Senior services have a language all their own

If you’re a senior looking into services for yourself, or are an adult child trying to help an aging parent, you may feel as though you need a special dictionary to understand all the terminology that is thrown around.

It can certainly be confusing when you’re not really sure what questions to ask – and then you get an answer that is unclear. Not to worry, I have put together a list of some commonly used terms that you may find useful in your quest for information.

. A caregiver is someone who provides unpaid assistance to someone else, usually a loved one. This assistance can come in the form of cooking, help with dressing, transportation, or cleaning – anything the older person can no longer do alone. By nature of the word and activity, a caring relationship is implied.

. Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is the term used when describing things like personal care, eating and walking.

. Incidental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) describes things such as help with money management, meal preparation, medications, laundry.

. Assisted Living facilities, such as Freeses in downtown Bangor, are housing complexes for seniors who are able to live independently, providing they receive a little help with ADLs. Residents do not require skilled nursing care and live in private apartments, which they decorate in their own style with their own belongings.

. Residential Care facilities offer similar services as the assisted living facilities. However, residents live in a private or semi-private room.

. Independent Housing with Services is a term used when seniors live independently in their own apartments, but may share some meals in a central dining room. They can contract out with a variety of agencies for other services, such as home-based care or private duty nursing. This is done on an individual basis.

. Continuing Care Retirement Communities offer long-term options, which can meet a senior’s changing needs. One may start out living independently, then as time passes may move to the assisted living section or even the skilled nursing unit, if necessary. Usually these options are offered at the same location.

Then there are legal terms that can be as confusing as the housing terms:

. Advance Directives are documents that convey health care wishes. Included are a living will and health care power of attorney.

. A Living Will is a legal document that states a person’s wishes regarding end-of-life decisions. Should the person be terminally ill and unable to communicate, the living will goes into effect.

. A Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to appoint another person to make your medical decisions for you if need be.

. A Durable Power of Attorney for Finances allows you to appoint another person to make your financial decisions. This document can become effective immediately or only if and when the time comes that you are unable to make your own decisions.

. A Conservator is a person appointed by the Probate Court to protect and manage money and property of an individual who is incapacitated. Please note that this should not be confused with a guardian, who is appointed by Probate Court to make personal decisions, such as medical treatments and housing, for someone who is incapacitated.

. A Geriatric Care Manager conducts an assessment of a person’s physical, mental, environmental and financial conditions. A care plan is developed, which assists the person with housing, medical and social among other services.

As always, contact Eastern Agency on Aging with any questions. Next week: more important terms.

Carol Higgins is communications director at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865 or toll-free (800) 432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org or visit www.eaaa.org. TTY 992-0150.