Seniors For Living

Businesses, government agencies, health care providers, and other community groups rely on acronyms/abbreviations, and the senior living industry is no different. Here’s a helpful guide to deciphering some of the most commonly used acronyms in senior living:

CCRC – Continuing Care Retirement Community: a senior living setting where residents can move through the care continuum as their needs change.

ALF/AL /ALC/ALR – Assisted Living Facility, Assisted Living, Assisted Living Community, Assisted Living Residence: there is no universal definition of assisted living, so when referring to this level of care, you’ll find many variations of the name (and its respective acronym). Assisted living provides residential care options and assistance with ADLs and IADLs (defined below).

ILF/IL – Independent Living Facility, Independent Living: this senior care setting is best for seniors who desire an active, autonomous, and socially engaged retirement lifestyle.

SNF – Skilled Nursing Facility: more commonly known as a nursing home, this is the most advanced level of care in the senior living hierarchy.

ADLs – Activities of Daily Living: used along with IADLs (below), a person’s ability to perform these tasks with/without assistance typically determines what level of senior living care they need. Examples of ADLs: bathing, grooming, dressing, continence, eating, toileting, and transferring (getting in and out of bed, moving from a sitting to standing position).

IADLs – Instrumental Activities of Daily Living: Again, care needs/the appropriate level of care is determined by a person’s ability to execute these daily functions with/without help: preparing meals, driving (or making travel arrangements), housework, medication management, finance management, shopping, and coordinating appointments/resources.

- Michelle Seitzer