Familiarize yourself with some of the most commonly used terms and
phrases for senior living and care.
Activities
of Daily Living
A general term used to describe the basic day-to-day activities of
life. Activities of daily living include bathing, dressing, and eating.
Administrator
A licensed professional who manages the overall operations of a senior
community.
Adult Day Care
Licensed, community-based programs for seniors desiring health, social
and supportive services, but not requiring round-the-clock professional
supervision. Seniors in adult day care programs may be physically,
mentally, or functionally impaired, or they may simply need companionship
or supervision during part of the day. Adult Day Care Centers may
offer transportation to and from the center, social services, case
management and family counseling for the caregivers.
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Aging in Place
A popular concept in senior housing expressing the preference of
most seniors to continue aging while residing in one place, as opposed
to being moved between communities as needs change.
Alzheimer's Care Center
A treatment center that specializes in providing care for those with
Alzheimer's Disease. Resident care focuses on activities and supervision
in a safe and controlled environment.
Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia (a brain
disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily
activities) among older people. It involves the parts of the brain
that control thought, memory, and language.
Ambulatory
Describes those who are able to move freely and who are not bedridden
or hospitalized.
Assisted Living
A type of senior living community offering services that are more
specialized and advanced than those offered in an independent living
community, but are less comprehensive than the full-time care offered
by nursing facilities.
Board and Care Home
Similar to an assisted living facility, but smaller in scale, board
and care homes are private and residential, often a converted or
modified single-family home. They hold 2 to 20 residents requiring
supervision and some personal care, but few onsite medical services.
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Caregiver
Friends and family members – spouses, children, grandchildren
and other relatives – providing care to elders.
Continuing Care
A senior housing community where a full range of living options are
offered, accommodating residents as their needs evolve without requiring
the inconvenience of moving.
Continuum of Care
Used to describe the degrees of service offered by a particular senior
community. A continuum of care can range from independent living
to full-time nursing care and include any and all stages in between.
Convalescent Home
See Nursing Facility.
Dementia
The loss of intellectual reasoning and cognitive function due to
changes in the brain caused by disease or trauma. The changes can
affect thinking, memory and reasoning, and may occur gradually or
quickly. Alzheimer's Disease is one of the most common types of dementia.
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Director of Nursing
The person responsible for supervising all nursing staff in a nursing
home or assisted living facility. The Director of Nursing monitors
all care delivered in the community and assures its quality.
Home Health Care
Medical care and living assistance provided in the home by a licensed
professional.
Hospice Care
Designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families
when an illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments, hospice
addresses all symptoms of a disease, with a special emphasis on controlling
pain and discomfort. Hospice also offers a variety of bereavement
and counseling services to families. Most hospice care is furnished
in-home, while specialized hospices, hospitals, and some assisted
living communities also provide this service.
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Independent Living
A type of senior living community designed for those able to live
easily on their own, encompassing a wide variety of housing styles
and often incorporating additional amenities such as meals and leisure
activities.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
A general term used to describe activities that go a step beyond
the basics of daily living, largely encompassing the non-essential
aspects of life. Examples of these services may include shopping
for groceries or personal items, managing money, or providing assistance
using the telephone.
Kitchenette
A smaller version of a kitchen that may include only a sink, cabinets,
and a small refrigerator.
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Long-Term Care
Long Term Care includes a wide range of medical and support services
for people with a prolonged illness, degenerative condition, or cognitive
disorder. Long Term Care is not necessarily medical in nature, and
includes individual assistance with activities of daily living or
supervision of someone who is cognitively impaired.
Long-term Care Insurance
A privately issued insurance policy covering the cost of nursing
home care, assisted living, and home health care.
Medi-Cal
The California version of Medicaid, Medi-Cal provides many seniors
with vital health insurance coverage, including coverage for medical
services Medicare does not cover. It also provides a safety net for
seniors requiring long-term care who have exhausted their own financial
resources.
Medical Director
A doctor who coordinates medical care with a resident's personal
physician and oversees all medical care administered at an assisted
living community or nursing facility.
Medicare
A federal government program providing basic health care coverage
for seniors over age 65. It provides for hospital and nursing facility
care (Part A) and physician services, therapies, and home health
care (Part B).
Medications Management
A procedure developed by each individual senior community to help
manage self-administered medicine for each resident, specifically
the timing and delivery of medication.
Non-Ambulatory
Describes those with the inability to move independently due to being
bedridden or hospitalized.
Nursing Facility
A type of senior community offering the most advanced level of resident
care, including 24-hour monitoring and full-time supervision.
Ombudsmen
Ombudsmen investigate and resolve complaints made by, or on behalf
of, individuals in long-term care facilities.
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Quality Care
A general term covering all care and services that help residents
maintain a high standard of living throughout their senior community
experience.
Registered Nurse (RN)
The RN plans for resident care by assessing resident needs, and developing
and monitoring care plans in conjunction with family members and
physicians. They have passed a state board examination and are licensed
by a state agency to practice nursing.
Rehabilitation (Rehab)
Therapeutic care for people needing intensive occupational, physical,
or speech therapy.
Senior Apartment
A type of independent living facility in which usually no additional
services such as meals are provided.
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