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Answers to Your Questions About Senior Care

If you’re seeking clarity on senior care, our FAQs and glossary illuminate the nuances and common terminology of senior care systems to ease your in-home care decision-making process. 

Q&A

See answers to questions commonly asked by our elderly clients and their families. 

We can’t provide a general answer that covers every person and situation, as the cost of in-home care varies greatly per location and the level of care needed. See our cost expectations page for more information about the factors affecting costs, or visit our locations page to find your local A Place At Home Office.

Our clients and their families pay through a variety of methods, including private pay, long-term care insurance and state and/or federal funds such as Medicaid and VA waiver programs. Find out more about available payment methods for in-home care on our cost expectations page. Locate and reach out to your local A Place At Home with questions about qualifying payment methods in your state. 

We offer non-medical, in-home senior care that consists of companion care, lifestyle care, personal care, and medication reminders. We also offer specialized CARE programs such as fall recovery and prevention care, stroke recovery care, Parkinson’s care, and Alzheimer’s and dementia care. See our care services pages to learn more about our personalized CARE offerings. 

Senior Care Glossary

Learn about common terms and acronyms used by senior care professionals so
you can navigate elder care systems with confidence.

AD

Standing for “Advance Directive,” this term covers legal documents like a Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care that determine what happens when a senior becomes incapacitated and can no longer make their own medical decisions. The Living Will lays out a client’s wishes for their doctors, while the Power of Attorney appoints a person to make medical decisions on the patient’s behalf.

ADL’s

Standing for “Activities of Daily Living,” this acronym refers to daily tasks that people learn how to perform in early childhood. Examples include getting dressed, brushing teeth and hair, bathing, and eating.

Aging In Place

This is a common term used to refer to a senior that has chosen to remain at home and receive in-home senior care as opposed to moving into a senior living community for care. 

Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

Assisted Living

Supportive housing for seniors that need help with day-to-day activities, but do not require the 24-hour care of skilled nurses. 

At-Home Care/In-Home Care

Medical or non-medical care provided to seniors in their own homes. 

CMA

Standing for “Certified Medical Assistant,” this acronym refers to a state-licensed caregiver that cares for a patient based on the instructions of a physician. A CMA often helps with administering medications and assisting with more complex day-to-day care like tube feeding. Learn more about the types of caregivers working with us on our our caregivers page.

CNA

Standing for “Certified Nursing Assistant,” this acronym refers to a state-licensed caregiver that works under the direction of a registered or practical nurse. A CNA often works closely with patients on a daily basis to help fulfill basic needs like feeding, dressing, hygiene, and accompaniment. Learn more about the types of caregivers working with us on our caregivers page. 

Dementia

Dementia is a general term covering a range of mentally degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Some forms of dementia are considered curable if their origin is found. 

Family Caregiver

A person who provides unpaid care to a loved one who is ill, injured, disabled, or needs help with daily activities.

Health Care Power of Attorney

A legal document that appoints an agent to make healthcare decisions for a patient, called the “principal,” when that patient becomes incapacitated and unable to make or communicate medical decisions.

Home Health Aide

A caregiver who helps with daily activities completely unrelated to medical care, such as feeding, dressing, bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. Learn more about the types of caregivers working with us on our caregivers page.

Independent Living

Communities, of usually single family homes or townhomes, for self-sufficient seniors seeking social connections and a secure living space. 

Living Will

A legal document that communicates a person’s wishes regarding the use of life-saving devices, procedures, and other medical measures if they become incapacitated and unable to make or communicate medical decisions.

LTC

Standing for “long-term care,” this acronym covers the range of medical and support services given to a person who has lost their ability to function independently, either permanently or for an extended period of time.

Managed Care

Managed care plans involve care coordinated by an insurance company and their specific health care system. All providers coordinate every aspect of care for the senior and closely communicate regarding all developments in the senior’s conditions and care plans. The network of doctors and care providers all work under the same insurance provider, and approvals are usually required prior to receiving services.

Medicaid

A federal and state-funded health insurance program for Americans with limited income and assets. The program is administered by each state and can cover long-term care depending on the specific state’s eligibility requirements. 

Medicare

The federal health insurance program typically for people aged 65 and over. The program covers health care needs like doctor and hospital visits and prescriptions, but does not cover long-term care costs.

Palliative Care

Care that concentrates on increasing comfort and improving quality of life versus stopping, curing, delaying, or reversing progression of a serious and/or terminal disease.

PERS

Standing for “Personal Emergency Response System,” this is the shorthand for any portable device with a call button that allows its user to summon medical help in the case of a fall, injury, or other emergency.

Personal Care Services

The services that a non-medical caregiver, like a home health aide, would provide. This includes help with daily activities like tasks related to basic hygiene, dressing, meal preparation, shopping, and accompaniment to appointments and social activities.

Respite Care

Care that allows family caregivers to have a temporary break from caring for their loved one. This can include scenarios like the senior attending an adult day services program or the family paying for in-home care services for part of each day or week. This allows a family caregiver to recharge and avoid burnout, often leading to better overall care for the senior.

RN

Level of care as determined by a doctor that requires a skilled, licensed medical professional like a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN).

Sandwich Generation

A term coined in 1981 by sociologist Dorothy Miller, that refers to people in their 40s and 50s that are simultaneously responsible for caring for their children and their elderly parents or in-laws. The term was originally focused more specifically on the experience of women in this position.

Skilled Nursing/Skilled Care

Level of care as determined by a doctor that requires a skilled, licensed medical professional like a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). 

Have More Questions About Senior Care?

Our expert team can make building a home care program that fits your exact situation and needs easy. Reach out to us with your questions and we’ll guide you through the process.
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