Transforming alphabet soup into the ABCs of senior living
If you are new to the world of senior living services, one of the most confusing things can be all of the acronyms associated with it. “When people begin to evaluate options for senior services, the terms can be very unfamiliar and puzzling,” said Laurie Rehm, Independent Living Administrator at Heritage Homes in Watertown, Wis. “AL, IL, CBRF … what do they all mean?”
To help, Laurie has put together a quick guide to some of the common senior living terminology in the state of Wisconsin.
- IL (Independent Living): Independent living is for those who are able to live independently, but would like social opportunities with others of a similar age. Services and amenities cater to seniors and may include meal options, housekeeping, transportation or other hospitality services. Residents must be capable of caring for themselves or arranging for care services individually. Good candidates for Independent Living are those who no longer want to maintain a home, can communicate with doctors and caregivers by themselves or with the help of family — but without the help of on-site staff — and those who desire the security found in a seniors-only community.
- AL (Assisted Living): Assisted living is an option for those who cannot live independently and want the assurance of having caregivers available to provide assistance 24 hours per day. Care services might include help with medications and ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) such as bathing, dressing, grooming and mobility. Assisted living communities provide residential environments that enhance independence as much as possible.
- CBRF (Community Based Residential Facility) is for those who need supportive services, but no more than three hours of skilled nursing care per week. Staff is available 24 hours per day, and CBRFs are categorized by size, the residents’ ability to evacuate and residents’ condition or status. CBRFs strive to be homelike and encourage each person’s freedom.
- MC (Memory Care): These communities often operate under a CBRF license and are specifically for people with a dementia diagnosis. Team members are often specially trained and accommodations are often made for each person’s eating, sleeping and activity patterns. Carefully planned recreation activities add structure to daily routines.
- RCAC (Residential Care Apartment Complex) consists of five or more independent apartments each with a lockable entrance, kitchen with a stove and individual bathroom, sleeping and living areas. RCACs may offer up to 28 hours per week of personal, supportive and nursing services.
- AFH (Adult Family Home) is a setting where three or four adults, not related to the licensee of the home, receive care beyond room and board. In this type of assisted living, no more than seven hours per week of nursing care may be provided.
- SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): A skilled nursing facility provides a type of nursing care recognized by Medicare and Medicaid to meet long-term health care needs for individuals who have the potential to function independently after a limited period of care. Patients in an SNF no longer need hospital care, but still have health conditions that require around-the-clock monitoring and attention from medical professionals.
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