Senior Care and Senior Living Advisors in Greater Boston, MA

Assisted Living Community

Assisted living communities provide a safe, supervised environment for people who want help with meals, housekeeping, laundry, and transportation, as well as support with activities of daily living (ADLs) and medication management. Assisted living also provides opportunities for socialization, engagement, and hobbies and activities.

Memory Care Community

Also called memory support, memory care communities offer many of the amenities and services provided by assisted living situations but typically offer more supervision and a greater amount of caregiver involvement while assisting with a resident’s ADLs. Activities and care are geared toward people with varying levels of cognitive impairment.

Residential Care Homes

Sometimes called personal care homes, these facilities are typically private homes with fewer residents than in an assisted living community. Regulations vary from state to state; the common denominator is the homelike environment, and depending on licensing requirements, residential care homes often provide assisted living level care as well as memory support.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

A SNF is a medical model that is often the most appropriate choice for people requiring medical interventions or recovering from an illness or injury. In many states, assisted living and memory care communities are not licensed to address certain medical needs such as IV therapies, feeding tubes, sliding scale diabetes treatment, and wound care. When this restriction exists, families are encouraged to explore an SNF.

Independent Living

This option is ideal for active, independent seniors who may decide that help with meal preparation, housekeeping, and laundry services will make their lives more enjoyable and manageable. Many independent living communities will also offer some assistance with transportation and group activities.

Respite Care

Respite usually refers to a temporary situation where a family needs a break from providing care or cannot care for their loved one at home for a limited time. A brief respite opportunity can help a family caregiver regroup, take time for self-care, or just rest and rejuvenate. Policies for respite vary from community to community.

Hospice Care

Hospice care is often the right option when curative strategies have been abandoned. Someone with a chronic illness in later stages or who may be within six months of end-of-life is a candidate for hospice services. Hospice supports the person and bolsters the entire family by helping with grief and bereavement services, spiritual support, symptom and pain management, and more. Hospice provides some relief for families during an emotionally difficult time.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) are for people aged 60 and older. They provide long-term care in a variety of forms: independent living units, residential care/assisted living services, and skilled nursing care. Typically, these various living types are in one location, and residents can move between care options as they age.