TERMINOLOGY 101

Navigating senior living and care options can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re faced with unfamiliar terms and acronyms. This glossary provides clear, easy-to-understand definitions of the most common senior living, housing, healthcare, and caregiving terms to help you make informed decisions for yourself or a loved one.

Active Adult Community (55+ Community)

An age-restricted residential community designed for adults age 55 and older who are active and independent. These communities typically offer amenities such as clubhouses, fitness centers, walking trails, and social activities. Residents live independently and are generally responsible for their own healthcare needs.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

The basic self-care tasks people perform every day. A person’s ability to complete ADLs often helps determine the level of care they need.

ADLs include:

• Bathing and personal hygiene
• Dressing
• Eating
• Toileting
• Transferring (moving from bed to chair, etc.)
• Continence

Adult Day Care

A supervised daytime program that provides socialization, meals, activities, personal care, and sometimes light medical services for older adults. Adult day care offers caregivers a temporary break while ensuring their loved one is in a safe environment.

Aging in Place

The ability to remain safely and comfortably in one’s home or current living environment as health and mobility needs change. Aging in place may involve home modifications, supportive services, or in-home care.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive brain disorder and the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s affects memory, thinking, behavior, and eventually the ability to perform everyday tasks independently.

Assisted Living

A residential option for older adults who need assistance with daily activities but do not require 24-hour skilled nursing care. Assisted living communities provide support while promoting independence.

Services may include:

• Medication management
• Assistance with bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Housekeeping and laundry
• Transportation
• Meals and dining services
• Social and recreational programs
• Emergency response systems

In some areas, assisted living may also be referred to as Personal Care.

Caregiver

A person who provides care and support to an older adult or individual with health limitations. Caregivers may be family members, friends, or paid professionals.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) / Life Plan Community

A community that offers multiple levels of living and healthcare services on one campus, allowing residents to remain within the same community as their needs change.

A typical Life Plan Community includes:

• Independent Living
• Assisted Living/Personal Care
• Memory Care
• Skilled Nursing Care

Residents often pay an entrance fee and monthly service fee. Communities such as Cornwall Manor are examples of Life Plan Communities.

Dementia

A general term describing a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia affects memory, language, judgment, and problem-solving abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.

Home Care (Non-Medical Care)

Services provided in a person’s home that assist with personal care and everyday tasks rather than medical treatment.

Services may include:

• Personal care
• Meal preparation
• Housekeeping
• Transportation
• Companionship
• Medication reminders

Home Health Care

Licensed medical services provided in the home by nurses, therapists, or other healthcare professionals.

Services may include:

• Skilled nursing care
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Wound care
• Medication administration

Hospice Care

Comfort-focused care for individuals facing a life-limiting illness when curative treatment is no longer the primary goal. Hospice emphasizes pain management, symptom control, and emotional and spiritual support for both patients and families.

Independent Living

A housing option for active, self-sufficient older adults who want a maintenance-free lifestyle with access to amenities, social opportunities, dining, wellness programs, and community services.

Residents live independently and do not typically require daily personal care assistance.

Medicaid

A joint federal and state program that helps cover healthcare and long-term care costs for eligible individuals with limited income and assets. Medicaid may help pay for nursing home care and, in some states, assisted living services.

Medicare

The federal health insurance program primarily for adults age 65 and older and certain younger individuals with disabilities.

Medicare Part A

Covers:

• Hospital stays
• Short-term skilled nursing care
• Hospice care
• Limited home health services

Medicare Part B

Covers:

• Physician services
• Outpatient care
• Preventive services
• Medical equipment and supplies

Memory Care

A specialized form of long-term care designed for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairments. Memory care neighborhoods provide:

• Secure environments
• Structured daily routines
• Specially trained staff
• Programs focused on cognitive engagement and quality of life

Nursing Home

Often used interchangeably with Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), a nursing home provides 24-hour medical supervision and nursing care for individuals with significant healthcare needs, chronic conditions, or rehabilitation requirements.

Care may be provided on a:

• Short-term basis for rehabilitation after illness or surgery
• Long-term basis for ongoing medical and personal care needs

Palliative Care

Specialized medical care focused on improving quality of life for individuals living with serious illnesses. Unlike hospice care, palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness and alongside curative treatment.

Personal Care

A term commonly used in some states for a care setting similar to assisted living. Personal care communities help residents maintain independence while providing support with daily activities, medication management, meals, housekeeping, and transportation.

Respite Care

Short-term care designed to provide relief for family caregivers. Respite services may be provided in the home, an assisted living community, adult day center, or skilled nursing facility for a few hours, days, or weeks.

Senior Housing

A broad term that includes various residential options designed specifically for older adults, including:

• Senior apartments
• Independent living communities
• 55+ communities
• Assisted living residences
• Life Plan Communities

Some senior housing options are subsidized to make them more affordable for low-income older adults.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

A licensed healthcare facility that provides:

• 24-hour nursing care
• Rehabilitation services
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Long-term medical care

SNFs serve individuals with complex medical conditions, those recovering after hospitalization, and residents who require continuous nursing supervision.

Frequently Used Senior Living Concepts

Active Senior Living

A lifestyle focused on wellness, social engagement, lifelong learning, recreation, and independence. Active senior living communities prioritize opportunities for residents to stay healthy, connected, and engaged.

Continuum of Care

The range of housing and healthcare services available as a person’s needs change over time. Life Plan Communities are designed around this concept by offering multiple levels of care on one campus.

Life Plan Community

Another name for a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), emphasizing long-term planning and access to future healthcare services.

Person-Centered Care

An approach that focuses on individual preferences, dignity, independence, and quality of life rather than a one-size-fits-all care model.

Understanding the Terminology

Today’s senior living options extend far beyond the traditional nursing home model. Older adults can choose from independent living, assisted living, memory care, home-based services, and Life Plan Communities that support aging in place. Understanding these terms helps seniors and families compare options, ask informed questions, and select the housing and healthcare solutions that best fit their current and future needs.