Assisted Living
Glossary of Terms |
|---|
Your concerns may be answered in this Glossary of Terms or it may just help in answering a few of the basic terms that go around in the Assisted Living and Home Health Care Industry. melody@elderlycareservices.org.
Independent Retirement Living - A living arrangement in residential apartments where elders share common space, but are able to maintain their independence with little or no assistance. Better facilities typically provide three meals daily for all residents, plus utilities, some transportation, housekeeping, etc., as well as standby assistance, if needed, and a wide variety of social activities. Independent living suites comprise about 60% of the suites at each New Horizons community.
Assisted Living Activities - An Elderly Care Facility should have a wide range of activities but also have a set routine of activities. Sometimes having new and different activities can be fun but maintaining some routine is very helpful. Bridge, dominoes, and bingo are among the routine activities typically found at an assisted living facility. It is important to make sure that these are routine activities in the facility you are looking at. Social Activity is only as fun as it is encouraged among the residence at a care facility. Going above and beyong would mean that the assisted living activities director cares deeply for the residence and her job. He or she will work very hard to make sure the activities are fun and respectful to the residence. A patient and considerate activities director are important qualities to look for. You don't just want someone who is just trying to make their next pay check but cares nothing for the residants.
Adult Day Health Program - Program providing supervision, recreation and health care services during the day to older people to better allow family caregivers to work or attend to other responsibilities on a daily basis only. Several couples among those living at an Assisted Living Facility in Texas have successfully combined the Alzheimer's health care on-campus for the daytime use of one spouse.
Alzheimer's Care - Usually indicates an assisted living residence or nursing facility with either separate units and/or a program geared to residents with Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive impairments. Such programs usually feature very specially designed and secure environments, structured activity programs and greater staff-to-resident ratios. Such facilities are often associated as part of the continuum of care arrangements at an independent/assisted living facility or a CCRC.
Assisted Living - A housing option for older adults who need some assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, bathing, ambulating or toileting, but do not require 24-hour nursing care. They are still able to live independently with some assistance.
Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) - A residential community for older adults that combines some form of independent retirement living, plus assisted living and some degree of nursing care, usually on one campus. Many Assisted Living Communities offer various levels of living accomodations on the same campus, greatly facilitating easy transfers from one part of the facility to another as residents' needs change.
Home Care Services - Services provided to individuals in their own living environment, such as homemaker services (cooking, cleaning, washing), home health care (activities of daily living - bathing, dressing, ambulating, toileting, eating), physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and medically necessary procedures done at home.
Medicaid - A state and federal health insurance program providing health care coverage for individuals with limited incomes or who have been impoverished by medical expenses.
Medicare - A federal health insurance program providing health care coverage for the elderly and disabled.
Nursing Facility - Facility providing 24-hour nursing care, rehabilitative services, and assistance with activities of daily living to the aged or chronically ill as well as those who have been hospitalized for an illness or operation and require a short period of rehabilitation before returning home. Although most elderly care facilities maintain at least one Registered Nurse on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they usually don't have an on-site nursing home component. These facilities often maintain preferred provider agreements with local rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes, to facilitate easier placement for residents if their needs ever require it. Assisted Living Facilities do usually have on-campus facilities for the care of residents with Alzheimer's disease.
Public Housing - Typically an independent living community that is federally-funded (HUD funded) or state funded, with asset limits and run by the housing authority in a city or town.
Quality Elderly Care - Quality Elderly Care isn't an easy thing to find. When moving your loved one into a quality facility where it could cost as much as $8,000 a month you may not be receiving quality care. When finding a facility it is important to make unscheduled visits during the times the care workers are giving showers and changing soiled clothes and depends. Make sure your loved one is shown respect and compassion before making a final decision. There are many high priced facilities that do not keep a close watch on the quality of care given. The reason for this lack is due to the forgetfulness of the residence and their innocense and the lack of due dilegence by their children. Be sure to visit for the times when they are doing activities, as well as dinner and lunch. Pay close attention to the amount of staff to residant ration on and given shift. If the ratio is too low you can be sure your parent or loved one is being left in their soiled depends if not in the day then at night.
Residential Care Facility - A facility licensed by the Texas Department of Aging to provide supervision for individuals who do not routinely require nursing or medical care. Also known as a rest home.
Respite Care - Short-term placement for individuals in facilities that enable relatives caring for them at home to take some time off from their caregiving responsibilities. This can often work very well in an independent and/or assisted community on a trial period, which may become longer term. Many care facilities offer respite care enrollments.
Skilled Nursing Care - Refers to the type of daily nursing and rehabilitative care that can be performed only by, or under the supervision of, skilled licensed medical personnel.