Glossary
Explanation of Housing & Care Types
Adult Care Homes (a.k.a. AFH, Board & Care, Adult Foster Care)
The owner of an Adult Care Home chooses what level of care s/he provides:
assisted-living type services, dementia care or even skilled-type care. The
State issues licenses to such homes that provide care for two or more
individuals in a private home setting.
There are thousands of Adult Care Homes located in neighborhoods throughout the west coast.
Each home varies in the types of care offered, the physical layout of the home
and the services extended to residents. Some homes are operated by nurses or
medical professionals. Such homes often serve as an alternative to skilled
nursing care. Other homes are operated by caregivers who can support an older
adult with their activities of daily living.
Adult Care Homes offer an individualized approach to meeting a person's
unique needs. These homes care for the physically frail and for people with
cognitive impairments such as dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.
Adult Care Home providers establish their own policies for admitting
residents who pay privately for services, are receiving benefits from long-term
care insurance or that are receiving funding from the state through
Medicaid/COPES.
Adult Communities
Adult Communities are age-restricted housing developments. They may consist of
single-family dwellings, condominiums, mobile homes or apartments.
Adult Communities are characterized as active environments, often offering
some type of community activities or interaction with neighbors.
Quite often Adult Communities do not provide care services. Individuals may
arrange to obtain in-home or other types of care to continue living
independently within such communities. A requirement of an Adult Community may
be that a resident be capable of managing his/her own affairs.
All Adult Communities require that you pay privately for services.
Affordable and Low or Lower Income Senior Housing
The CHOICE web site has limited information about Subsidized housing for older
adults.
The best source of information for low-income senior housing, section 8
housing, HUD Housing. Contact the Housing Authority in your area by calling
Senior Information and Assistance in the county where you wish to reside.
Alzheimer's & Dementia Care
Care for individuals with memory impairments and memory loss is provided by
specific Assisted Living communities, many Adult Care Homes, and within some
specialty areas of skilled nursing facilities. In-home care, Home health, Chore
and Companion services also support people with memory loss to remain in their
own homes by providing care for a certain number of hours or by providing
24-hour live-in care.
The factors one must consider when choosing a memory care community or care
option are complex.
You can call upon CHOICE Advisory Services, Inc. to assist you free-of-charge
in determining the options that best meets your needs.
Call us at: 1-800-361-0138
Assisted Living
These communities vary widely, and it is important to determine, in writing,
what services are provided by a specific community. The term "Assisted Living"
is not a well-defined term and it may change, based on the regulations and
interpretations of the management and/or nursing staff providing care to an
individual.
Consumers should not equate Assisted Living with "one-on-one care." Assisted
Living subscribes to the concept that one or more care givers can provide
support services to multiple residents. Frequently you will find that there are
levels of supervision and management to ensure that care is being delivered in
a consistent and safe manner.
Communities offering "Assisted Living" have acquired a Boarding
Home license with the State of Washington. The care community may license only
certain apartments or rooms, or they may choose to license
their entire building as a Boarding Home. This license allows certain staff
members to provide certain personal care services for an individual. These
tasks are typically non-medical in nature such as assisting residents with
activities of daily living (bathing, dressing toileting, medication reminders
or management, and assistance to meals and activities.
Some Assisted Living communities offer much higher levels of care and provide
support regarding transfer assistance (getting up out of a chair), or
assistance with walking, using the bathroom, and incontinence care. Some
communities have nurses
supervising the care, overseeing the resident care or actually providing
nursing services. Many Assisted Living communities have contracted with outside
health care professionals to provide more extensive, nursing-type services and
health care related support such as therapies and treatments.
Assisted Living is also a term used to define a special type of Assisted Living
for individuals with memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer's Disease. You may find
that such a community specializes in care for people by offering a more secure
environment as well as activities and services that are designed for people
with cognitive impairments.
The majority of Assisted Living services are provided to individuals who
either pay privately for care or that have long-term care insurance with
specific provisions for Assisted Living. A limited number of apartments are
available for individuals receiving state assistance through Medicaid / Medical
or COPES.
Apartments
There are hundreds of apartment homes available in most every part of
the west coast. Very few communities are age-restrictive. Those apartments that cater to
older adults are listed on our web site. You may also consider picking up a For
Rent magazine at the entry way of your local supermarket. This annual
publication lists most all apartment rental homes. Local newspapers and
websites also list rental options of apartments and condominium
homes.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)
These communities offer levels of independence and care within one building or
campus. The advantage is that as your needs change, you can still live within
the same community. Some CCRCs require an entrance fee. Some may also offer a
month-to-month payment plan. In our area, continuing care communities mirror
your living choices, from large buildings in the heart of the downtown area, to
suburban campuses.
Some CCRC's only allow admission to retirement living apartments and reserve
their Assisted Living and/or Skilled Nursing services for their current
apartment residents. Other communities may open their services for direct
admission to their higher levels of care for short term or even long term
stays.
Almost all CCRC's require that you pay privately for services. Various skilled
services may be covered by Medicare. The community may have specific guidelines
for the acceptance of Medicaid / Medical.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
(Also known as Nursing Homes, sometimes as Transitional Care Units or
Rehabilitation Facilities)
These communities offer the highest level of care in a non-acute care setting.
Skilled nurses are available to provide health care to physically or
cognitively impaired individuals. Care in a nursing home may be for a
short-term recovery basis or for long-term care.
Transitional Care Units and Rehabilitation Facilities focus on therapies and
treatments to allow an individual to return home or to a more independent
lifestyle. The professional support team may include nurses, doctors,
physical-, occupational- or speech-therapists and social services staff.
Nursing Homes accept private payment as well as payment from long-term care
insurance. It is likely that these facilities have also contracted with
Medicare or the state to provide housing and care under certain guidelines and for specific
purposes. Additionally, many Nursing Homes accept state funding through
Medicaid.
Medicaid / Medical & COPES
TheFederal Government has developed programs for older adults who require
care services and who qualify financially for services.
The processes of applying for state assistance requires knowledge of the laws
regarding Medicaid / Medical, an understanding of the application process and an
awareness of the assessment process. You are best served by consulting our
Articles of Interest section to educate yourself regarding the
options available to you.
Retirement Living or Independent Living
Many communities offer arrangements that allow for living on one's own but
within the framework of a senior community. The actual, physical housing might
be an apartment, condo, cottage or town home. These communities may offer
support services. They often include one or more meals, housekeeping services
and other support such as activities and transportation.
Some Retirement Living communities require either a deposit or a move-in fee.
Most options are offered on a monthly-rental basis; however, various types of
Retirement Living are becoming available in our area.
Some Retirement Communities have licensed part of their community for Assisted
Living services (this requires a license). Yet others have
contracted with in-home care agencies, nurses, therapists and physicians to
provide on-site services.
Retirement Living communities allow the option of hiring private-duty
caregivers to provide support services. Retirement Communities must comply with
certain state laws to ensure the safety and well being of their
residents and to also ensure that they are not providing care services that
would otherwise require specific licensure.
The benefit of this living arrangement is that it negates maintenance of a home, and
eliminates many chores that residents may no longer care to do, such as cooking
or driving. Management staff generally keeps a watchful eye over residents.
There may be 24-hour staffing or building security.
Opportunities for social interaction with peers and staff abound. You may
still live on your own, but you are not living alone as you may be if you were
living in a single family dwelling.
Retirement Living requires that you pay privately for services. A
few communities offer reduced rates based on income level.