Senior Living Definitions
A Guide to Important Senior Living and Care Definitions in 2024
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When researching senior living options, you’ve probably come across a lot of industry-specific terms that you may not be familiar with. It’s important to understand these terms so you can choose and receive the type of care and living options you desire.
Here’s a list of the most common terms used in senior living and senior care:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 24-hour controlled access | Some senior facilities have security systems that only allow authorized personnel into the buildings. |
| Acute care | Patient care within a hospital setting, typically in the case of short-term illness. |
| Activities of daily living (ADLs) | Daily self-care activities like bathing, dressing, assistance with using the toilet, eating, and taking medication. |
| Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) | Legislation passed by Congress in 1980 that makes it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities. |
| Adaptive/ assistive equipment | Devices designed to assist users that have a disability, cognitive impairment, or illness. These devices allow users to perform self-care and participate in leisure activities or work. |
| Adult day care | Provides structured programs for seniors, including stimulating social interaction and activities, and sometimes rehab services for seniors with disabilities. |
| Adult family home | A facility that provides a private, homelike setting and serves a limited number of residents who receive care from live-in caregivers. (Can also be called a group home, a board and care home, a residential care facility, adult foster care, or a personal care home.) |
| Advanced directive | A written statement (often part of a will) of a senior’s preferences and directions regarding their health care. |
| Aging in place | A concept where seniors continue to live at home or with a family in the same location regardless of their mental and physical decline. |
| Alzheimer’s disease | This disease has several symptoms and presents as a progressive mental deterioration that impacts a person’s memory and their ability to process thoughts. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia. |
| Alzheimer’s care center | A treatment center or facility that specializes in providing care for those with Alzheimer’s disease in a safe and controlled environment. |
| Ambulatory | The ability to walk and move freely without another person’s assistance. Not bedridden or hospitalized. |
| Ancillary services | Additional services like medical supplies and services, therapies, and outings at senior housing and care communities. |
| Aphasia | A language disturbance that impacts how a person communicates that’s often caused by a stroke, brain atrophy, or Alzheimer’s disease. |
| Assisted living | An assisted living community provides a combination of housing, personalized supportive services, and health care designed to meet the needs of seniors who need help with activities of daily living. |
| Certificate of medical necessity | A document created and signed by an attending physician to certify a patient’s need for some type of durable medical equipment (e.g., wheelchairs, walkers, etc.). |
| Certified nursing assistant (CNA) | A certified nursing assistant who helps a nurse care for a patient including preventive, therapeutic, health guidance, and/or supportive help to persons at home and/or at a senior housing facility. |
| Charge nurse | A registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) responsible for the supervision of a hospital unit or nursing care unit. The charge nurse typically schedules and supervises the nursing staff and provides care to community residents. |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | A group of chronic respiratory disorders characterized by the restricted flow of air into and out of the lungs, such as with emphysema or bronchitis. |
| Cognitive impairment | A diminished mental capacity that may cause a senior to have difficulty with short-term memory and concentration. |
| Colostomy | A disposable and replaceable bag used for the collection and disposal of bodily wastes. |
| Comorbidity | Having more than one disorder at the same time. |
| Concierge service | A concierge at a senior housing facility arranges for activities, acquires resources, and gives advice to seniors to improve their quality of life. |
| Congestive heart failure (CHF) | A common type of heart disease typically characterized by the inadequate pumping action of the heart. |
| Congregate housing | Similar to independent living, seniors live in private apartments but may have additional conveniences or supportive services like meals, housekeeping, and transportation in addition to rental housing. Provides a lower level of care than assisted living. |
| Continuing care retirement community (CCRC) | A CCRC is a community that offers multiple levels of senior living — including independent living, assisted living, hospice, and skilled nursing care — to meet a person’s changing needs. |
| Continuum of care | Care services to assist individuals through a wide range of health care requirements as their needs change. This may include independent living, assisted living, nursing care, hospice, home care, and community-based services. |
| Convalescent home | A common name for a skilled nursing facility. |
| Custodial care | Room, board, and other personal assistance services including assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and taking medicine. |
| Dementia | Describes a group of symptoms that are caused by changes in brain function that create a decline in mental ability that may interfere with daily life. |
| Depression (major depressive disorder) | A mental condition that involves the body, mood, and thoughts, and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, feels about oneself, and thinks about things. Treatment can include medications, dietary changes, and counseling. |
| Developmental disability (DD) | Refers to a serious and chronic disability attributed to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of mental and physical impairments. |
| Diabetes | A disease in which the body doesn’t maintain the proper level of insulin. |
| Dialysis | A treatment where blood is removed from the body and cleaned to remove waste and fluid when kidneys no longer work well enough to keep the body healthy. |
| DNR | Stands for Do Not Resuscitate and is a directive stating that health care providers shouldn’t attempt to revive or resuscitate a patient if their heart or breathing stops. |
| Dual eligibles | Someone who is qualified for both Medicare and Medicaid. |
| Durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC) | A durable power of attorney for health care is a legal document in which a person gives a caregiver (called an attorney-in-fact) the power to make health care decisions for him or her if the person is unable to make those decisions. |
| Dysphagia | A swallowing disorder that often causes difficulty in oral preparation for swallowing. Those with dysphagia have difficulty moving food from the mouth to the stomach. |
| Emergency call system | Some senior care facilities provide a centralized emergency call system, often in the form of call buttons, in important locations to allow seniors to get emergency help immediately. |
| End of life doula | An individual who offers dying patients and their loved ones comfort and support. May include emotional and spiritual support. |
| Elder care | Specialized care for older adults. Describes a range of health-related services to help seniors live comfortably as they transition to later life stages. Can include personal and social services. |
| Guardianship | When a person is given legal authority over an individual who can’t make their own health care or financial decisions. |
| Health care proxy | A kind of power of attorney where another person is appointed to make health care decisions for an individual who can’t do so for themselves. |
| The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) | A federal law that protects a person’s health information from being disclosed. |
| Hospice care | Hospice care centers on administering physical, emotional and spiritual assistance to terminally ill patients to provide comfort and improve their quality of life. It’s important to understand the costs related to hospice care. |
| In-home care | Care provided at home that allows an older adult to remain in the privacy and comfort of their own familiar living space. |
| Independent living | Independent living offers housing designed and designated for older adults, typically individuals aged 55 and up, who don’t require assistance with ADLs. It is typically in a supportive community and offers a variety of amenities. |
| Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) | Unlike ADLs, IADLs are the activities an older adult must perform in order to maintain their independence, such as managing health care appointments, arranging their own transportation, planning their daily meals, and keeping their homes in order. |
| Long-term care | Long-term assistance for older adults who can no longer do daily basic activities on their own. |
| Living will | A written legal document that details in advance a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment, should they have a terminal illness or injury and no longer be able to express consent. Preparing a living will ahead of time is important. |
| Managed care | An approach to health care insurance that coordinates services to get the most out of benefits and cut costs of providing health care while maintaining quality. Typically includes a network of providers. |
| Medicaid | A public health insurance program for individuals who are low-income and have limited financial means. |
| Medicare | A federal health insurance program for individuals aged 65 and older and those below 65 that have certain disabilities. |
| Medication management | The review, administration, and organization of medications for an individual to ensure instructions and treatment plans are carefully followed. |
| Medigap Insurance | Also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance, Medigap is additional insurance that can be purchased from a private health insurance company to help fill the gaps in out-of-pocket costs when using Medicare benefits. |
| Memory care community | Long-term care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of progressive degenerative dementia. Memory care communities provide a higher level of care than assisted living. |
| Nursing home | Nursing homes provide residential care to seniors that need full-time monitoring and medical assistance but don’t need hospitalization. Nursing home costs can vary widely depending on location. |
| Ombudsman | A representative who manages any health, safety, and welfare complaints by residents and families and advocates for their rights. |
| Outpatient care | Medical service or treatment that doesn’t require hospitalization. |
| Palliative care | Palliative care centers on the needs of the patient, providing relief for those suffering or experiencing side effects from chronic illness. It can be started in any phase of an illness and can greatly improve quality of life for older adults. |
| Patient advocate | A person who guides an individual through the complex health care system via support, education, and communication with providers. |
| Power of attorney | A legal document that allows a senior to choose an entrusted person to act on their behalf and make decisions on health care, finances, and other matters. There are different types of power of attorney. |
| Respite care | A temporary break, or respite, for primary caregivers from the daily demands of caring for an older adult. Often provided by a nursing assistant or home care worker. |
| Transitional memory care | A type of care that meets the needs of individuals beginning to experience early memory issues. Offers support for transitioning into memory care if required. |
| Vital signs | A group of medical signs that include respiratory rate, pulse rate, temperature, and blood pressure. |
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