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Alphabet Soup and Senior Living – Making Sense of It All  

Writer's picture: Sarah O’SullivanSarah O’Sullivan

By Sarah O’Sullivan, Director of Sales and Marketing, Scarborough Terrace, Terrace Communities

207-351-5973


Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a crystal ball to help us navigate the murky waters of “Senior Living”? Who hasn’t had a friend or neighbor with slowly progressing short-term memory loss, or someone whose balance has increasingly deteriorated, leading to a series of hospital visits? The idea of moving to a Senior Living community can feel daunting and overwhelming for many, and the variety of terminology can be confusing.


Today, Senior Living is divided into several types of care, each with its own unique name.


  • Retirement or 55+ Living may offer assistance with exterior home maintenance, monthly communal activities, and the comfort of being surrounded by people in a similar stage of life. Independent Living may include one, two, or three meals a day and can also offer housekeeping, transportation, and additional services such as laundry, depending on the community.

  • Assisted Living, sometimes called Residential Care, provides three meals a day, medication management, 24/7 care staff, reminders for meals and activities, and assistance with dressing or bathing as needed, all in a homelike setting with various floorplans.

  • Memory Care communities often feature slightly smaller apartments than Assisted Living and are secured from the inside, requiring assistance to enter or exit. These communities are designed to support individuals with advanced cognitive decline, preventing them from wandering or putting themselves in danger.

  • Nursing Care is for individuals who need significant unscheduled assistance each day and have limited ability to manage their Activities of Daily Living (ADL), such as dressing, feeding, bathing, moving around, and transitioning from sitting to standing. Nursing facilities are staffed 24/7 by Registered Nurses and provide acute care for those who require ongoing skilled clinical treatments.

  • Skilled Nursing refers to a short-term rehabilitation stay, usually lasting 12-45 days, aimed at increasing independence and resolving infections or other issues that may be hindering recovery. At a Skilled Nursing Facility, there are also specialty programs targeting conditions like joint replacement or neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s.


The bottom line: To make the most of Senior Living options, assume nothing and ask lots of questions! This industry is full of individuals ready to assist you in any way.


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