Glossary of Terms
No matter what the circumstances,
the following Glossary of Terms may be helpful in understanding
a few of the basic differences in the various housing and care options,
especially the newer ones. Please feel free to call New Horizons'
executive director, Robert (Bob) O'Connor in Marlborough (508-460-5000),
or Robert (Rob) Nigro in Woburn at (781-932-8000) for help with
any questions.
Independent Retirement Living
- A living arrangement in residential apartments
where elders share common space, but are able to maintain their
independence with little or no assistance. Better facilities typically
provide three meals daily for all residents, plus utilities, some
transportation, housekeeping, etc., as well as standby assistance,
if needed, and a wide variety of social activities. Independent
living suites comprise about 60% of the suites at each New Horizons
community.
Adult Day Health Program
- Program providing supervision, recreation and
health care services during the day to older people to better allow
family caregivers to work or attend to other responsibilities on
a daily basis only. Several couples among those living at New Horizons
in Marlborough have successfully combined the Alzheimer's health
care on-campus for the daytime use of one spouse.
Alzheimer's Care
- Usually indicates an assisted living residence
or nursing facility with either separate units and/or a program
geared to residents with Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive
impairments. Such programs usually feature very specially designed
and secure environments, structured activity programs and greater
staff-to-resident ratios. Such facilities are often associated as
part of the continuum of care arrangements at an independent/assisted
living facility or a CCRC. Approximately 20% of New Horizons' suites
in both Marlboro and Woburn are designed especially for residents
living with Alzheimer's and other cognitive impairments.
Assisted Living -
A housing option for older adults who need some
assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing, eating,
bathing, ambulating or toileting, but do not require 24-hour nursing
care. They are still able to live independently with some assistance.
Assisted living suites comprise about 20% of the suites at each
New Horizons community.
Continuing Care Retirement Community
(CCRC) - A residential community for
older adults that combines some form of independent retirement living,
plus assisted living and some degree of nursing care, usually on
one campus. Communities like New Horizons offer various levels of
living accomodations on the same campus, greatly facilitating easy
transfers from one part of the facility to another as residents'
needs change.
Home Care Services -
Services provided to individuals in their own living
environment, such as homemaker services (cooking, cleaning, washing),
home health care (activities of daily living - bathing, dressing,
ambulating, toileting, eating), physical, occupational, and speech
therapy, and medically necessary procedures done at home.
Medicaid - A
state and federal health insurance program providing health care
coverage for individuals with limited incomes or who have been impoverished
by medical expenses.
Medicare - A
federal health insurance program providing health care coverage
for the elderly and disabled.
Nursing Facility
- Facility providing 24-hour nursing care, rehabilitative
services, and assistance with activities of daily living to the
aged or chronically ill as well as those who have been hospitalized
for an illness or operation and require a short period of rehabilitation
before returning home. Although New Horizons in Marlboro maintains
at least one Registered Nurse on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days
a week, it does not have an on-site nursing home component. It does,
however, maintain preferred provider agreements with local rehabilitation
facilities and nursing homes, to facilitate easier placement for
New Horizons residents if their needs ever require it. Both New
Horizons have on-campus facilities for the care of residents with
Alzheimer's disease.
Public Housing -
Typically an independent living community that is
federally-funded (HUD funded) or state funded, with asset limits
and run by the housing authority in a city or town.
Residential Care Facility -
A facility licensed by the Massachusetts State Department
of Public Health to provide supervision for individuals who do not
routinely require nursing or medical care. Also known as a rest
home.
Respite Care - Short-term
placement for individuals in facilities that enable relatives caring
for them at home to take some time off from their caregiving responsibilities.
This can often work very well in an independent and/or assisted
community on a trial period, which may become longer term. New Horizons
in Marlborough offers respite care enrollments.
Skilled Nursing Care
- Refers to the type of daily nursing and rehabilitative
care that can be performed only by, or under the supervision of,
skilled licensed medical personnel.
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