Glossary, p3

Residential care: Licensed housing in private homes, generally for under 10 people, with sleeping areas, common spaces, meals, snacks, laundry, housekeeping, assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, 24/7 supervision, and planned activities. Homes with special certifications and licenses provide therapies and skilled nursing services for situations such as physical frailty, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and developmental disabilities. (Also called adult family homes, adult foster homes, boarding homes, or care homes.)

Residential health care facilities (RHCFs): A group residence that provides health maintenance and monitoring services under the direction of a professional nurse. They provide a room, meals, linens, housekeeping, personal assistance, personal laundry, 24-hour security, financial management, and recreation activities, as well as supervision of medication and limited health services. Rooms and baths may be private or shared. Most services are included in the rent, but some may be purchased separately. These facilities provide a home-like atmosphere and services while encouraging independence and assuring safety.

Retirement communities: These are much like any other neighborhood or community, but they have a minimum age requirement, which was determined when the original community entitlement and funding was obtained. Those with a 55+ restriction require one resident to be 55 or older. Other residents must be over 18, but are permitted to be younger than 55. In a 62+ community, all residents must meet the age requirement. Accommodations may be an apartment, townhouse, cottage, or patio home, which are either owned or rented. The community usually handles all groundskeeping and maintenance.

Though no longer required by law, age-restricted communities offer amenities, activities, and services that cater to residents. These communities are oriented toward an active lifestyle and may offer golf, tennis, swimming pool and spa, exercise rooms, and a variety of clubs and interest groups. There is usually a package of services available that includes meals in a community dining room, scheduled transportation, security, housekeeping, and planned activities. A retirement community often has other levels of care on site, including assisted living and a nursing facility.

Shared housing: A situation where an older person shares his or her home with someone younger who will help them out, perhaps in exchange for a reduction in rent. Home sharing can take place when a homeowner rents bedrooms to other people, or it can involve two or more unrelated people who rent or own a home together. Or, the shared residence may be sponsored by a nonprofit organization and house up to 15 residents. (Also called shared living residences.)

Village network: This is a relatively new community approach to helping seniors remain in their own homes. The village boundaries are defined by adjacent neighborhoods—encompassing homes where younger adults and children also live—and residents 50 and over become members. If they need something—transportation, medical care, home repairs—the staff and volunteers help connect them to those services at an affordable price and to professionals who have been vetted by the group. Models of this type of community include the Beacon Hill Village in Boston, the Capitol Hill Village in Washington, D.C., and Avenidas Village in Palo Alto, California.

Virtual retirement communities: A community of people who live in a common geographical area and whose members receive certain services by virtue of being part of that community. The services go beyond those offered by traditional home health agencies—for example, concierge services, household assistance, and regular opportunities for socializing—and allow seniors to remain at home. Beacon Hill Village (see Village network) is considered the first virtual retirement community.