When it comes to considering the benefits of Senior Retirement Community living, we find two parties most likely to do the necessary research: the potential senior residents themselves and the key family members of those seniors. Many times, the oldest daughter becomes a significant researcher/decision-maker.
The first step in this important research is simply understanding the terms/definitions used by the providers of senior retirement communities. So here is a very basic list of those terms and definitions:
AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging): A national association of not-for-profit senior care organizations devoted to senior issues advocacy and member education. Headquartered in Washington DC. (See: www.aahsa.org)
ADLs (Activities of Daily Living): Bathing, eating, grooming, dressing, toileting, and other usual day-to-dat activities.
Administrator: Licensed director of a clinical health care facility or organization.
Adult Day Care: Structured programs including social activity and interaction with health related programs, services and therapy for seniors, generally for up to 8 hours per day.
Alzheimers: A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of function and resulting in death. Universal syptoms include memory loss and confusion.
Ambulatory: Ability to walk freely and without assistance.
Assessment: May include physical, cognitive and emotional evaluations performed by a qualified health care professional.
Assisted Living: Housing and supportive services, generally provided in an apartment setting.
Caregiver: The primary person in charge of providing care.
CBRF (Community Based Retirement Facility): A senior care facilty providing supervision and supportive services to people unable to live independently but do not require nursing home services. They allow five or more unrelated adults to reside in a CBRF and individuals may receive up to 3 hours of nursing services per week.
CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities): A ‘full service’ retirement community providing a wide variety of services and levels of care including: Independent Housing, Assisted Living and skilled nursing services.
CCRC’s without Walls: An array of health care services for seniors provided in the private homes of seniors.
Congregate Housing: Generally senior apartments with the availability of activities and meals focusing on social interaction.
Dementia: The loss of intellectual functions (memory, thinking and reasoning) stemming from a variety of neurological diseases or conditions.
DME (Durable Medical Equipment): Assistive equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, ‘hospital’ beds, lift chairs, etc.
Geriatric Case Management: Professional assistance from a trained advocate assisting a senior in a variety of areas.
HCBS (Home and Community Based Services): Senior services provided in private homes of seniors and for the wider community.
HIPAA: The ‘Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’ of 1996. Amoung other things, assures privacy of health information.
Home Health: Can be either ‘medical’ and/or ‘non-medical’ care services for individuals in their private homes.
Hospice: End-of-life medical care services with specific protocols to comfort the dying and their families. Service costs are generally covered by Medicare in the final 6 months of life. Hospice can take place in private homes and/or in institutions.
Independent Living: Residential living for seniors that promotes activities, wellness, and social interaction. No or limited health care services are provided.
Medicaid: Public assistance programs giving funds to medical providers assuring health care for people of limited or no financial means.
Medicare: A federal health insurance program, generally for those 65 and older and those with disabilities, providing physician services, therapies, home health care and hospice care.
Not-for-Profit (or Non-profit): Organizations created to provide services and charitable assistance. Generally church affiliated, not-for-profits have no individual owners or investors and depend on support of donors and sponsors.
Palliative Care: Focus is on providing medical ‘comfort’ care and assistance to those with chronic disease.
Skilled Nursing Care: 24 hours of skilled nursing care for more medically acute patients.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF): Nursing home care providing 24 hours of skilled nursing care, activities, meals, therapies and multi-level services.
RCAC (Residential Care Apartment Complex): An RCAC has at least 5 apartments and may provide up to 28 hours per week of services such as housekeeping, personal assistance, dining, nutrition and medication management. 24-hour emergency services are also available. Each apartment has a lockable entrance.
Rehabilitation: Therapeutic care for persons requiring intensive physical, occupational or speech therapy.
Respite: Overnight stays providing people with temporary services.
Senior Apartment: Age restricted multi-unit housing for those 62 years and older who are able to care for themselves.
Senior Center: A place organized to provide activities, education, meals and social interaction for seniors, generally located in villages, towns and cities.
Support Groups: A facilitated gathering of caregivers, family, friends or others affected by a common condition or disease for the purpose of futher education and emotional support.
WAHSA (Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging): An association of not-for-profit senior care and retirement organizations located in Wisconsid design to provide education and advocacy for both seniors and membe providers. Headquatered in Madison, Wisconsin (See www.wahsa.org).
