Senior Care Glossary
Plain English definitions for the terms you will encounter when navigating care for your parent.
A
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
These are the basic everyday tasks most of us take for granted, like bathing, getting dressed, eating, using the bathroom, and moving around the house. When a parent starts needing help with ADLs, it is often the first sign that some level of care support is needed. Many benefits and insurance policies use the number of ADLs someone needs help with to determine eligibility.
Check benefits eligibilityAdult Day Program
A supervised program where your parent can spend the daytime hours in a safe, social environment while you handle work or other responsibilities. These programs typically offer meals, activities, and sometimes health services. They are a great option for families who want to keep a loved one at home but need support during the day.
Find adult day programsAlzheimer’s Disease
The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s gradually affects memory, thinking, and behavior over time. It is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms get worse as the disease advances. Early diagnosis can open the door to treatments that may slow progression and give families more time to plan ahead.
Read our family guideAssisted Living
A residential community where your parent can live in their own apartment or suite while receiving help with daily tasks like meals, medication reminders, bathing, and dressing. Assisted living is designed for people who need some support but not round the clock medical care. Most communities also offer social activities and transportation.
Browse assisted living near youB
Board and Care Home
A small, home-like residential setting, typically housing six to twelve residents, where your parent receives personal care in a more intimate environment than a larger facility. These homes are sometimes called residential care homes or adult family homes. They can be a wonderful fit for someone who prefers a quieter, more personal setting.
Find board and care homesC
Caregiver
Anyone who provides care and support to someone who needs help with daily life. This includes family members, spouses, and friends as well as professional aides and nurses. If you are helping your parent manage medications, driving them to appointments, or simply checking in on them regularly, you are a caregiver.
CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community)
A campus-style community that offers multiple levels of care in one location, from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing. The idea is that your parent can age in place without having to move to an entirely new facility as their needs change. CCRCs often require an entrance fee along with monthly charges.
Explore CCRCsCognitive Decline
A gradual loss of thinking abilities such as memory, reasoning, attention, and problem solving. Some mild cognitive changes are a normal part of aging, but a noticeable decline that affects daily life may signal something more serious. If you are noticing changes in your parent, it is worth having a conversation with their doctor sooner rather than later.
Community Spouse Resource Allowance
A Medicaid rule that protects the healthy spouse when their partner needs long-term care. Without this protection, couples could lose nearly all their savings to care costs. The Community Spouse Resource Allowance lets the spouse who is not receiving care keep a certain amount of assets and income so they can continue living independently.
Learn about Medicaid planningD
Dementia
An umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause a decline in memory, thinking, and the ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s is the most common type, but there are several others including vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia. Dementia is not a normal part of aging, and getting a proper diagnosis is an important first step.
G
Geriatric Care Manager
A professional, usually a nurse or social worker, who specializes in helping families navigate the elder care system. They can assess your parent’s needs, recommend the right type of care, coordinate between doctors and facilities, and help resolve family disagreements about care decisions. They are especially helpful when you live far from your parent or when the situation is complicated.
H
Home Health Aide
A trained caregiver who comes to your parent’s home to help with personal care tasks like bathing, dressing, light housekeeping, and meal preparation. Home health aides allow your parent to stay in their own home while still getting the daily support they need. Visits can range from a few hours a week to full-time live-in care.
Find home health providersHospice Care
A specialized type of care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life when a serious illness is no longer responding to curative treatment. Hospice can be provided at home, in a facility, or in a dedicated hospice center. It includes medical care, pain management, emotional support, and counseling for both the patient and the family.
Find hospice providersI
Independent Living
Housing communities designed for active, self-sufficient seniors who want a maintenance-free lifestyle with built-in social opportunities. Residents typically live in their own apartment or cottage and enjoy amenities like dining, fitness centers, and organized activities. Independent living is ideal for parents who are doing well on their own but want a community around them.
Browse independent living communitiesL
Long Term Care Insurance
A type of insurance policy that helps cover the cost of extended care services, including nursing homes, assisted living, and home health aides. If your parent purchased a policy years ago, it could significantly reduce the financial burden of care. Policies vary widely in what they cover and how benefits are triggered, so it is important to review the details carefully.
Understand your benefitsM
Medicaid
A joint federal and state program that helps cover long-term care costs for people with limited income and assets. Medicaid is the single largest payer of nursing home care in the United States. Eligibility rules vary by state, and qualifying often requires careful financial planning. Many families are surprised to learn their parent may be eligible with the right guidance.
Check Medicaid eligibilityMedicaid Spend-Down
The process of reducing your parent’s countable assets to meet Medicaid’s eligibility thresholds. This does not mean wasting money. There are legal, strategic ways to spend down assets, such as paying off a mortgage, making home improvements, or prepaying for funeral expenses. Proper planning can make a significant difference in what the family is able to keep.
Plan your spend-downMedicare
The federal health insurance program for Americans aged 65 and older, as well as some younger people with disabilities. Medicare covers hospital stays, doctor visits, and some short-term skilled nursing care, but it does not cover long-term custodial care like assisted living or ongoing nursing home stays. Understanding what Medicare does and does not cover is one of the most important steps in care planning.
Learn what Medicare coversMemory Care
A specialized type of senior living designed for people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Memory care communities provide a secure environment with structured routines, trained staff, and activities tailored to residents with cognitive challenges. They can be standalone facilities or a dedicated section within a larger assisted living community.
Find memory care near youMemory Care Unit
A dedicated wing or floor within a larger senior living facility that is specifically designed and staffed for residents with dementia. These units typically feature secured entrances to prevent wandering, higher staff-to-resident ratios, and programming focused on cognitive engagement. They offer specialized care without requiring a move to a completely separate facility.
Browse facilities with memory careN
Nursing Home
A facility that provides around the clock skilled nursing care for people who need ongoing medical attention and help with daily activities. Nursing homes are designed for individuals whose care needs are too complex to be met at home or in assisted living. They offer medical care, rehabilitation services, meals, and personal care all under one roof.
Find nursing homes near youO
Occupational Therapy
A type of therapy that helps your parent regain or maintain the ability to perform everyday tasks like getting dressed, cooking, or using the bathroom safely. An occupational therapist may recommend adaptive tools, exercises, or changes to the home environment. The goal is to help your parent stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.
P
Palliative Care
Medical care focused on relieving symptoms, pain, and stress caused by a serious illness, at any stage. Unlike hospice, palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments. It is about improving quality of life for both the patient and the family, and it can begin as soon as a diagnosis is made.
Power of Attorney
A legal document that gives someone you trust the authority to make decisions on your behalf. For senior care planning, there are two main types: a financial power of attorney for managing money and property, and a healthcare power of attorney for making medical decisions. Getting these documents in place while your parent can still make their own decisions is one of the most important steps a family can take.
R
Respite Care
Temporary care that gives the primary caregiver a break. This might mean a short stay at a care facility, a few hours of in-home help, or an adult day program. Caregiver burnout is real, and respite care is not a luxury. Taking time to recharge makes you a better caregiver in the long run.
Find respite care optionsS
Skilled Nursing Facility
A facility staffed with licensed nurses and therapists who provide medical care and rehabilitation services. Skilled nursing facilities, sometimes called SNFs, offer a higher level of medical attention than assisted living. Medicare may cover short stays in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay, but long-term coverage typically requires Medicaid or private pay.
Find skilled nursing facilitiesSocial Security
A federal program that provides monthly income to retirees, people with disabilities, and survivors of deceased workers. For most seniors, Social Security is a primary source of income. Understanding how Social Security benefits interact with other programs like Medicare and Medicaid can help you build a more complete financial picture for your parent’s care.
Explore benefitsSundowning
A pattern of increased confusion, anxiety, agitation, or restlessness that tends to happen in the late afternoon and evening, particularly in people with dementia. Sundowning can be triggered by fatigue, low lighting, or disruption in routine. Keeping a consistent daily schedule and ensuring a calm, well-lit environment in the evenings can help manage symptoms.
V
VA Aid and Attendance
A monthly pension benefit from the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. This benefit can be used to pay for home care, assisted living, or nursing home costs. Many families do not realize their parent may qualify, even if the veteran did not serve in combat.
Check VA eligibilityVA Benefits
The range of federal benefits available to military veterans, including healthcare, disability compensation, pension programs, and the Aid and Attendance benefit. If your parent served in the military, they may be entitled to benefits that can significantly offset the cost of senior care. Eligibility depends on factors like length of service, discharge status, and financial need.
Explore VA benefitsStill have questions?
Knowing the terminology is a great start. The next step is building a personalized care plan that puts all the pieces together for your family.
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