US Medical Term · clinical
Long-Term Care
Atención a Largo Plazo
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Long-Term Care |
| Spanish (Español) | Atención a Largo Plazo |
| Chinese (中文) | 长期护理 |
| Korean (한국어) | 장기 요양 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Chăm sóc dài hạn |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Long-Term Care |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cuidados de longa duração |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การดูแลระยะยาว |
| Japanese (日本語) | 長期介護 |
What it means
Long-term care (LTC) refers to services that help people with chronic illness, disability, or cognitive decline—such as Alzheimer's disease—perform daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating over months or years. Services may be delivered at home, in adult day programs, assisted living facilities, or skilled nursing facilities. Medicare covers limited skilled nursing facility stays after a qualifying hospital admission but does not cover ongoing custodial care. Medicaid pays for long-term care—including nursing home costs—for people who meet income and asset eligibility requirements. Private long-term care insurance is another funding option. Planning ahead matters because these services can be very expensive.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
long-term care services
servicios de atención a largo plazo
nursing home or in-home personal care
hogar de cuidado o atención personal en el hogar
custodial or skilled nursing facility care
atención de custodia o en instalación de enfermería especializada
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026