What are the options for long-term care?

Long-term care can be provided not only in a skilled nursing facility (nursing home) but in many other settings. Home health care is increasingly popular, allowing seniors to remain independent as long as possible. Assisted living facilities offer an intermediate alternative between home health care and nursing homes and provide some monitoring and medical care in a home-like environment. Continuing care retirement communities and retirement communities with memory care units may work well for seniors with fluctuating needs or dementia, as they can move among sections of the community as their health condition changes.