Senior Living Dictionary: A Complete Guide to Common Terms & Definitions

We understand that planning for your future is an important decision.

To help you get started, we’ve created a list of common senior living terms and definitions.

 

 

 

Aging In Place/Continuing Care At Home

Definition: Remaining in your own residence through the years as you or your loved one ages.

When thinking about retirement, many prefer to remain independent and in their own home for as long as possible. For some, this choice is preferable because of the feelings of security, control, and comfort it can bring. Those considering to age in place still need a plan for how they can remain healthy, safe, and successful in their home. Continuing Care At Home programs have been designed to provide support for those who choose to age in place.

Sun Health At Home, Arizona’s first and only Continuing Care at Home program, gives members the opportunity to continue living independently wherever they call home, with the assurance of knowing they have guaranteed lifetime access to health care should their health needs ever change. Sun Health At Home members also receive highly personalized support 24/7, which includes coordinating medical appointments and procedures, private duty caregivers, companion services, and transportation when necessary.

Assisted Living

Definition: A residential setting designed to help individuals who may need help with some activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, and medication reminders.

Assisted living is a health service for individuals who may need help with certain daily tasks but are still able to live semi-independently. Certified caregivers provide around-the-clock support and assistance with everything from medication management to housekeeping. Residents can receive as much, or as little, assistance as they need, while also enjoying the activities and amenities at any Sun Health Communities location.

Independent Living

Definition: Private residences for those who are still able to live independently but wish to take advantage of living within a community that provides services and amenities.

Independent living residences typically range from apartment homes to traditional neighborhood homes with residency agreements that fit your individual financial situation. With home maintenance, housekeeping, and dining taken care of, independent living residents have more time to participate in clubs, activities, and enjoy community-wide amenities.

Life Care/Life Care Community

Definition: Life Care refers to the type of residency agreement for independent living plus health care for the lifetime of its residents.

Residents living at any Sun Health Community location as well as Sun Health At Home members are assured access to a full suite of medical and non-medical residential health services under a Life Care agreement, regardless of any changes to your finances or if you outlive your assets. While there is an upfront investment associated with a Life Care agreement, the savings for you or your family and the peace of mind of knowing you’re taken care of no matter your need, is significant.

At Sun Health Communities, care levels can range from the following:

• Independent living: Individuals who live independently in private residences, such as apartment homes and casitas.
• Assisted living: Individuals who can live semi-independently but could still benefit from day-to-day assistance.
• Memory support: Individuals living with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or other forms of memory impairment.
• Skilled nursing: Individuals with medical conditions that require moderate to total assistance with everyday life.

Life Plan Community/Continuing Care Retirement Community

Definition: Communities offering private independent living residences as well as a full suite of health care services including but not limited to assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation.

Choosing to move to a Life Plan Community, formerly known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities, is an important one. However, choosing to make the move while you are still in the driver’s seat has many benefits, including taking advantage of the community’s many services and amenities as well as having peace of mind that you have a plan in place for the future, should you needs change.

At Sun Health, we offer three award-winning Life Plan Communities: Grandview Terrace in Sun City West, La Loma Village in Litchfield Park, and The Colonnade in Surprise.

Masterpiece Living®

Definition: A nationally recognized program and research-based way of life that creates a culture of successful aging.

Sun Health is proud to partner with Masterpiece Living, a program that focuses on four key dimensions: physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual. Guided by the MacArthur Foundation’s research on aging, Masterpiece Living fosters a culture for successful aging, which includes creating an environment in which people can engage and live purposefully, providing tools to empower individuals to continue growing, and teaching individuals about the impact of everyday lifestyle choices.

Memory Support

Definition: Memory support provides specialized care to individuals living with Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other forms of memory impairment.

While memory support services cannot cure Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia, they can raise overall quality of life, address the progression of symptoms, and reduce the occurrence of falls and hospitalizations.

At Sun Health Communities, we provide safe and structured environment designed to reduce confusion, prevent wandering, and promote healthy brain function. Memory support communities are especially secure, with the wellbeing of each resident taken very seriously. Flexible schedules and routines reduce stress and help residents feel comfortable and safe in their day-to-day lives, while activities and community programs help to cultivate cognitive skills.

Skilled Nursing/Skilled Care

Definition: Also called skilled care, skilled nursing provides around-the-clock care for individuals with medical conditions that require moderate to total assistance with everyday life.

Skilled nursing provides care for individuals recovering from an acute illness, hospitalization, surgery, or who require rehabilitation after a stroke, fractured hip, and other events that cause a decline in independence.

At Sun Health Communities, a skilled nursing care team typically includes a registered nurse, a physician, and an occupational or speech therapist, along with a caregiving staff. Care is provided 24/7 and can be provided on a short- or long-term basis.

Rehabilitation

Definition: A level of care designed to facilitate recovery from injury, illness, or hospitalization, as well as to improve quality of life and overall functioning.

At Sun Health Communities, our rehabilitation services are categorized within two main subsets: short-term transitional rehabilitation and outpatient rehabilitation. While goals vary depending on individual needs, common goals include recovering from loss of mobility, improving communication skills, and adapting to the use of assistive devices such as walkers or canes.