If you are looking for the next level of nursing home care for a loved one, then look into intermediate care. This type of care is perfect for those who are no longer able to live independently but do not yet require the full-time care of a nursing home. At an intermediate care facility, patients receive around-the-clock supervision and assistance with activities of daily living. Here, they can enjoy all the benefits of a nursing home without having to give up their independence.
What is Intermediate Care?
Intermediate care is given under a doctor’s supervision, but it is not considered to be continuously medically necessary. Skilled practitioners provide nursing and rehabilitation care that is required only occasionally or part-time and is done under the direction of a physician.
Individuals with a degenerative illness may require intermediate care at first, but as their condition deteriorates, they may need full-time professional assistance (skilled care). Depending on the condition and the patient’s overall health, intermediate treatment may be given in a home or facility.
Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF)
Intermediate care facilities (ICFs) are set up specifically to provide care for deteriorating conditions and usually exist within a larger skilled nursing facility rather than as stand-alone facilities. ICFs are designed for those with less chronic issues than skilled nursing homes and generally offer less nursing care than a Skilled Nursing Facility. Intermediate care is a hybrid of custodial care (personal services) and nursing care.
Intermediate care facilities are provided in:
- Home
- Intermediate care facilities
- Skilled nursing facilities
Types Of Long-Term Care At A Glance
| Custodial Care | Intermediate Care | Skilled Care | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Assistance with ADLs to maintain current status and to meet current needs | Rehabilitative or restorative services | Medically necessary nursing care, therapy, or rehabilitation |
| Frequency | Periodically or daily | Intermittently or periodically | Daily |
| Provided By | Family, friends, health aides | Physicians, nurses, licensed therapists | Physicians, nurses, licensed therapists |
| Provided In | Home, community care centers, skilled nursing facilities | Home, intermediate care facilities, skilled nursing facilities | Skilled nursing facilities |
| Duration | Usually long-term | Usually short- to mid-term | Usually short-term |
How Much Does Intermediate Care Cost?
According to Genworth, the annual median cost for intermediate long-term care in 2020 is:
- Homemaker Services: $53,768
- Home Health Aides: $54,912
- Adult Day Care: $19,240
- Assisted Living Facilities: $51,600
- Nursing Home Semi-Private Room: $93,075
- Nursing Home Private Room: $105,850
How To Pay For Intermediate Care At A Fraction Of The Cost
A long-term care annuity is a hybrid annuity that is set up to assist in paying for intermedial care without causing retirement funds to be depleted. To create a tax-free long-Term Care Insurance benefit, an LTC annuity doubles (200%) or triples (300%) the investment (based on medical records). If there is money in the annuity, it passes along a death benefit to beneficiaries.
If you don’t have a lump sum of money lying around, another great option is a long-term care life insurance policy (LTCi). In simple terms, these policies are designed specifically for long-term care and allow the insured to access the life insurance’s death benefit while alive to pay for LTC costs. Applicants can pay a fixed premium monthly or annually instead of a one-time deposit.