Care Planning Glossary

A guideline that families should start care planning conversations when the adult child turns 40 or the parent turns 70 — whichever comes first.

The six basic self-care tasks used to measure how independently a person can live: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating, and continence.

Living in your own home, safely and independently, as you age — usually with home modifications, in-home care, and community supports.

A residential setting that provides housing, meals, personal care, and 24-hour supervision for seniors who need help with daily tasks but don't need skilled medical care.

Chronic physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion in someone providing long-term care to a family member, often accompanied by depression, withdrawal, and declining health of the caregiver.

A senior community that provides independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing on a single campus, so residents can stay as their needs change.

A power of attorney that remains in effect if the principal becomes incapacitated. The 'durable' designation is what makes it useful for elder care planning.

A legal document that names someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make them yourself.

Palliative care is comfort-focused care available at any stage of a serious illness; hospice is palliative care for someone with a life expectancy of six months or less who has chosen to stop curative treatment.

Eight more complex tasks that measure independent living: managing money, taking medication, shopping, cooking, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, and using the phone.

A non-binding document that gives guidance to family and caregivers about your wishes for personal items, family history, and care preferences.

A written statement of the medical treatments you would or would not want if you became seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself.

Personal and medical care provided over an extended period to someone who cannot fully care for themselves — at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing home.

The five-year window before a Medicaid long-term care application during which any uncompensated transfers — gifts, transfers below market value — are reviewed and can trigger a penalty period of ineligibility.

The process of reducing assets and income to meet Medicaid's eligibility limits — usually by paying medical expenses, modifying a home, or using legally permitted asset transfers.

A specialized type of assisted living for people with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other cognitive impairment — with secured units, higher staffing ratios, and dementia-trained caregivers.

A federal set of rights guaranteed to residents of Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes, including dignity, privacy, freedom from abuse, and the right to participate in care decisions.

A portable medical order signed by a physician that specifies what life-sustaining treatments a seriously ill or frail patient does and does not want.

The court-supervised process of validating a will, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the deceased person's assets to heirs.

Short-term, temporary care for an aging or disabled family member — at home, in a facility, or at adult day care — designed to give the primary caregiver a break.

Adults — typically in their 40s and 50s — who are simultaneously caring for aging parents and dependent children.

A trust that holds assets for a person with disabilities without disqualifying them from means-tested benefits like Medicaid and SSI.

A power of attorney that takes effect only when a specific triggering event occurs — usually a determination that the principal is incapacitated.