Plain-language definitions
A senior-care glossary for Vermont families.
Care terms often sound interchangeable when they are not. These concise definitions help you ask more precise questions and verify what a provider actually offers.
51 terms • Reviewed August 16, 2026
Definitions describe common usage, not an individual assessment or a substitute for current provider, regulatory, benefits, legal or clinical guidance.
- Activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Basic personal routines such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring and moving around. Providers may use ADLs when discussing the amount of day-to-day support a person needs.Read the related guide
- Aging in place
- Living in a familiar home or community as needs change. Aging in place can involve home modifications, family support, transportation, non-medical care, clinical services or a combination of resources.Read the related guide
- Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
- A regional nonprofit organization that connects older adults and caregivers with information, benefits counseling, meals, transportation and other aging resources. Five Area Agencies on Aging serve Vermont.Read the related guide
- Assessment
- A structured review used by a provider or qualified professional to understand needs and determine whether a service can be offered. The purpose, qualifications and consequences of an assessment should be explained in advance.
- Assisted living
- A residential setting that combines housing with defined support services. License, staffing, included services, fees and the process for changing needs should be verified with each Vermont community.Read the related guide
- Care plan
- A written description of agreed services, schedules, goals, responsibilities and review points. A useful care plan says what will happen, who will do it and how changes or missed services are handled.
- Caregiver
- A person who provides support to someone else. A caregiver may be an unpaid family member or friend, or a paid worker employed by an agency or hired privately.
- Choices for Care
- Vermont's long-term services and supports program for people who meet applicable clinical and financial criteria. Eligibility and covered options must be confirmed through the responsible Vermont agencies.Read the related guide
- Companion care
- Non-medical support centered on presence, conversation, routines, meals, errands and social connection. Exact permitted tasks and schedules differ by provider.Read the related guide
- Discharge planning
- Planning for the services, equipment, follow-up and living arrangement needed after a hospital or rehabilitation stay. The discharging clinical team should address medical instructions; families can separately arrange practical support.Read the related guide
- Home care
- In this guide, non-medical assistance delivered in a person's home. It may include companionship, personal routines, meals, errands and respite, but it is not the same as skilled home health care.Read the related guide
- Home health care
- Clinical care delivered at home by qualified health professionals under applicable requirements. Medicare and other coverage rules distinguish home health from ongoing custodial or non-medical help.
- Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
- Tasks that support independent living, such as preparing meals, shopping, transportation, housekeeping, using communication tools and managing appointments or finances.
- Independent living
- Housing designed around convenience, community and lifestyle for older adults. Meals, transportation or activities may be included, but personal care and clinical services are not automatic.Read the related guide
- Live-in care
- An extended home-care arrangement in which a caregiver stays in the home. The term does not necessarily mean uninterrupted awake care; schedules, sleep time, relief coverage and applicable employment rules must be clarified.Read the related guide
- Memory care
- A residential or service program designed for people living with memory loss. It may include adapted routines, a secured environment and specialized staff training, but programs and admission criteria vary.Read the related guide
- Minimum shift
- The fewest consecutive hours an agency will schedule for a visit. Minimum shifts can make the actual weekly or monthly cost different from a simple hourly-rate comparison.
- Non-medical care
- Help with daily life that does not replace nursing, therapy, medical assessment or emergency care. Each agency should explain its permitted and excluded tasks.
- Overnight care
- Caregiver support scheduled during nighttime hours. Ask whether the caregiver is expected to remain awake, what tasks are included and how emergencies or multiple overnight needs are handled.Read the related guide
- Personal care
- Non-medical help with personal routines such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and mobility. The provider should explain caregiver training, supervision and task limits.Read the related guide
- Residential care home
- A Vermont-regulated group-living category that may provide room, board, supervision and defined support. Verify the current license level and approved services through the provider and state regulator.Read the related guide
- Respite care
- Planned short-term support intended to give a family caregiver time away or cover a temporary need. Respite may take place at home, in an adult day setting or through a short-term community stay.Read the related guide
- Service territory
- The towns, ZIP codes or travel area a provider currently serves. Coverage may change with staffing and may not follow county boundaries.
- Short-term stay
- A time-limited stay in a senior community, sometimes used for respite or transition. Availability, fees, assessment requirements and included services should be confirmed in writing.Read the related guide
- Adult day services
- A supervised program offering structured daytime activities and support while a participant continues living at home. Schedule, transportation, services and eligibility vary by program.Read the related guide
- Advance directive
- A legal document used to communicate health-care wishes or name a decision-maker under applicable circumstances. Individual legal questions should be reviewed with a qualified Vermont lawyer.
- Aid and Attendance
- A term associated with an additional amount that may be available under certain VA pension rules. Eligibility and application questions belong with the VA or an accredited representative.Read the related guide
- Assisted living residence (ALR)
- A Vermont-licensed residential setting that must meet requirements applicable to its category. Verify the current license, services and written agreement rather than relying only on the words assisted living.Read the related guide
- Care level
- A provider's classification of the amount or type of support included in a service plan or fee. Ask what is measured, what services result and what triggers reassessment.
- Care transition
- A move between settings or services, such as hospital to home, rehabilitation to assisted living or home care to a community. A transition plan should identify clinical and practical responsibilities.Read the related guide
- Continuing care retirement community (CCRC)
- A campus or contractual model that may offer multiple levels of living and care. Future access, entrance fees, refunds and services depend on the agreement and capacity.Read the related guide
- Custodial care
- A coverage term often used for ongoing help with daily activities rather than skilled medical treatment. Coverage rules vary and should be confirmed with the responsible program or insurer.
- Durable power of attorney
- A legal document that can grant another person authority that continues under stated conditions. The document's actual scope and validity require qualified legal review.
- Elimination period
- A waiting period in some long-term-care insurance policies before eligible benefits begin. Ask how days are counted and what expenses remain the policyholder's responsibility.
- Entrance fee
- A potentially substantial upfront payment associated with some senior-living or continuing-care contracts. Refund formulas, future-care rights and financial consequences require careful written review.
- Family caregiver
- A relative, partner, friend or other unpaid person who provides practical or emotional support. A sustainable plan should account for the caregiver's availability, limits and relief.Read the related guide
- Guardianship
- A court-created legal relationship that may grant decision-making authority under defined terms. It is not interchangeable with family involvement or power of attorney and requires qualified legal guidance.
- Homemaker services
- Non-medical help with household routines such as meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping and errands. Providers define included tasks differently.
- Hospice
- Interdisciplinary care focused on comfort and quality of life for people who meet applicable eligibility requirements. Hospice is distinct from non-medical home care, though both may be involved.
- Level of care
- A clinical, regulatory, program or provider standard used to describe needs or eligibility. The meaning and decision-maker depend on the context, so ask who applies the standard and for what purpose.
- Long-term care insurance
- Private insurance intended to pay certain eligible long-term-care expenses under a policy's definitions, triggers, limits and waiting periods. Coverage must be confirmed with the insurer.
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman
- An independent program that helps people receiving long-term care understand rights and address concerns. Vermont's project can be contacted directly for current assistance.Read the related guide
- Medicaid
- A joint federal-state health coverage program with eligibility and service rules. In Vermont, long-term services and supports questions may involve Choices for Care; the responsible agency determines eligibility.
- Medicare
- Federal health insurance for eligible people. Medicare coverage for home health, skilled nursing and other services has specific conditions and should not be confused with ongoing non-medical home care.
- Nursing home
- A regulated residential facility providing nursing and personal care within its licensed scope. It differs from assisted living and residential care homes.Read the related guide
- Options counseling
- Person-centered information and decision support that can help older adults and caregivers understand services and next steps. Vermont's Area Agencies on Aging provide public-resource navigation.
- Palliative care
- Care focused on relief from symptoms and stress associated with serious illness, which may be provided alongside treatment. Individual clinical questions belong with qualified health professionals.
- Private pay
- Services paid directly by the person or family rather than by an insurer or public program. Ask for the complete written rate, billing cycle, minimums and change terms.
- Reassessment
- A provider or program review after admission or when circumstances change. Ask what is reviewed, who participates and how the result can change services, fees or continued eligibility.
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
- A federally supported program providing free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Vermont's SHIP network can be reached through the statewide Older Adults Helpline.Read the related guide
- Transfer and discharge
- The rules and process for moving a resident or ending a service. Review written notice, appeal, refund and continuity provisions and seek qualified help for an individual rights question.