Numerous acronyms and terminology used in senior care might be bewildering. Understanding these terms is vital for many reasons, including understanding the terms of your stay in the community. These terms also give you an idea of some of the services you can get when living in such a community.
When touring to find an ideal retirement community, understanding the jargon associated with senior living can help you to evaluate the usefulness of a particular retirement community and compare it to others. Though many terms and acronyms are used in this field, a few are very common. Understanding these is enough to get by. The commonest of these include the following:
Aging in Place
Aging in place refers to an elderly adult living in their own house rather than in a retirement community. This option suggests that they can meet all of their requirements by combining their efforts and those of professional and nonprofessional carers. It is generally accepted that a transition to a retirement community may later be necessary for elderly adults’ and carers’ safety.
Activities of Daily Living
These are the activities performed daily and are learned from childhood. They are necessary for everyday daily life. They are considered essential for living a quality life. Some of these include being able to dress oneself, taking care of your hygiene, arranging transport to and from places of interest, and more. As one grows older, they may be unable to do these, requiring assisted senior living.
Advanced Directive
An advanced directive can take several forms, but the most common is a living will and power of attorney for healthcare. A living will is a legal document that is notarized and signed by someone of sound mind. If the individual becomes no longer competent to make healthcare decisions, the document gives instructions on the patient’s wishes regarding how they want to be taken care of.
The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care designates an individual who will have the legal right to make medical decisions for the loved one if they cannot do so for themselves, such as when they develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Adult Foster Care
Adults with mental, emotional, and physical impairments usually require assistance to perform daily activities such as bathing. Adult foster care communities are groups of residences specifically designated to provide these services to such individuals. They are usually run by team members who have experience in geriatric care. Most of these communities are commercial entities, and the government supports some. The former tends to provide more options regarding care.
At Home Care
Some older adults may be unable to take care of themselves, but not to an extreme degree. They usually depend on a trusted person, such as a family member or a friend, to assist in accomplishing certain daily tasks. Such care usually does not require training and is provided in a private residence owned by the individual or their family.
Medication Management
In medication management, everyone involved ensures that the patient knows what medications they are supposed to take and that they take them at the right time and in the right amount. It is important for caregivers to communicate changes to a patient’s medicine regimen as well as any reactions he or she has to that medicine.
