Glossary of Terms

No matter what the circumstances, the following Glossary of Terms may be helpful in understanding a few of the basic differences in the various housing and care options, especially the newer ones. Consider this a user guide to assisted living in the Boston area. Please feel free to call New Horizons' executive director, Robert (Bob) O'Connor in Marlborough (508-460-5000), or Jed Geyerhahn in Woburn at 781-932-8000 for help with any questions.

Independent Retirement Living - A living arrangement in residential apartments where elders share common space, but are able to maintain their independence with little or no assistance. Better facilities typically provide three meals daily for all residents, plus utilities, some transportation, housekeeping, etc., as well as standby assistance, if needed, and a wide variety of social activities. Independent living suites comprise about 60% of the suites at each New Horizons community.

Adult Day Health Program - Program providing supervision, recreation and health care services during the day to older people to better allow family caregivers to work or attend to other responsibilities on a daily basis only. Several couples among those living at New Horizons in Marlborough have successfully combined the Alzheimer's health care on-campus for the daytime use of one spouse.

Alzheimer's Care - Usually indicates an assisted living residence or nursing facility with either separate units and/or a program geared to residents with Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive impairments. Such programs usually feature very specially designed and secure environments, structured activity programs and greater staff-to-resident ratios. Such facilities are often associated as part of the continuum of care arrangements at an independent/assisted living facility or a CCRC. Approximately 20% of New Horizons' suites in both Marlboro and Woburn are designed especially for residents living with Alzheimer's and other cognitive impairments.

Assisted Living - A housing option for older adults who need some assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, bathing, ambulating or toileting, but do not require 24-hour nursing care. They are still able to live independently with some assistance. Assisted living suites comprise about 20% of the suites at each New Horizons community.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) - A residential community for older adults that combines some form of independent retirement living, plus assisted living and some degree of nursing care, usually on one campus. Communities like New Horizons offer various levels of living accomodations on the same campus, greatly facilitating easy transfers from one part of the facility to another as residents' needs change.

Home Care Services - Services provided to individuals in their own living environment, such as homemaker services (cooking, cleaning, washing), home health care (activities of daily living - bathing, dressing, ambulating, toileting, eating), physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and medically necessary procedures done at home.

Medicaid - A state and federal health insurance program providing health care coverage for individuals with limited incomes or who have been impoverished by medical expenses.

Medicare - A federal health insurance program providing health care coverage for the elderly and disabled.

Nursing Facility - Facility providing 24-hour nursing care, rehabilitative services, and assistance with activities of daily living to the aged or chronically ill as well as those who have been hospitalized for an illness or operation and require a short period of rehabilitation before returning home. Although New Horizons in Marlboro maintains at least one Registered Nurse on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it does not have an on-site nursing home component. It does, however, maintain preferred provider agreements with local rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes, to facilitate easier placement for New Horizons residents if their needs ever require it. Both New Horizons have on-campus facilities for the care of residents with Alzheimer's disease.

Public Housing - Typically an independent living community that is federally-funded (HUD funded) or state funded, with asset limits and run by the housing authority in a city or town.

Residential Care Facility - A facility licensed by the Massachusetts State Department of Public Health to provide supervision for individuals who do not routinely require nursing or medical care. Also known as a rest home.

Respite Care - Short-term placement for individuals in facilities that enable relatives caring for them at home to take some time off from their caregiving responsibilities. This can often work very well in an independent and/or assisted community on a trial period, which may become longer term. New Horizons in Marlborough offers respite care enrollments.

Skilled Nursing Care - Refers to the type of daily nursing and rehabilitative care that can be performed only by, or under the supervision of, skilled licensed medical personnel.

Summary of independent
and assisted living in MA

Award winning affordable assisted-living near MA Route 128 with beautiful grounds and immediate availability. Non-profit suburban Boston assisted-living on 40-acre country campus with gardening. Finest MA assisted-living community. Licensed assisted-living with exercise and fitness programs, including lap swimming pool, off Route 20 near Boston. Diverse assisted-living and adult congregate care community with residents from Italy, Ireland, France, Germany, Canada, Lithuania, Russia, Norway and Egypt.

MA senior assisted-living communities and retirement residences for aged citizens are among the very best. Enjoy your golden years in a very caring assisted-living place convenient to Boston, Worcester, Southboro, Hudson, Northborough, Westboro, Framingham and Fitchburg, and Marlborough, MA. Other nearby communities are Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Waltham, Weston and the other towns along MA Route 128. New Horizons offers the many benefits of a large community, with the intimacy of a small assisted-living home where everyone knows your name.

New Horizons is not a nursing home, but a MA retirement community with many activities. It is a non-sectarian Boston-area senior community with frequent religious services on-campus and easy access to others. There are at least weekly Protestant and Jewish services on site and daily Catholic Mass. Enjoy metro-west elderly care assisted-living with elegant gourmet dining, at low, affordable rates. Special low monthly fees for couples. Extra services associated with geriatric assisted-living may be purchased only when needed.

Other assisted living communities

New Horizons is a single family-operated assisted-living center. For information about large facilities in other areas beyond eastern Massachusetts consider:

A Place for Mom
Aegis Assisted Living
Altera Healthcare
Altria Assisted Living
Benchmark Assisted Living
Brighton Gardens Assisted Living
Eden Gardens Assisted Living
Emeritus Assisted Living
Epoch Assisted Living
Erickson Assisted Living
Heritage Assisted Living
Jewish Assisted Living
Marriott Assisted Living
Morningside Assisted Living
Somerville Assisted Living
Springhouse Assisted Living
Sunrise Assisted Living
Veterans Assisted Living