Missoula Aging Services explains long‑term care types and ombudsman role

On the public‑access program Senior Connections, host Mike McCracken and two certified local ombudsmen from Missoula Aging Services discussed local long‑term care options, how families can evaluate facilities and the ombudsman program that advocates for residents.

The discussion matters because Missoula’s aging population means more families will be choosing between adult foster care, personal care homes and nursing homes — decisions that have different services, licensing limits and payment rules.

Maggie, an information and assistance specialist and certified local ombudsman with Missoula Aging Services, summarized facility types: "Basically, there's 3 types of long term care facilities. 1 is an 1 is the adult foster care facility, another 1 is the personal care home facility, and the third 1 is the nursing home facilities." She said adult foster care homes are "smaller home like settings" licensed for up to four residents and provide only personal‑care services such as help with bathing, dressing and meals. Personal care homes, she said, can range from small houses to much larger facilities that may house more than 100 residents and also provide personal‑care services and medication reminders.

Maggie explained that some personal care homes use two levels of care. "A levels, the residents must be self ambulatory. ... In a level, also, they cannot be totally incontinent," she said. "Also in the b level, you have to have a…