Which of the following describes long-term care?

Long-term care refers to the ongoing support and assistance provided to individuals who have chronic illnesses or disabilities that impede their ability to perform daily activities independently. This type of care focuses on maintaining the quality of life for residents by offering a range of services, from personal care and assistance with activities of daily living, to more complex medical care, depending on individual needs.

Long-term care can be provided in various settings, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and even at home through home health care services. The emphasis is on providing continued support over an extended period, which is a defining characteristic of long-term care.

The other options represent different types of care that do not align with the concept of long-term care. Temporary housing for rehabilitation is associated with short-term recovery after illness or surgery, and emergency care is designed for immediate treatment of urgent health issues. Step-down care refers to a transition from more intensive hospital services to less intensive settings, which may or may not be long-term care. These distinctions highlight why the ongoing nature of care for chronic conditions is the defining factor of long-term care.