Minnesota Home Quality Care Program provides special long-term care support services, to eligible people who, because of their medical conditions, require assistance with activities of daily living (for example, eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, and transferring). Our Long-term care service is provided in the comfort of your own home.
The Long–term Care Waiver is designed to delay or prevent institutionalization and allow waiver recipients to maintain stable health while receiving services at home.
Long-term care includes a wide range of medical and support services provided over an extended period of time. Long-term care is not limited to the elderly; in fact, 43% of individuals requiring long-term care are younger than the age of 65. The vast majority of long-term care recipients are older, however, with a projected seven out of ten people over the age of 65 requiring some form of long-term care services in their lifetime. By the time an individual reaches the age of 75, there’s a 50% chance they’ll need long-term care.
Long-term care may be temporary or permanent. It all depends upon the underlying reason for the care.
Reasons for temporary long-term care (weeks or months) can include:
- Rehabilitation after a hospital stay
- Rehabilitation after a surgical procedure
- Recovery from an injury or illness
- End of life medical services
Reason for permanent (on-going) long-term care (months and years) can include:
- Permanent disabilities
- Chronic severe pain
- Chronic medical conditions
- Need for supervision
- Need for assistance with activities of daily living
- Cognitive impairment such as that caused by brain injury, Alzheimer’s or dementia
The need for long-term care can be instantaneous, such as after a car accident, a stroke or heart attack. Generally, however, it develops gradually, as individuals age and become frailer or as an illness or disability worsens.