Standby Assistance

Stand-by assistance is when someone needs a caregiver nearby when they complete an activity of daily living. These individuals need a caregiver nearby to prevent injuries or physically step in. 

In Long-Term Care Insurance, stand-by assistance is a part of the legal definition of a benefit trigger. The legal definition states that a policyholder can access their policy’s benefits if they need hands-on or stand-by help with two or more activities of daily living.  

In other words, they trigger their benefits. You can read our FAQ article on the components of Long-Term Care Insurance to learn more.  

Care recipients may need stand-by assistance for many reasons. Some may need it for supervision due to cognitive decline. Others may need it if they have conditions that put them at risk of injuries like: 

• Dementia or cognitive decline
• Disability
• Chronic illness
• Accident
• Frailty from aging
• Mobility issues

As the name suggests, stand-by care doesn't involve physically helping an individual. It just means a caregiver must remain at arm's length in case they're needed. However, a need for stand-by care can lead to hands-on care over time.