BACKGROUND ON LONG TERM CARE

What is long term care?

Long term care includes a range of services for people who have functional limitations or chronic health conditions. Their needs include subacute, rehabilitation, medical, skilled nursing, supervision and support services. Long term care services are provided in a variety of settings, including nursing facilities, basic care, assisted living, hospitals (subacute and swing bed), adult day care, foster care and home-and community based settings.

The aging of America, together with extended life expectancy, will result in unprecedented demand for long term care services.

Who will need long term care in North Dakota?

• The number one reason a person enters a long term care facility is loss of a caregiver or breakdown of the informal support system. Family and friends become exhausted and simply cannot continue to deliver or arrange needed services.

• For North Dakotans over the age of 65, two out of five will need nursing facility care sometime in their lifetime.

• The need for personal assistance with everyday activities increases with age.

• An individuals chances for a nursing facility placement increases dramatically if these three factors are present, you are a women, you are age 85 or older and you live alone.

• North Dakota currently ranks highest nationally in the proportion of residents 85 years of age and older.

• Spouses provide the greatest proportion of long term care to elderly living in the community.

• Older persons who participate in some form of social activity decrease their risk of nursing home placement and their risk of mortality.

• The majority of the elderly are active, healthy, contributing members of society who want to maintain their independence. All want choices and options should they need long term care.

Aging in North Dakota

• The median age in North Dakota continues to rise due to selective out migration of young, low births and the natural aging of the population. The median age in 1950 was 27.1 years, in 1996 we rose to 34.9 years.

• North Dakota lead the nation with the highest percentages of older people in the nation. In 2000, 2.3% of North Dakota's population is age 85 or older.  This represents 14,726 residents.  By 2020 this number will nearly double.
  
• In the year 2010, North Dakota’s aging population is projected to be 110,478. This reflects a 16.9% growth from 94,478 individuals age 65 and older in 2000.

Basic Care Fact Sheet

• North Dakota has 47 basic care facilities representing 1,496 beds.

• Basic care facilities are 87% occupied.

• The average cost for one day in basic care is $50.85.

• The top two reasons a person will enter a basic care facility is the need for twenty-four hour supervision and medication administration.

• Basic care financial assistance is available to help people who need assistance to pay for their care. Approximately 38% of recipients in basic care rely upon the state to help pay for their care.

• Basic care provides cost effective twenty-four hour care, providing room and board, transportation, social activities, medication and nursing supervision, companionship and a nurturing environment.

• The average age of a basic care resident is 85 years old.

Nursing Facility Fact Sheet

• North Dakota has 84 nursing facilities representing 6,633 beds.

• Nursing facilities are 93% occupied.

• The average age of a nursing facility resident is 84, with two-thirds of the residents being women.

• The 2003 average cost for one day of nursing facility care is $129.71.

• Nursing facilities provide twenty-four hour skilled nursing care, and you need physician orders to enter. Residents generally have complex medical needs, that require a multi-disciplinary team approach to care.

• Financial assistance (Medicaid) is available for residents who need help paying for their care. In North Dakota 56% of residents in nursing facilities receive Medicaid to help pay for their care.

Assisted Living Fact Sheet

• A congregate residential setting that provides or coordinates personal services, 24-hour supervision and assistance (scheduled and unscheduled), activities and health related service;
  
• Designed to minimize the need to move, however, does not generally provide 24 hour skilled care.
  
• Designed to accommodate individual resident’s changing needs and preferences.
  
• Designed to maximize resident’s dignity, autonomy, privacy, independence, choice and safety.
  
• Designed to encourage family and community involvement.

The North Dakota Century Code defines assisted living as any building or structure containing a series of living units operated as one business entity to provide services to five or more individuals who are aged or disabled adults and who are not related by blood or marriage to the owner or manager of the entity and which is kept, used, maintained, advertised, or held out to the public as a place that makes available individualized support services to accommodate an individual's needs and abilities to maintain as much independence as possible.  

Effective January 2002 rules were put in place requiring all assisted living providers to register their facility with the North Dakota Department of Human Services.  Assisted living facilities must also obtain a boardinghouse license.  The registration and licensure process will help assure insurance will cover services delivered in the assisted living setting.

In January 2003 legislation was introduced to eliminate the registration process and boardinghouse license.  This was to be replaced with a singular licensure process with the Department of Human Services / Aging Services Division.

Each assisted living facility establishes their monthly charges and financial assistance for low and moderate income individuals is limited.

Home || About NDLTCA || Job Openings & Announcements || Shopping || Mailings || Legislation
Calendar || Member Facilities || Sponsor & Associate Members  || Resources || Conferences

Copyright © 2003 North Dakota Long Term Care Association. All rights reserved.
Web site developed & maintained by Pamela Thompson of North Dakota Long Term Care Association
July 30 2003 || www.ndltca.org/data/bgltc.html