What term describes health care through the stages of illness or aging, from independent living to skilled nursing?

• A. Organizational Chart
• B. Ombudsmen
• C. Continuum of Care
• D. Plan of Correction

Answer: (C)

The term describes health care delivered through the stages of illness or aging by coordinating and guiding services as a person’s needs change, from independent living to more intensive levels like skilled nursing. This idea emphasizes an integrated, continuous pathway where care plans are updated and transitions between settings—such as home health, assisted living, and skilled nursing—are seamless and patient-centered. It helps maintain consistency in goals, reduces gaps or duplications in services, and supports people in staying as independent as possible while still receiving appropriate care as conditions evolve.

An organizational chart, by contrast, maps who is in the organization and how roles relate; it doesn’t describe patient care across different stages. Ombudsmen are advocates for residents’ rights and concerns and not the care pathway itself. A Plan of Correction is a formal document describing steps to fix deficiencies, not a model for delivering care over time.