If you have recently had a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or need help taking care of your aging parent you may have started researching senior care options. While looking into the varieties of senior care, you might have come across some phrases that are second nature to people in the profession but are new to residents and caregivers. Don’t worry, we are here to help! We put together a list of common terms to help you interpret the industry jargon.
Adult Day Care:
A place for your loved one to go during business hours to socialize with others their age, get assistance with meds, personal care, and meals. They return home each night and on the weekends. You can usually enroll them for a few days a week or every day depending on your needs. To learn more about Alba Court’s Adult Day Care Program, click here.
Assisted Living Facility:
Communities, like Alba Court, offer a living environment where seniors can get nutritious meals daily, laundry washed for them, daily housekeeping services, medication management, and activities to keep them active. They are still able to live on their own in an apartment but are surrounded by staff who care and are there to help them with their evolving needs.
Independent Living:
This is a community that is a better fit for those seniors who are more independent and don’t need extra supervision. Depending on the community they still have a variety of services but are more limited than an Assisted Living or Nursing Home.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities:
This is one place that offers all of the senior care options in a single community so they can age comfortably and never have to move.
Nursing Homes:
These are also sometimes called skilled nursing communities. They are for individuals that need 24-hour monitoring and medical assistance.
Memory Care:
This is a senior living option that provides intensive, specialized care for people with memory issues. These units can be found in a secure section of an Assisted Living or in a stand-alone building.
Respite Care:
A way for a senior to stay at an Assisted Living Community for a short period of time so the caregiver can have some rest or go on vacation. They are able to stay in a furnished apartment and have all the care that would be provided to a full-time resident. Learn more about Respite Care rates at Alba Court Residences.
Private Duty Care:
This type of care is where a caregiver comes to your house and helps with daily activities such as: bathing, dressing, cooking meals, cleaning the house, and helping with medication.
Hospice Care:
This is for terminally ill people who are expected to live less than six months. It is available to improve a resident’s quality of life during the final stages.
Activities of Daily Living:
These are tasks that everyone needs to do on a daily basis. For example: Personal hygiene, dressing, bathing, and preparing meals.
Ambulatory:
Seniors who are able to walk and move freely without the assistance of a walker or cane.
Aging in Place:
Adapting familiar environments to accommodate changing needs.
Alzheimer’s:
A medical diagnosis that only a doctor can make. The Alzheimer’s Association defines it as “a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.” It is the most common form of dementia.
Dementia:
It encompasses a variety of symptoms including memory loss and impaired thinking making it hard for that person to manage daily life.
Living Will:
A legal document that goes into detail about what the individual wants. This includes life-saving devices and procedures for when they are no longer able to make that decision on their own.
Palliative Care:
This is usually associated with hospice care and focuses on pain relief to prevent chronic suffering.
Power of Attorney:
A legal document, drafted by a lawyer, that designates a specific person to make decisions about a senior’s affairs when they become physically or mentally incapacitated.
Resident Care Plan:
This is also referred to as Levels of Care Plan. It is a written plan that details the type of services a resident in an Assisted Living needs on a daily basis.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of senior living, give Beverly Robinson our Director of Marketing & Admissions a call at 386-847-3022. She can help you figure out the best plan and accommodations for your family.