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Long Term Care Services Available in the District of Columbia Adult Day Care for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities provides groups of adults with health, social, rehabilitation, supportive and recreational in a therapeutic environment according to their individual needs. Lunch and snacks are provided. . Some programs have weekend sessions. Advocacy/public policy means seeking governmental changes to benefit many persons with similar problems (e.g. Parkinson's research, increase disability benefits or develop new service). Advocacy/client means seeking to resolve an individual's problem through dispute resolution or litigation Assisted Living Residences provide housing with services such as meals, housekeeping, personal care, medication administration, recreation and supportive services according to the individual's changing needs District regulation of assisted living residences is scheduled for spring 2002. Care Management by social workers or nurses offers short or long term services including: information and referral; comprehensive assessments; care planning, implementation and monitoring; counseling and therapy; support for caregivers; advocacy and guidance for the senior and his or her family. Caregivers are people who help persons in need of unable to take care of themselves with tasks without assistance. Caregivers can be unpaid family members, friends or neighbors (informal) or paid (formal). Community Residence Facilities (CRFS) are licensed health-care facilities providing a safe and clean living arrangement on a 24-hour basis for persons (18 or older) who desire or require supervision or assistance within a protective environment because of physical, mental, family, or social circumstances or mental retardation. Congregate Housing provides individual living units combined with a central dining room, housekeeping, transportation and social services for older persons and the disabled, who range from those who are independent to those who are more dependent. Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRCs) In return for entrance fee and regular monthly payments, CCRCs offer seniors long term contracts for lifelong shelter and access to specified health care services. Counseling/individual seeks to help a person define a problem and work towards solutions. Education/training provides basic, detailed information on a health condition, coping strategies and available resources, e.g. deafness, blindness, Alzheimer's etc. Home Health Care Agencies provide a wide variety of medical and social services, depending on the individual's needs and a doctor's orders. These services may include: skilled nursing care by a registered or licensed practical nurse; physical, speech and/or occupational therapies; case managers, social worker, dietician, nutritionist, home health aides for personal care; light housekeeping,, meal preparation, transportation and escort to medical and social appointments. Home Care Services means non-medical personal care (assistance with daily activities), light housekeeping, shopping and meal preparation, escort to medical or community appointments. Home repairs and maintenance services provide assistance in keeping an apartment or a private home functioning properly or refer client to qualified repair person or organization Hospice Care provides inter-disciplinary care for dying persons, whose doctor has determined that the disease process is terminal. Care is generally in the home of the patient and assists the patient and family to cope with the sickness and loss. Information and Referral Services link persons with resources and answer questions. Nursing Homes provide skilled nursing services 24 hours a day, usually a shared room, personal care, three meals and snacks daily, housekeeping, recreational and social activities and social services. Therapies are available on doctors' orders. Ombudsman Program: The Ombudsman Program monitors nursing homes, community residence facilities and assisted living residences in the District of Columbia. The Ombudsmen receive, investigate and resolve complaints in these residential facilities. Palliative care focuses on symptom management (pain) for persons who have a life limiting condition while working with the patient and family on physical, psychosocial and spiritual issues. Respite care provides safe care in the home or in a facility for an incapacitated person whose caregiver needs time to rest and attend to personal business. Support Groups help persons with specific chronic diseases learn how to cope with the many issues they face. The groups are led by professionals and consist of persons with the same diagnosis. Technical assistance/consultations target service providers in need of state of the art information to better serve their clients with aging or disability issues. Therapies are skilled services by trained professionals, such as physical therapy for mobility, speech therapy for communications, occupational therapy for daily living tasks and cognition, psychotherapy for mental and emotional conditions. Transportation services: specialized transit services developed to meet the needs of seniors and persons with chronic care needs. |
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