Assisted living facilities glossary
Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a assisted living facility provider in Charlotte, NC.
- What are activities of daily living (ADLs)?
- Activities of daily living (ADLs) are essential self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting that assisted living facilities use to evaluate residents' functional abilities and set appropriate care levels.
- What are instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)?
- Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are more complex self-care and household tasks such as managing medications, handling finances, preparing meals, and arranging transportation that are used to evaluate a person's ability to live independently.
- What is a board and care home?
- A board and care home is a small residential facility, typically housing 3-10 residents, that provides housing, meals, and personal care assistance in a home-like environment for seniors or adults unable to live independently.
- What is a certified nursing assistant?
- A certified nursing assistant (CNA) is a healthcare worker trained and certified to provide basic patient care tasks such as bathing, toileting, and vital signs monitoring under the supervision of licensed nurses.
- What is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC)?
- A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) is a residential community offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care on a single campus, typically funded through an entrance fee and ongoing monthly costs.
- What is a continuum of care in assisted living?
- A continuum of care is a spectrum of residential services for older adults, starting with independent living and progressing through assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing as health needs increase.
- What is a level of care assessment?
- A standardized evaluation that determines what kind of daily support and medical services a resident needs, used to place them in the right care tier and establish pricing.
- What is a life care contract?
- A life care contract is a long-term agreement at a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that covers housing, meals, and all levels of medical care for a fixed fee structure, regardless of how much care the resident eventually needs.
- What is a negotiated risk agreement?
- A negotiated risk agreement is a written contract between a resident and an assisted living facility that allows the resident to decline specific services or assistance while remaining in the community and accepting potential consequences.
- What is a personal care aide?
- A personal care aide is a trained worker who assists residents with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and toileting in assisted living facilities and private homes.
- What is a personal care plan?
- A personal care plan is a written, individualized document that outlines a resident's specific care services, daily support needs, and health requirements, reviewed and updated as their circumstances change.
- What is a resident agreement?
- A resident agreement is the legal contract signed between an assisted living facility and a resident (or responsible party) that outlines the services provided, fees charged, discharge conditions, and the resident's rights and responsibilities.
- What is a respite stay?
- A temporary residential stay at an assisted living facility, typically ranging from a few days to several weeks, that allows family caregivers to take a break from full-time caregiving or lets a potential resident test the facility before committing to permanent placement.
- What is a secured memory care unit?
- A secured memory care unit is a specially designed residential space with locked entry and exit points, restricted outdoor access, and monitored movement to prevent wandering by people with dementia.
- What is a special care unit (SCU)?
- A special care unit (SCU) is a secured, licensed residential area within an assisted living facility designed specifically for residents with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other cognitive impairments.
- What is a wander management system?
- A wander management system is an electronic monitoring setup using door alarms and wearable sensors to track residents at risk of elopement and alert staff to unauthorized departures.
- What is aging in place?
- Aging in place is the practice of remaining in one's current residence or established community as physical or cognitive needs evolve, with services and support scaling up to match those changes.
- What is an adult care home license in North Carolina?
- An adult care home license is a credential issued by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHSR) that authorizes a facility to provide residential long-term care, supervision, and assistance with daily living activities to adults who cannot live independently.
- What is elopement in memory care?
- Elopement occurs when a resident with dementia or memory loss leaves a care facility unsupervised and unnoticed, often wandering away from their environment due to confusion or disorientation.
- What is hospice care in residential settings?
- Hospice care in residential settings is end-of-life medical and comfort support provided by licensed hospice agencies on-site within assisted living or memory care facilities, separate from the facility's own caregiving staff.
- What is medication management?
- Medication management is the service where assisted living staff administer, monitor, or remind residents to take their prescribed medications on schedule.
- What is resident-to-staff ratio?
- Resident-to-staff ratio is the numerical relationship between the number of residents and the number of direct-care staff members employed at an assisted living facility, typically expressed as a proportion such as 4:1 or 6:1.
- What is the Katz Index (Activities of daily living scale)?
- The Katz Index is a standardized clinical assessment tool that rates a person's ability to perform six basic self-care activities independently, used to determine the level of assisted living care required.
- What is the NC Division of Health Service Regulation?
- The NC Division of Health Service Regulation is the state agency responsible for licensing, inspecting, and regulating assisted living facilities and adult care homes in North Carolina.