Long term care is commonly associated with age. But increasingly younger adults find themselves in need of services following accidents, unexpected illnesses or chronic conditions. One third of residents in long term care facilities are under 65 years. And many more receive long term care services in their own home.
“Options for the Future: Living Choices for Older Adults & People with Disabilities” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the Parkland/Spanaway Branch Library, 13718 Pacific Avenue S. in Tacoma.
“Options for the Future” is a free, information-only opportunity to learn about the wide variety of services and resources, presented every six months in Pierce County. A panel of local experts will address a variety of topics including in-home care, adult day programs, geriatric care management, elder law, adult family homes, assisted living, skilled nursing homes, memory care, Medicare, Medicaid and community resources in Pierce County. Participants will have the chance to learn about services and resources and ask questions of local professionals in the long term care services network.
“The healthcare landscape has changed radically in the past decade,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, Pierce County’s Aging and Disability Resources manager. “Long term care is becoming a much more viable reality for individuals of all ages. At the same time the services available in Pierce County have increased dramatically. People have many options and those options can seem confusing especially when families have to make choices in a crisis setting. Knowing about community resources in advance and how to tap into them – and pay for them – is crucial.”
Long term care services include medical and non-medical care for people with a chronic illness or disability. Most long-term care services assists people with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, or in a facility.
The event is jointly sponsored by Pierce County Community Connections Aging & Disability Resources and the Health Care Providers Council of Pierce County. For more information about the workshop, call the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center at (253) 798-4600.
