Senior Care Choices At-a-Glance

Confused Senior

CATEGORIES OF CARE
Independent Living
Continuing Care Retirement Community
Assisted Living Facilities
Nursing Homes
Home Health Care		     Home Care
Adult Day Care
Adult Day Health Care
Hospice
Geriatric Care Managers


Independent Living

Independent living communities, also known as senior housing and senior communities, are dwellings restricted to seniors, usually age 55 and older or 62 and older. Facilities do not include support services or staff to address the special needs of aging residents. Instead, senior living residences are designed for independent individuals in good overall health who are able to live on their own but desire the lifestyle associated with community living. Many offer classes such as dance, art, ceramics, woodworking and more. Others are equipped with exercise and fitness facilities, swimming pools and spas, laundry services, meals and/or dining facilities, and have access to local transportation.


Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)

A CCRC, also referred to as a life-care community, combines residential accommodations with health services. The purpose of a CCRC is to allow residents to receive the appropriate care across a continuum, from independent living to assisted living and skilled nursing care, as their needs change, without having to leave the retirement community. This ensures that residents will be cared for through end-of-life. CCRCs usually charge residents an entrance fee as well as a monthly payment. The entrance fee may include the cost of purchasing a unit, or it may be a one-time fee in order to join the community.

Continuing care retirement communities span a continuum of care according to the needs of senior residents. Services range from assisted living (which provides some housekeeping, social activities, supervision and assistance with basic activities like personal hygiene, dressing, eating and walking) through skilled nursing care for seniors requiring medical care prescribed by a physician. For information on finding, assessing and paying for CCRCs, read Continuing Care Retirement Communities Explained.

 


Assisted Living Facility

Assisted living facilities are residences for seniors who require some care or help with the activities of daily living . Assisted living facilities provide room and board, some housekeeping, social activities, supervision and assistance with basic activities like personal hygiene, dressing, eating and walking. Most facilities offer three meals per day, as well as snacks in between meals.

These facilities are considered nonmedical facilities and are not required to have nurses, certified nursing assistants or doctors on staff, although many facilities do have medical staff either onsite or on call. Medications can be stored and distributed for residents to self-administer. For information on finding, assessing and paying for assisted living, read Assisted Living Explained.

 

Nursing Home

Nursing homes are also known as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs-pronounced “sniffs”) and convalescent homes. Nursing homes are live-in facilities that provide medical treatment prescribed by a physician.

SNFs provide twenty-four hour nursing care; rehabilitation services such as physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy; assistance with personal care activities such as eating, walking, bathing and using the toilet; coordinated management of patient care; social services; and activities.

These nursing care facilities cater to several types of patients: some patients require short-term rehab while recovering from surgery; others require long-term nursing and medical supervision. In addition, some SNFs offer specialized care programs for Alzheimer’s or other illnesses, or short-term respite care for frail or disabled persons when a family member requires a rest from providing care in the home. For information on finding, assessing and paying for nursing homes, read Nursing Homes Explained.

 


Home Health

Home health care agencies provide in-home skilled nursing and other home health care services, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy. Home health care agencies are licensed by the state, but must adhere to federal regulations as well.

Home health must be prescribed by a physician. Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) provide the care, sometimes in conjunction with other health professionals. These providers may also enlist the assistance of a home health aide who can help with personal care such as bathing and using the toilet. Home health aides can also administer medication under the supervision of a nurse. For information on finding, assessing and paying for home health care, read Home Health Care Explained.

 


Homecare

Homecare is nonmedical care provided in the client’s home. It includes custodial care and assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing and providing medication reminders. Homecare workers are professionally trained caregivers who provide companionship and are responsible for maintaining a safe environment for the person receiving care.

Homecare can be arranged without a physician’s order and is different from home health care, in that caregivers do not provide nursing care. For example, while they may provide medication reminders, they are not allowed to administer medication. Neither are caregivers housecleaners; although some light housekeeping may be necessary and appropriate, heavy housecleaning is normally not expected. In-home caregivers may provide care within a facility setting to help supplement for extra needed care. For information on finding, assessing and paying for homecare, read Homecare Explained.

 

Adult Day Care

Adult day care provides a safe and caring setting for adults within a social model program. Programs are structured and designed, often through the development of a personal care plan, to cover the daily individual needs of each participant, including a variety of social and supportive services. Participants may be physically, mentally or functionally impaired, or they may simply need companionship or supervision during part of the day. Many programs offered specialize in participants needing Alzheimer’s care.

Most programs offer meals and some provide transportation. A variety of activities are offered with the purpose of providing stimulation and socialization for participants. Some common activities are mentally stimulating activities such as word association, trivia questions and crossword puzzles; physically stimulating activities include exercise and dance. For information on finding, assessing and paying for adult day care, read Adult Day Care Explained.

 


Adult Day Health Care

Like adult day care, adult day health care provides a safe, caring setting for adults who require supervision or care during the day. Adult day health programs are designed for individuals who require a more skilled level of care. These programs offer medical services, like rehabilitation, therapy, nursing care and special nutrition. The programs are structured and designed, often through the development of a personal care plan, to cover the daily individual needs of each participant. Participants of adult day health care require some health care, unlike adult day care participants. For information on finding, assessing and paying for adult day health care, read Adult Day Health Care Explained.

 


Hospice

Hospice is a type of palliative care designed to support a patient through the last stages of a terminal illness, when the goal is no longer to cure the illness. At this point, regular medical treatment is no longer considered beneficial. Instead, the goal of hospice is to minimize pain and suffering. Although hospice care is usually administered in the patient’s residence, it can also take place in an inpatient hospice facility. When necessary, hospice services can be called into assisted living facilities and nursing homes, as long as those facilities carry a hospice waiver. For information on finding, assessing and paying for hospice care, read Palliative and Hospice Care Explained.

 


Geriatric Care Manager (GCM)

A GCM is a professional advocate who helps guide you through the ins and outs of the oftentimes-confusing process of locating appropriate long-term care and deciphering all of its associated issues. By evaluating an individual’s level of functioning, along with their health, emotional, financial and legal needs, a GCM helps to identify problems and needs, and offer practical solutions. GCMs help ease the stress of searching for long-term care by intervening in crises, counseling and supporting you and your loved one and educating and advocating on your behalf. Based on your specific needs, they personalize your plan of services. For information on finding, assessing and paying for a geriatric care manager, read Geriatric Care Managers Explained.

 

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