Finding the right care for yourself or someone you love is one of life's most important decisions. As you begin this journey, you'll learn a whole new vocabulary of senior care terms. Understanding what they mean will help you ask better questions, compare your options and feel confident in the decisions you make.
This guide can help you do just that.
A
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Daily self-care activities, such as dressing, bathing, eating and taking medication.
Adult Day Care A service that provides daytime care for adults outside the home. Adult day care can include a wide range of activities and services, including nutritious meals, social activities and medication management.
Aging in Place The concept of remaining in one's home regardless of changes in health or care needs. This can take place in a senior living community, an apartment or a home.
Alzheimer’s A medical condition that affects the brain and is a form of dementia. Changes may include memory differences, adjustments with recognizing others and other related changes.
Ambulatory The ability to walk independently, including walking with the use of an assistive device like a cane or walker.
Assisted Living or Assisted Care A type of care level offered at a senior living community in which residents receive help with activities of daily living based on their unique needs. Services can include meals, transportation, housekeeping, medication management, laundry and social activities.
C
Caregiver Any person who provides assistance with activities of daily living tasks to another individual. A caregiver can be a family member, a friend or a medical professional. A primary caregiver is the person most responsible for assisting an individual.
Care Suite A private or semi-private living accommodation designed to offer ongoing services and support, typically providing a higher level of assisted living services to individuals.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) CNAs provide direct assistance with activities of daily living and other healthcare needs to residents and patients under the supervision of a nurse or other healthcare provider. CNAs are also known as a nursing assistant or a nurse’s aide.
Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) A senior living community that provides multiple levels of care (also referred to as a continuum of care) to residents based on their individual needs. The care levels within a CCRC are often referred to as independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing. Most CCRCs require an entrance fee, which may or may not be refundable, and a monthly fee, which varies depending on the type of CCRC contract.
Continuum of Care This refers to the complete range of healthcare services and other service options available within a particular community or campus. These services often evolve to meet an individual’s needs over time.
D
Dementia Changes in cognitive functions, such as memory, reasoning and thinking, that may affect a person's daily activities. There are numerous types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and others.
H
Health and Rehabilitation Center A residential setting in which a range of nursing and/or medical services are provided to residents.
Home Health Care Nursing or other medical care provided to an individual in their home.
Hospice Care A service that provides end-of-life comfort and care.
I
Independent Living A senior living community in which residents require minimal or no assistance with daily activities.
L
Life Enrichment Program A variety of activities developed to target whole-person well-being and enhance the quality of life for residents in a senior living community.
Living Will A legal instrument by which an individual details the actions to be taken if he or she becomes incapacitated, is unable to provide consent, or is unable to make his or her own medical decisions. A living will is also referred to as an advance healthcare directive or medical directive.
Long-Term Care The services provided, typically over long periods, to individuals who need support to care for themselves. The services provided vary depending on the condition of the individual receiving them, including whether the result of an injury, a chronic condition or a disability.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) LPNs provide basic nursing care to residents under the supervision of RNs or physicians.
M
Meals on Wheels A service that delivers meals to a person’s home.
Medicaid A federal and state-funded program that assists low-income individuals with coverage for medical care and other health-related services. Medicaid is separate and distinct from Medicare.
Medicare-Certified Beds Hospital or skilled nursing beds that meet specific federal standards and qualify for Medicare reimbursement. These beds are located in communities that have been approved by Medicare to provide covered services to beneficiaries.
Medical Director A leadership-level physician who provides guidance to a healthcare organization or community.
Medicare A federal health insurance program for individuals 65 years of age and older. Medicare also provides health insurance for individuals under the age 65 who meet the eligibility requirements.
Medication Management A process designed to facilitate the safe, effective and appropriate use of medications.
Memory Care Specialized services provided to residents of senior living communities who need support due to memory changes, dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® A positive approach to providing care for adults living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Based on the methods of Maria Montessori and as adapted for adults by Dr. Cameron Camp, founder of the Center for Applied Research in Dementia, this approach of care allows residents to focus on their individual strengths and engage in meaningful activities
N
Nursing Home "Nursing home" is often used as a general term to describe any residential community offering senior living accommodations, although this approach may not fully capture the wide range of available senior living communities. The preferred approach is to identify senior living communities by the level of care provided, such as independent senior living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.
O
Ombudsman / Ombudsperson An independent representative, often employed by the state, for residents living in long-term care communities. An Ombudsman/Ombudsperson typically serves as an ally or advocate for residents in long-term care communities, helping them address concerns with the community’s leadership and team members.
P
Palliative Care A medical specialty providing relief from the pain and other symptoms associated with serious illness.
Physical Therapy The treatment of injury or illness with the use of exercise, massage or other therapy techniques. (See also Rehabilitation.)
Post-Acute Care A range of healthcare services designed to help patients transition from hospital to home or a lower level of care. Post-acute care includes medical treatment, nursing care, rehabilitation and support services for patients whose conditions have stabilized but who still need specialized care before returning to their community.
Power of Attorney An instrument granting someone, often referred to as an “agent,” authority to act as agent or attorney-in-fact for the grantor, also referred to as the “principal.” The Power of Attorney document specifies the authority provided to an agent. A Power of Attorney can be limited to Medical Power of Attorney or Financial Power of Attorney, which provides an agent with the authority to make medical decisions or financial decisions, respectively, on behalf of the grantor.
R
Registered Nurse (RN) An RN is a nurse who has graduated from a certified nursing program and met the requirements to obtain a registered nurse license. An RN's scope of practice and responsibilities vary by state.
Rehabilitation The process of restoring a capacity that may have changed by illness or injury. Rehabilitation can include physical, occupational or speech therapy.
Respite Care Short-term, institutional care given to an aging, sick or disabled person. Respite care also provides relief and support to a usual caregiver should they need to be away for a period of time.
S
Senior Living Community A residential setting specifically designed for seniors, with an emphasis on maintaining a high quality of life through activities, services and community engagement.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) A health care community that provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services and medical support to individuals who need more intensive care than can be provided at home but do not require hospital-level treatment. SNFs serve people recovering from surgery, illness or injury, typically for short-term stays. Services include skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy and medication management.
Subacute Care Comprehensive care designed for individuals with acute illness, injury or exacerbation of a chronic condition who need intensive medical supervision and therapy but do not require hospital-level treatment. Subacute care typically involves longer stays than transitional care and focuses on complex medical management, specialized treatments and intensive rehabilitation.
T
Transitional Care Unit (TCU) A specialized healthcare setting that provides a bridge between hospital care and home or lower levels of care. TCUs offer short-term rehabilitation and recovery services (usually less than 21 days) with intensive therapy and medical oversight to help individuals regain independence before returning home or transitioning to another care setting.
V
VA Aid and Attendance A supplementary monthly payment, over and above a standard VA pension payment, for qualifying veterans and survivors. The VA administers Aid and Attendance payments, which are available to veterans who need assistance with daily activities, certain veterans who live in nursing homes, or veterans who spend a significant amount of time in their homes due to a permanent disability.
We hope this introductory list has improved your familiarity with senior living terminology. When you’re ready, we invite you to take advantage of our free Guide to Senior Living Tours to help make the most of each tour.
