Senior care which is often referred to as elder care or long term care, covers a broad area of services. Although it is commonly believed that elder care only serves those who require skilled nursing care, there are now several choices that now exist for various types of care services due to the varied demographics of aging today. Senior care always begin with previously independent individuals are no longer able to perform life’s daily routine activities. For so many recipients, the process evolves into many different types of care as physical and mental capacities decline. A typical elder care cycle often includes the following: Custodial care, which includes assistance with activities of daily living such as grocery shopping, bathing or driving. Skilled care, in either a nursing facility or at home, often including rehabilitation after surgery or illness.Care for cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia; and Palliative care for individuals who can no longer benefit from regular medical treatment.

For those not familiar with the term, advance care planning means making decisions about the care you would like to get should you become unable to speak for yourself. These are your decisions to make and they are based on your personal values and preferences. Advance care planning involves communicating your wishes to loved ones and health care providers to guide and comfort them if something should happen to you. Making an advance directive is an important part of advance care planning. Advance directives are legal documents that offer directions for your health care should you become mute or unable to talk for the rest of your life. A living will, on which type of advanced directive, provides directions to health care providers on the treatment you would want (and would not want) if you are faced with an end-of-life situation. A durable power of attorney or a health care power attorney is another type of advance directive that appoints a person of your choice to speak on your behalf, should you become unable to do so. State-specific advance directives, brochures about advance directives and other information about advance care planning can be found at www.nhpco.org.