As we all know from the working world, every industry has its own alphabet soup. Senior living is no exception—save for the fact that it’s newer to you, and you haven’t lived in it day-to-day. Unscramble the senior living alphabet with this quick guide to common acronyms and terms you may encounter in the course of your search.
ADL – Activities of daily living
This doesn’t refer to the social and events calendar, but rather to everyday activities such as eating, getting dressed, and taking medication. Many of these activities serve as markers to the level of care required. For example, if a potential resident can cook, clean, and get ready confidently, they may be fully independent, but if they require assistance, the level of care and type of community will likely fall elsewhere on the care continuum.
Age in place
The majority of seniors prefer to age in place—or age in their own home, rather. This term can refer to either a senior living community or an independent residence.
AL – Assisted living
There are varying degrees of assisted living, and many communities offer different levels to meet those degrees. In some cases, it could be as simple as having transportation services available, while others take a more daily hands-on approach to everything from meals to medication management.
Caregiver
This refers to anyone involved in the overall management of an individual’s care—from a family member or friend to a hands-on services provider.
CCRC – Continuing care retirement community
Also known as a life plan community (LPC), these generally aim to serve seniors with levels of care that can progress as they age, should the need occur. In many cases, these communities offer a range of residences that could include private homes or even independent villas with the option for the resident to move into condo-like residences with floors dedicated to specific needs, such as skilled nursing or memory care.
HHC – Home health care
A term used for those who provide services or medical care in a resident’s own home, rather than the resident traveling to a medical office.
IL – Independent living
Independent living communities are dedicated communities for seniors who do not require assistance with daily activities related to cooking, self-care, or otherwise. These types of communities often include a variety of onsite amenities along with active social and entertainment calendars.
LTC – Long-term care
These services are provided to individuals who are unable to care for themselves for a long-term or potentially permanent period.
MC – Memory care
This is a specialized service and kind of care not offered in every type of senior living community. It is specifically for adults with developing or developed memory challenges, such as Alzheimer’s, memory loss, or dementia, and requires specialized providers. In some cases, communities will designate floors or buildings specifically for memory care, and many hold additional certifications and accreditations.
SLC – Senior living community
This is a broad term for any live-in community specifically dedicated to senior citizens, generally age 55+.
