Courtesy of Susan Hindman

In your search for a professional whose specialty targets seniors, you may run across acronyms and initialisms that indicate certain kinds of certification. Silver Planet has written about some of these, so we’ve put together a one-stop glossary for your convenience. We’ll add to this list as we learn about new certifications.

Certified aging-in-place specialist (CAPS): This designation is granted by the National Association of Home Builders and indicates a remodeler who knows how to update homes using the principles of universal design.

Certified elder law attorney (CELA): This is the only national certification for attorneys specializing in elder law. These attorneys handle a wide range of issues, including estate and tax planning, housing, elder custody issues, abuse issues, nursing home patients’ rights, and mediation services.

Fee-only financial planner: Unlike financial planners who work on commission—tying the product they’re selling to the client relationship—fee-only planners are paid by the hour to give advice on the best plan for the customer without having to tout a particular product.

Senior move manager (SMM): This person helps an elderly person downsize in order to relocate. The SMM will create a floor plan of the new home and help the elderly person decide what to keep; arrange for estate sales or donation pickup; pack things up, schedule a mover, and oversee the move; and then unpack everything and set up the new home, hanging drapes and pictures and arranging furniture and decorations.

Seniors real estate specialist (SRES): This designation is managed by the National Association of Realtors and teaches agents how to learn what the older homeowner needs—whether it involves a move or just modifications to an existing home so the senior can age in place. The specialist learns about housing options, financing options, tax laws, and building a team of professionals to help the client decide if it’s best to stay or move.

“Senior specialists” or “retirement advisors”: These titles imply a level of expertise in helping seniors with financial issues, but there are many such designations with widely varying educational requirements. Go to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Web site and look at the dropdown menu under “Understanding Investment Professional Designations.” It will show many sets of acronyms and initialisms, with information about each designation, but you have to use your judgment to determine whether a professional designation represents legitimate expertise, a marketing tool, or something in between. Ask lots of questions, and thoroughly evaluate the person’s background before investing your money.

Universal design certified remodeler (UDCR): This is a new certification offered by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry that demonstrates knowledge of how to conduct remodeling projects based on universal design principles.