Senior Living Glossary
All the key terms and concepts you need to know
Filter Terms
Accelerated Death Benefits
Pre-death benefits from a life insurance company to a terminally ill policy holder
Activities of Daily Living
Are activities normally associated with the day-to-day personal care, such as personal hygiene, using a toilet/continence, dressing, cooking, eating and taking one's medication
ADLs
Are activities normally associated with the day-to-day personal care, such as personal hygiene, using a toilet/continence, dressing, cooking, eating and taking one's medication
Adult Day Care
A daytime program for functionally impaired adults that provides a variety of social and related support services in a protective setting
Adult Day Health Care
A daytime program for functionally impaired adults that provides a variety of social, medical and related support services in a protective setting
Adult Family Homes
Are defined as a family-type living arrangement in a private home providing room, board and personal care for no more than five disabled adults
Adult Foster Care
Provides a 24-hour living arrangement with supervision in an adult foster home for people who are unable to continue living independently in their own homes because of physical, mental or emotional limitations
Adult Living Facilities
An assisted living residence or assisted living facility is a housing facility for people with disabilities or for adults who cannot or who choose not to live independently
Adult Social Day Care
A planned program of activities in a professional care setting designed for older adults who require supervised care during the day, or those who are isolated and lonely
Aid & Attendance
A type of pension program for wartime veterans
Alternative Home Equity Programs
A shared equity mortgage is a type of financing program that assists homebuyers with the upfront costs of buying a property. these programs are generally offered by nonprofit organizations, municipalities, or private investors
Assisted Living
A supportive housing facility designed for those who need extra help in their day-to-day lives but who do not require the 24-hour skilled nursing care found in traditional nursing homes
At Home Care
Medical care provided to seniors in their place of residence other than in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility
Board and Care Homes
Are houses in residential neighborhoods that are equipped, adapted and staffed to care for a small number of residents, usually between two and 10. these homes provide comparable care to what's offered at assisted living communities but usually less than what a nursing home provides
Board and Lodging
A place of lodging with daily meals, usually provided in return for rent or other considerations
Care Allowance Plan
A type of long term care insurance benefit in which the insurance company pays out a set dollar amount for care on a daily, monthly or annual basis instead of paying for the actual cost of care
Cash Surrender Value
The cash value of a life insurance policy were the policy holder to terminate the contract and resell the agreement to the insurance company
CHAMPUS
A health care program of the united states department of defense military health system
CHAMPVA
Civilian health and medical program of the department of veterans affairs, a medical insurance programs for veterans' families
CHAMPVA for Life
An extension of champva benefits for individuals over 65
Civilian Health and Medical Program for Life
A health insurance and care program provided by the u.s. department of veterans affairs (va) for spouses and / or children of veterans permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty
Community Based Retirement Facilities
A retirement community is a residential community or housing complex designed for older adults who are generally able to care for themselves; however, assistance from home care agencies is allowed in some communities, and activities and socialization opportunities are often provided
Community Residences
A group home or specialized residential care home serving unrelated persons with disabilities which is licensed, certified or accredited by appropriate local, state or national bodies
Continuing Care Contract
A ccrc contract that restricts the total number of days one can receive care. should the senior require additional care, it can be purchased at the time for a discounted rate
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
A community that provides a continuum of care, from private residences to assisted living and skilled nursing care. these are designed for individuals that want to remain in a single location for senior years and for seniors with declining conditions
Continuing Care Retirement Community
A continuing care retirement community, sometimes known as a life plan community, is a type of retirement community in the u.s. where a continuum of aging care needs—from independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care—can all be met within the community
Convalescent Hospital
A place where the period of recovery or anything related to the process of returning to health, like a convalescent program of physical therapy or a convalescent ward at a hospital
Custodial Care
Care primarily for meeting personal needs such as assistance in bathing, dressing, eating or taking medicine which can be provided by someone without medical training
Death Benefit Loans
A loan from a life insurance company to a policy holder that is secured by the death benefits
Domiciliary Care
This is the kind of care provided to the elderly by a qualified home care worker at the senior's own home
Elimination Period
The number of days an individual must hold a long term care policy before benefits can begin
Equity Release
Equity release is a means of retaining use of a house or other object which has capital value, while also obtaining a lump sum or a steady stream of income, using the value of the house
Extensive Care Contract
Extended care services refer to those services that are offered to persons who need assistance with day-to-day activities or with medical needs by a recognized service provider
Fannie Mae Home Keeper
A type of reverse mortgage that is now obsolete
Fee-For-Service Contract
A ccrc contract that requires residents to pay separately for their residential and medical costs
Geriatric Assessment
A comprehensive assessment of an older person's health, social and financial needs with the goal of improving the overall quality of life
Geriatric Care Manager
A fee-based, professional that assesses a person's long-term care needs and financial situation and arranges and monitors the necessary care services
Group Homes
A home where a small number of unrelated people in need of care, support, or supervision can live together
Home and Community Based Services
Assistance provided to persons in their homes or communities instead of in nursing homes. term is commonly used by medicaid programs
Home Care Aides
Help care for physically or mentally ill, injured, disabled or infirm individuals who are confined to their homes or living in residential care facilities. they may also provide daily care services to people with disabilities who work outside the home
Home Equity Co-Investment
Instead of taking out a mortgage from a bank, buyers work with a partnering company to purchase a home. co-investors share the equity in your property, treating it as an investment, and in exchange, offer discounted monthly payments
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
A type of reverse mortgage that is insured by the federal housing administration (fha) home equity conversion mortgages allow seniors to convert the equity in their home into cash
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
Is federal housing administration's (fha) reverse mortgage program which enables you to withdraw some of the equity in your home. you choose how you want to withdraw your funds, whether in a fixed monthly amount or a line of credit or a combination of both
Home Equity Co-Share
That when you sell your home we both benefit from the value going up or share in the loss if the value goes down
Home Equity Sharing Programs
An agreement in which a homeowner receives a cash payment today in exchange for some percentage of their home equity in the future
Hospice
A care program that alleviates the symptoms but does not cure the underlying cause provided to dying persons and their families, in the form of physical, psychological, social and spiritual care
Housebound
A type of pension program for wartime veterans
HUD/FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
Is federal housing administration's (fha) reverse mortgage program which enables you to withdraw some of the equity in your home. you choose how you want to withdraw your funds, whether in a fixed monthly amount or a line of credit or a combination of both
HUD-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
Reverse mortgages can provide a valuable financing alternative for qualified homeowners. any lender authorized to make hud-insured loans may originate reverse mortgages
HUD reverse mortgages
Enables you to withdraw a portion of your home's equity to supplement your income, or to purchase a home. there are no monthly principal and interest payments
Improved Pension Program
A type of pension program for wartime veterans
Independent Living
Communities, typically of single family homes or townhomes for self-sufficient seniors that want the security and social activities of a community living environment
Jumbo Reverse Mortgages
A type of reverse mortgage for high value homes
Life Care Contract
A CCRC contract in which all long term care costs are covered with no additional fees
Life-Care Facilities
A residential development offering varying levels of housekeeping support, medical care and community dining for senior citizens
Life Insurance Settlements
A life settlement is the legal sale of an existing life insurance policy for more than its cash surrender value, but less than its net death benefit
Life Settlement
The sale, by the policyholder, of their life insurance to a 3rd party in exchange for a lump sum of cash
Lifetime Mortgage
You take out a loan secured on your home which does not need to be repaid until you die or go into long-term care
Long-term acute care hospitals
Are facilities that specialize in the treatment of patients with serious medical conditions that require care on an ongoing basis but no longer require intensive care or extensive diagnostic procedures. these patients are typically discharged from the intensive care units and require more care than they can receive in a rehabilitation center, skilled nursing facility, or at home
Look Back Penalty
In an attempt to gain eligibility, some seniors transfer their financial assets to other family members. to discourage this activity, medicaid considers "lookback" asset transfers as far as 5 years previous
Medicaid Gap
If a senior's assets are greater than the medicaid eligibility requirement, but are less than the monthly cost of long-term care, the senior falls into this category
Medicare Saving Program
A series of programs designed to help financially needy seniors who are not eligible for medicaid with the cost of co-pays, premiums and care
Medicare Savings Program
These programs are for people with limited income and resources and help pay some or all of their medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance
Medicare Supplemental Insurance
Sometimes referred to as medigap plans, this insurance extends medicare benefits
Military Retiree
A "retired" member of the military is someone who has 20 years of service. all military retirees are veterans but not all veterans are military retirees
Modified Care Contract
A contract modification may introduce or cancel specifications or terms of an existing contract, while leaving its overall purpose and effect intact
Mortgage Insurance Premium
Is paid if you as a borrower were to make a down payment of less than 20 percent on your home loan. it is paid by you, but is used to protect the lender from losses if you were to default on the loan
Mortgage Insurance Premium
A special type of insurance required for reverse mortgages borrowers that provides additional consumer protections
Non-Medical Senior Housing
Independent senior living properties do not provide health care or assistance with activities of daily living (adls) such as medication, bathing, eating, dressing, toileting and more
Non-Traditional Home Equity Programs
Nontraditional mortgages often come with higher interest rates because of the higher payment risks associated with the loan
Nursing Care and Rehabilitation
Is to assist individuals with a disability and/or chronic illness to attain and maintain maximum function
Nursing Home
A private institution providing residential accommodations with healthcare, especially for elderly people
Origination Fee
A fee charged by a lender in loan transaction that covers the lender's expenses and margin
Palliative Care
A care program that alleviates the symptoms but does not cure the underlying cause, usually provided to dying patients
Personal Care Aides
Individuals that provide custodial care, or non-medical care, in a senior's place of residence
Personal Care Facilities
Offers housing, meals and assistance with medications and personal care tasks
Personal Care Homes
Are residences that provide shelter, meals, supervision and assistance with personal care tasks, typically for older people, or people with physical, behavioral health, or cognitive disabilities who are unable to care for themselves but do not need nursing home or medical care
Priority Group
One of 8 different groups into which all veterans are assigned based on disabilities, assets and other factors. these are a major determining factor in what health benefits the veteran receives
Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Refers to the program of all inclusive care for the elderly which a comprehensive care program offered by medicare
Progressive Neurological Condition
Any of a number of conditions in which the patient has progressively declining symptoms such as alzheimer's or dementia
Qualified Disabled & Working Individuals
One of several programs designed to help financially needy seniors who are not eligible for medicaid with the cost of co-pays, premiums and care
Qualified Disabled & Working Individuals
Program is one of the four medicare savings programs that allows you to get help from your state to pay your medicare premiums. this program helps pay for part a premiums only
Qualified Individual
Is state-specific and some agencies may not have a requirement
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
A person for whom the government must cover certain health care costs, including premiums, deductibles and copays
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
One of several programs designed to help financially needy seniors who are not eligible for medicaid with the cost of co-pays, premiums and care
Qualifying Individual
One of several programs designed to help financially needy seniors who are not eligible for medicaid with the cost of co-pays, premiums and care
Real Estate Equity Exchange
Is the difference between the current fair market value of a property and the amount of debt owed against the property
Residential Care
Refers to long-term care given to adults or children who stay in a residential setting rather than in their own home or family home
Residential Care Facilities
Or group homes, are small private facilities, usually with 20 or fewer residents. rooms may be private or shared. residents receive personal care and meals and have staff available around the clock
Rest Homes
A residential institution where old or frail people are cared for
Retirement Communities
A residential community or housing complex designed for older adults who are generally able to care for themselves; however, assistance from home care agencies allowed in some communities, and activities and socialization opportunities are often provided
Retirement Homes
A house or apartment in which a person lives in old age, especially one in a complex designed for the needs of old people
Reverse Annuity Mortgage
A loan that is secured against the value of your home. it allows you to cash in some of your home's equity, without having to sell or move out
Reverse Mortgage
A loan with high levels of consumer protection for seniors, secured by their home equity, in which the lender makes payments to the home owner
Section 202 housing
A type of government assisted housing
Section 8 Rental Certificates
A type of government assisted housing
Senior Apartments
Is housing that is suitable for the needs of an aging population
Senior Housing
It ranges from independent living to 24-hour care
Senior Life Settlements
Involves selling an existing life insurance policy to a third party—a person or an entity other than the company that issued the policy—for more than the policy's cash surrender value, but less than the net death benefit
Senior Settlements
A life settlement where the insured individual meets a minimum age requirement, typically over 65, and has a life expectancy of fewer than 15 years
Service-Connected Disability
Refers to a disability incurred by a veteran that was in some way connected to their time in service
Shared-Appreciation Arrangement
The lender provides a lump sum payment to the homeowner in exchange for a portion of the future equity appreciation in a property
Sheltered Housing
A term covering a wide range of rented housing for older and/or disabled or other vulnerable people
Skilled Care
Care ordered by a physician that requires the medical knowledge and / or technical training of a licensed healthcare professional
Skilled Nursing Facilities
A residential home for seniors in which care is provided by licensed healthcare professionals
Skilled Nursing Facility
An in-patient rehabilitation and medical treatment center staffed with trained medical professionals. they provide the medically-necessary services of licensed nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists and audiologists
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
Is aprogram that helps you pay for medicare part b premiums. a state's medicaid program funds the slmb program
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
One of several programs designed to help financially needy seniors who are not eligible for medicaid with the cost of co-pays, premiums and care
Spend Down
Refers to the process by which a senior will spend down all their assets on their care until their assets are depleted sufficiently to qualify for medicaid
TRICARE
A medical insurance program for military retirees and their families
TRICARE for Life
See tricare for life
TRICARE for Life
An extension of the tricare program for individuals over 65
Viatical Settlement
The sale, by a terminally ill policyholder, of their life insurance to a 3rd party in exchange for a lump sum of cash
Wartime Veterans
Veterans that served at least 90 days and at least one of which was during the wartime dates below, but not necessarily in combat