The six activities of daily living are dressing, bathing, eating, toileting(getting on and off the toilet), transference(walking and other movement), and continence(bladder control). If you cannot fulfill 2/6 of these activities, you need long term care. Some only need a health aide, or the help of family members, and can stay at home, others, with more serious conditions need full assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Most people will end up paying for nursing homes out of pocket. The quality of nursing homes can vary. Some nursing homes don’t accept Medicaid, and Medicaid can dictate which nursing homes and assisted living facilities you can go to. Medicaid can pay for skilled nursing home services and some home and community based care if you are low income. In order to qualify, you have to meet income and asset thresholds. Only after you diminish your assets and income can you qualify for Medicaid. Medicare doesn’t provide long term care, it only offers up to 100 days of skilled nursing care if certain qualifications are met.