Assisted Living & Elderly Care Glossary Of Terms
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Assisted Living communities offer a residential option for adults who need help with activities such as preparing meals, taking medications, doing housework and caring for their personal needs, but do not need daily nursing care. Assisted living facilities range from small, family-operated homes to large, high-rise facilities. They provide three meals, 24 hour staffing, and assistance with medications and personal care. Their goal is to help keep residents Independent and active, while providing support to help them stay healthy and safe. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Health Care Quality regulates the quality of care of assisted living facilities. They are licensed by the state of Maryland.
Levels of Care provided by assisted living communities is regulated by the state of Maryland. There are generally three levels of care – low, medium, high (levels 1,2, and 3) that are determined by a point system. Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) – Refer to the tasks performed by each individual on a daily basis that are essential to independent living. The five ADLs: 1. Bathing: personal hygiene and grooming 2. Dressing: dressing and undressing 3. Transferring: movement and mobility 4. Toileting: continence-related tasks including control and hygiene 5. Eating: preparing food and feeding Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, like nursing home care and personal care services. If you qualify for Medicaid in your state, you automatically qualify for Extra Help paying your Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). Medicaid Waiver is a special program designed by a State to cover needed home and community-based services (HCBS) as an alternative to receiving care in an institution such as a nursing home. To become a waiver participant an individual must qualify by meeting certain criteria. Each waiver will have different criteria; for example, having a certain medical condition or needing a specific level of care. To obtain more information : http://mmcp.dhmh.maryland.gov/waiverprograms/SitePages/Home.aspx Medicare is health insurance for people who are age 65 or older, under 65 with certain disabilities, or any person with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Medicare does not cover the cost of long term care in assisted living or a skilled nursing facility (nursing home). Nursing Home (also referred to as Skilled Nursing Facility) provides care for individuals of all ages needing 24-hour nursing care or assistance. Residents of nursing homes usually have complex medical and assistance needs requiring 24 hour care. Residents may be long term or short stay, receiving nursing care and rehabilitation after a hospital stay or illness before returning to their homes. Dementia is the general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is an example. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s. |
Did You Know?Long Term Care (LTC) refers to services that assist people who are aging, have disabilities, or have chronic care needs to maintain their independence in personal or health-related activities. Services can be provided in assisted living, nursing home, or in their home.
Many people still believe that Medicare or private health insurance will cover long term care services if they need them;Medicare does not cover long term care costs in assisted living or skilled nursing facility (nursing home). Learn More About UsSenior Care Partners’ Patty Haw was once referred to by her client as “our daughter for the day”, and we think that says it best. Families that work with Patty and her staff quickly learn that our first and most important task is making sure that your family member finds the assisted living environment that feels right and assures a high quality of life
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