge base to guide organizational and individual caregivers in improving the quality of care.

Expert advice on planning for your own or a relative’s future care needs As we live longer and healthier lives, planning for the long term has never been more important. Planning gives you more control, but it’s not easy to find accurate information and answers to your questions. That’s where AARP’s Planning For Long-Term Care For Dummies comes in. This comprehensive guide gives you questions to ask yourself and others about how best to achieve your goals, whether you have immediate needs or can take some time to sort out the possibilities. The book Covers home modifications so that you can stay at home safely for as long as you like Lays out the opportunities and costs associated with independent living, assisted living, and other options Gives you a range of driving and transportation alternatives Sorts out the various sources of care at home Helps you navigate the healthcare system Reviews the legal documents you should prepare and update Helps you determine whether you need long-term care insurance Offers checklists and other resources to help you make decisions Gives you guidance on how to talk to your family about sensitive issues If you're looking for trusted information on how to prepare for the future care needs for yourself or a relative, this sensitive, realistic, and authoritative guide will start you on the right road.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE COMPLICATED ISSUE OF LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE "Next to buying the right long-term care insurance, buying and reading J.K. Lasser's Choosing the Right Long-Term Care Insurance is the best investment seniors and their families can make to help insure independence and dignity in their golden years." -Scott Harshbarger, President and CEO, Common Cause "An indispensable book for all those concerned that the cost of health care will rob their old age of dignity and independence. The author, Ben Lipson, an articulate advocate of patient rights and an authority on health insurance, provides a lucid road map in a terrain mined with hokum." -Bernard Lown, MD, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize "Long-term care insurance is a much-needed and valuable insurance concept, marketed in a maze filled with smoke and mirrors. Most of what passes for consumer guidance is just general information and superficial advice. But Ben Lipson's book takes you by the hand, leads you through the insurance labyrinth, and shines a much-needed light on the product." -Charlie Sabatino, President, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Critical coverage will help you: * Decide whether you are among the 40 percent of people who do not need to buy long-term care insurance * Receive the benefits you purchased when you have to make a claim * Distinguish between fact and fiction during a sales pitch J.K. Lasser--Practical Guides for All Your Financial Needs Please visit our Web site at www.jklasser.com