Glossary of Terms
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
| AARP | Formally known as the American Association of Retired
Persons, AARP wishes to shape and enrich the experience of aging for each member of their organization
and for society. AARP focuses its efforts and resources in four areas: Health and Wellness; Economic Security
and Work; Long-term Care and Independent Living; and Personal Enrichment. It achieves its goals by doing
such things as: providing quality information and education; advocacy at the national, state, and local
levels; providing opportunities for service and involvement in communities; and by making available a
wide range of products and services to members. (Source: www.aarp.org) |
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| Acquired Brain Injury | (ABI) Injury to the brain which is not hereditary, congenital
or degenerative that has occurred after birth. (Includes anoxia, aneurysms, infections to the brain and
stroke. (Source: www.biausa.org) |
| Activities of Daily Living | (ADL) Activities of Daily Living include such things as eating, getting in and out of bed, getting around inside, dressing, bathing and using the toilet. Often assessments are used to determine an individual’s ability to perform such tasks without assistance. |
| Administration on Aging | (AoA) AoA is the Federal focal point and advocate agency
for older persons and their concerns. In this role, AoA works to heighten awareness among other Federal
agencies, organizations, groups, and the public about the valuable contributions that older Americans
make to the Nation and alerts them to the needs of vulnerable older people. Through information and referral
and outreach efforts at the community level, AoA seeks to educate older people and their caregivers about
the benefits and services available to help them. (Source: www.aoa.gov) |
| Adult Abuse | Adult abuse is the mistreatment or neglect of a vulnerable person 18 years or older usually by a relative or caregiver. It is the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or cruel punishment with result of physical harm or pain or mental anguish; or the willful deprivation of essential needs. |
| Adult Day Services | Adult Day Services provides activities and assistance for people with physical and/or mental impairments. This service is for people who do not need 24-hour care in a nursing home, but who cannot be left alone for long periods of time. |
| Adult Foster Care | Adult Foster Care is a housing option for individuals who need some supervision and can no longer remain in their own homes. Foster Care takes place in supportive, family settings. |
| Adult Protective Services | (APS) The Adult Protective Service (APS) Program responds to cases of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of impaired adults. Specifically, the program serves persons who are aged 18 or over, who have a physical or mental impairment, and who are not living in a long term care facility (for example, a nursing home). |
| Advanced Directives | An advance directive is established by completing an Advance Health Care Directive Form. An advance directive enables you to: give specific instructions about health care decisions if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious; name another individual as an agent to make health care decisions for you if you can no longer make your own decisions; and if you wish, to designate anatomical gifts to take effect upon your death. |
| Affidavit | A written statement of fact about something that is relevant to a request made to the court or to another document filed with the court. The person making the statement of fact must sign the affidavit and have it witnessed and notarized by a notary public or the Family Court’s Clerk of the Court. |
| Alzheimer’s Day Treatment | Alzheimer’s Day Treatment is a program for people with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia. It is a non-residential, day program. Medical, recreational and personal care services are provided. |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | (AD) A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized
by memory loss, language deterioration, impaired visuospatial skills, poor judgment, indifferent attitude,
but preserved motor function. AD usually begins after age 65, however, its onset may occur as early as
age 40, appearing first as memory decline and, over several years, destroying cognition, personality,
and ability to function. Confusion and restlessness may also occur. (Source: www.ninds.nih.gov) |
| Alzheimer’s Respite | The Alzheimer’s Respite program provides in-home care for people with Alzheimer’s Disease when the primary caregiver is not there. The service offers brief periods of relief to caregivers and provides them with time away from caregiving responsibilities. |
| Americans with Disabilities Act | (ADA) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law which was enacted in 1990. The law prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in areas such as employment, education, transportation, and communication. |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease) A progressive, fatal
neurological disease that belongs to a class of disorders known as motor neuron diseases. ALS occurs when
specific nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary movement gradually degenerate.
The loss of these motor neurons causes the muscles under their control to weaken and waste away, leading
to paralysis. ALS manifests itself in different ways, depending on which muscles weaken first. Symptoms
may include tripping and falling, loss of motor control in hands and arms, difficulty speaking, swallowing
and/or breathing, persistent fatigue, and twitching and cramping, sometimes quite severely. ALS strikes
in mid-life. Men are about one-and-a-half times more likely to have the disease as women. (Source: www.ninds.nih.gov) |
| Area Agencies on Aging | (AAA) Program funding from the Older American’s
Act is allocated to each State Agency on Aging, based on the number of older persons in the State, to
plan, develop, and coordinate systems of supportive in-home and community-based services. Most States
are divided into Planning and Service Areas (PSAs) so that programs can be effectively developed and targeted
to meet the unique needs of the elderly residing in that area. These are called Area Agencies on Aging
and their purpose is to plan, develop, coordinate and arrange for services in each PSA. In rural areas,
an AAA may serve the needs of elderly people living in a number of counties, while other AAA's may
serve the elderly living in a single city. The State of Delaware is considered one planning and service
area, therefore, Delaware’s Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities
functions as a State Unit on Aging and an Area Agency on Aging. (Source: www.aoa.gov) |
| Assisted Living Facility | (ALF) An Assisted Living Facility is a housing option that provides support to residents. Support for residents of assisted living includes personal services and light medical or nursing care. Assisted living allows a resident more independence than nursing home care. |
| Assistive Devices | Assistive devices are pieces of equipment that allow people with disabilities to function more independently. They can be simple or complex. Some examples of assistive devices include kitchen utensils with large grips, seats for the shower or bath, wheelchairs, and specialized computers. |
| Association for the Rights of Citizens with Mental Retardation/Delaware | (ARC/DE) The mission of ARC is to improve and enhance the quality of life for individuals with mental retardation and their families. Primary services include: advocacy, education, employment, housing/ residential assistance, and information/networking. |
| Attendant Services | The goal of the Attendant Services program is to provide personal care and support services to adults with physical disabilities so that they will be able to live in their own homes and communities. People participating in the program (or people making decisions for them) choose the services they need within certain guidelines. They may get help with such tasks as: dressing, bathing, and grooming; getting in and out of bed or a wheelchair; assistance with transportation needs; toileting (including bowel, bladder and catheter assistance), eating (including feeding), and health maintenance activities. |
| Attention Deficit Disorder/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | (ADD) (ADHD) A group of symptoms believed to be caused by slight abnormalities in the brain. These symptoms include an inappropriate lack of ability to pay attention, such as difficulty with listening to and following directions. Other signs of ADD may be acting on impulse without thought of consequences, being distracted, and often being clumsy. A child or adult with ADD is not necessarily overly active. However, these symptoms can occur with hyperactivity. |
| Brain Injury | See Acquired Brain Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury |
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| CARE Delaware | CARE Delaware is a DSAAPD program designed to assist caregivers. Assistance for caregivers includes needs assessment and care planning, organization of support groups and caregiver training, respite care, respite meals and community-based caregiver resource centers. |
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| Caregiver | Caregivers are family members, friends, and adults who assume the responsibility for the care of older persons, or they are older relatives such as grandparents caring for children. |
| Caregiver Resource Centers | The DHSS’ Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities has formed partnerships with the Division of Libraries, public libraries and senior centers throughout the State of Delaware to serve as Caregiver Resource Centers (CRC). The CRC will operate as a lending library for training videos, books, pamphlets and other informational resource materials on caregiving. |
| Case Management | Case management helps older persons, persons with disabilities, and caregivers get connected with the services that they need. Case managers help in three ways: 1) assessing (or evaluating) a person's situation and needs; 2) working with individuals and their families to develop "care plans" to map out what kind of services an individual needs, how often they are needed, etc.; and 3) providing ongoing coordination to see that an individual's care needs are being met. |
| Center for Independent Living | (CIL) Independent Living Centers are typically non-residential,
private, non-profit, consumer-controlled, community-based organizations providing services and advocacy
by and for persons with all types of disabilities. Their goal is to assist individuals with disabilities
to achieve their maximum potential within their families and communities. (Source: www.ilusa.com/links/ilcenters.htm) |
| Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services | (CMS) A federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. CMS runs the Medicare and Medicaid programs - two national health care programs that
benefit about 75 million Americans. (Source: www.cms.gov) |
| Cerebral Palsy | (CP) A disorder caused by damage to the brain, especially
affecting ability to control movement and posture. Palsy is a synonym for paralysis, although a more accurate
description of the usual muscular symptoms might be weakness (paresis), and inability to make voluntary
movements and suppress involuntary ones. (Source: National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke for the Public Health Service) |
| Coma | Coma is a prolonged period of unconsciousness. Unconsciousness
is the lack of appreciation of (or reaction to) a stimulus. Coma differs from sleep in that one cannot
be aroused from a coma. (Source: www.waiting.com) |
| Community Living Respite | The Community Living Respite Program gives relief during the day to caregivers, such as family members, who provide ongoing care to adults with physical disabilities. Through the program, persons with disabilities participate in various community-based activities. The program gives participants the opportunity for personal, social, and/or educational enrichment outside the home. |
| Congregate Meals | Congregate meals are provided daily in group settings such as senior centers. Participants in the congregate meal program have the opportunity to socialize while enjoying nutritionally balanced meals. As part of the program, nutrition counseling and nutrition education are also made available. |
| Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services | (CD-PAS) CD-PAS provides in home attendant services and nursing care to people with disabilities which allows them to live independently in their own homes and choose the type of care they need. |
| Council for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Equality | (CDHHE) CDHHE advocates for and empowers individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing to: increase knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people, to work for a better quality of life deaf and hard of hearing people by improving the quality, accessibility and capacity of their services; to promote coordination between State agencies, programs, and services; to monitor and advise the DE Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with respect to the services it provides; to inform and advocate with service providers for improved services for deaf and hard of hearing people. |
| Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative | (DATI) DATI focuses on improving public awareness, public
access to information, funding for assistive technology devices and services, training and technical assistance,
and coordination of statewide activities. The project has established Assistive Technology Resource Centers
(ATRCs) in each of Delaware's counties. Each site has assistive technology devices and materials that
you can try out. Some devices are even available for short-term loan. (Source: www.asel.udel.edu/dati) |
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| Delaware Authority for Regional Transportation (DART or DART First State) | DART First State provides transportation services statewide
with over 320 buses and over 60 bus routes including its Sussex County Resort Service. It also serves
New Castle County with commuter rail service to and from Philadelphia. DART First State also provides paratransit services for disabled persons unable to use our over 60 public fixed bus routes. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, there are three categories under which a person can be eligible for paratransit services: 1) The person is unable, as the result of a physical or mental impairment, to independently, get on or get off a bus on the fixed route; or 2)The person needs the assistance of a wheelchair lift or other boarding assistance and is able to get on, ride, and get off a bus, but such fixed route bus is not available on the route when the individual wants to travel; or 3) The person has a specific impairment-related condition that prevents travel to or from a bus stop in the system. (Source: www.dartfirststate.com) |
| Delaware Energy Assistance Program | (DEAP) This program assists low-income households that
need help in meeting the cost of home energy used for heating and cooling their homes. Federal eligibility
standards apply. Both homeowners and renters may receive assistance. Households with elderly and/or handicapped
persons may be eligible to submit applications by mail. (Source: www.cdow.org/energy) |
| Delaware Health and Social Services | (DHSS) A department in the State of Delaware whose mission is to improve the quality of life for Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. |
| Delaware Medicare Fraud Alert | Provides public information to encourage people who have Medicare to carefully read their Medicare summary notices and ask questions if they do not think the information is correct. This program also trains people who are retired to help other Medicare beneficiaries get the information they need when they suspect fraud, waste, or abuse of the Medicare program. |
| Department of Education | (DOE) Strives to promote the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior services. DOE is comprised of three distinct branches: Curriculum and Instructional Improvement; Assessment and Accountability; and Finance and Administrative Services. Each branch, led by an Associate Secretary, works in a collective effort to carry out the goals of the department. |
| Department of Health and Human Services (Federal) | (DHHS) The United States Government's principal agency
for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those
who are least able to help themselves. The Department includes more than 300 programs, covering a wide
spectrum of activities. Some highlights include: Medicare (health insurance for elderly and disabled Americans)
and Medicaid (health insurance for low-income people); financial assistance and services for low-income
families; improving maternal and infant health; and services for older Americans, including home-delivered
meals. (Source: www.dhhs.gov) |
| Department of Labor | (DOL) The DOL within the State of Delaware strives to connect people to jobs, resources, monetary benefits, workplace protections and labor market information to promote financial independence, workplace justice and a strong economy. |
| Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families | (DSCYF) The DSCYF within the State of Delaware helps to strengthen families and communities so that children can be raised in a nurturing environment, and provides direct services for those families with more complex needs. |
| Developmental Disabilities Council | (DDC) The Delaware DDC addresses the unmet needs of people
with developmental disabilities through system-wide advocacy, planning and demonstration projects. (Source: www.delaware.gov) |
| Developmental Disability | (DD) A severe, chronic disability of an individual five years of age or older that: is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments; is manifested before the individual attains age 22; is likely to continue indefinitely; and results in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas of major life activity. These disabilities cannot be corrected by surgery and usually result in social and intellectual delays. These conditions usually persist throughout an individual’s lifetime. |
| Division for the Visually Impaired | (DVI) A division of Delaware Health and Social Services, DVI provides a network of services designed to facilitate the lifelong social, emotional, and economic independence of Delawareans who are blind or visually impaired. |
| Division of Developmental Disabilities Services | (DDDS) A division of Delaware Health and Social Services, DDDS provides services and supports to individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities and their families which enable them to make informed choices that lead to an improved quality of life and meaningful participation in their communities. |
| Division of Long Term Care Resident Protection | (DLTCRP) A division of Delaware Health and Social Services, DLTCRP promotes the quality of care, safety and security of people living in long term care facilities and to ensure facilities' compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations designed to protect these residents. |
| Division of Public Health | (DPH) A division of Delaware Health and Social Services, DPH protects and enhances the health of the people by: working together with others; addressing issues that affect the health of Delawareans; keeping track of the State's health; promoting positive lifestyles; responding to critical health issues and disasters; and promoting the availability of health services. |
| Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities | (DSAAPD) A division of Delaware Health and Social Services, DSAAPD strives to improve or maintain the quality of life for residents of Delaware who are at least 18 years of age with physical disabilities, or who are elderly. The Division is committed to the development and delivery of consumer driven services. These services will maximize independence through individual choice in the least restrictive environment possible, enabling adults with physical disabilities and those who are elderly to continue living active and productive lives, and protect those who may be vulnerable and at risk. |
| Division of Social Services | (DSS ) A division of Delaware Health and Social Services, DSS provides an integrated system of opportunities that enable low income individuals and families to develop self-sufficiency and achieve and maintain independence. |
| Division of State Service Centers | (DSSC) A division of Delaware Health and Social Services, DSSC endeavors to alleviate crises, to improve the standard of living, to develop self-sufficiency, and to provide universal access to information and referral to appropriate services for individuals and families in Delaware. The Division directs resources to address the unmet needs of Delawareans who access State Service Centers and the Offices of Community Services and Volunteerism. |
| Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health | (DSAMH) A division of Delaware Health and Social Services, DSAMH supports community tenure for adults with disabilities caused by mental illness, alcoholism, or drug addiction at the highest possible levels of personal autonomy and quality of life. |
| Division for the Visually Impaired | (DVI) A division of Delaware Health and Social services, DVI strives to work in partnership with Delawareans who are blind and visually impaired empowering them to be self-sufficient. |
| Division of Vocational Rehabilitation | (DVR) A division of the Department of Labor, DVR is Delaware’s public program that helps people with physical and mental disabilities obtain or retain employment. DVR also has an Independent Living Program that helps people with disabilities function in the community. DVR's commitment is to help people with disabilities increase independence through employment. |
| Durable Power of Attorney | Power of Attorney not affected by subsequent disability of an individual. (Please see Power of Attorney) |
| Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Training | (EPSDT) A special program under Medicaid that provides reimbursement for well-child visits and special services determined to be needed during a check-up. |
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| Earned Income Tax Credit | (EITC) The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), sometimes
called the Earned Income Credit (EIC), is a refundable Federal income tax credit for low-income working
individuals and families. The credit reduces the amount of Federal tax owed and can result in a refund
check. When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and
qualify for the credit. Income and family size determine the amount of the EITC. The EITC does not generally
affect eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, or low-income housing. (Source: www.irs.gov) |
| Eldercare in the Workplace | The Eldercare in the Workplace program is designed to help Delaware employers and employees understand issues that older people may have and to identify support services within the community. |
| Emergency Response System* | (ERS) *See Personal Emergency Response System |
| Essential Lifestyle Plan | (ELP) An ELP is a specific structure for person centered
planning for people with disabilities that focuses on the following: finding out what is important to
someone; learning about what health, safety, and risk means to the person and to those who know and care
about him or her; and, figuring out how someone can be supported in having a balance between happy and
safe while making the best use of public dollars. It also identifies supports and how those supports should
be provided to help the person live more of the kind of life that they want. (Source: www.otac.org) |
| Family Circles | Family Circles is a support/education group program for grandparents and relatives raising others’ children. It is administered by the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities’ Joining Generations program. |
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| Family Medical Leave Act | (FMLA) Allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave within a 12 month period, job protection, and continued health-care coverage to workers under certain conditions, such as, one year of employment. FMLA applies to caring for newborn or adopted children within 12 months of birth or adoption, coping with serious illness of family members, or inability to perform one’ job because of serious health problems. |
| Five A Day | In conjunction with the Produce for Better Health Foundation, the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) has been working to get the word out in Delaware: eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day for better health. DSAAPD has taken up this campaign in recognition of the fact that inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption is one of the leading health risk factors among older adults |
| Food Stamp Program | The federal, state and local governments provide many
programs designed to help meet nutritional needs of low-income citizens and their families. Generally, your household can not have more than $2,000 in resources. But, if your household includes a person age 60 or older, the limit is $3,000. Resources include cash, bank accounts and other property. (Source: www.ssa.gov) |
| Governor’s Advisory Council on Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities | The Council on Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities serves as an advisory body to the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities. Members of the Council are appointed by the Governor in accordance with the Delaware Code (Title 29 Chapter 79 § 7915). |
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| Guardianship | The office, duty, or authority of a guardian. A guardian
is a person who lawfully has the power and duty of taking care of another person and managing the property
and rights of another person, who because of age, understanding or self-control, is considered incapable
of administering his or her own affairs. Also, one who legally has the care and management of the person
or the estate or both of a minor child. (Source: Black’s Law Dictionary) |
| Health Maintenance Organization | (HMO) A type of managed care plan where a group of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers agree to give health care to beneficiaries for a set amount of money every month. In an HMO, you usually must get all your care from the providers that are part of the plan. |
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| Healthwise for Life | This program provides participants with useful information to help them understand and care for many common physical and mental health issues. Specifically, it helps participants to recognize symptoms; to provide self-care when appropriate; to know when to contact a health care professional; and to know how to be a wise consumer of health care. |
| Hemiplegia | Paralysis of one side of the body. (Source: www.infoplease.com) |
| Hispanic Outreach | Hispanic Outreach is a program designed to help older persons in the Hispanic community learn about and get connected with the services that they might need. The Hispanic Outreach program also works with organizations that provide services to older persons to create a better understanding of the special needs of older Hispanics. |
| Home and Community Based Services | (HCBS) A wide array of services that an individual may need to avoid institutionalization. This includes such things as, case management, homemaker services, home health aides, personal care services, adult day health care, respite care and other services. |
| Home-Delivered Meals | The Home-Delivered Meals Program delivers nutritionally balanced, hot meals during the day to homebound persons. Some people also receive cold, bagged meals so that they will have food available in the evening as well. |
| Home Health Agency | A public or private agency that specializes in providing skilled nursing, homemakers, home health aides, and therapeutic services such as physical therapy, in an individual’s home. |
| Home Modification | The Home Modification Program pays for modifications (or changes) to be made to the home of a person with a physical disability. The changes are made to allow a person to move around more freely in the home. An example of a home modification is the installation of a wheelchair ramp. Modifications are made to permanent residences only. Also, funds are used only when no other funding source is available or when there is not enough money from another source to pay for the needed modifications. |
| Hospice | A philosophy of care that accepts death as a natural part of life by caring for terminally ill patients in a humane manner. The majority of hospice patients are cared for in their own home or the home of loved one. Hospice care attempts to minimize pain and symptoms. Hospice also provides bereavement care to the family members and loved ones of the terminally ill person. |
| Housekeeping | Housekeeping is an in-home service for frail older persons or adults with physical disabilities. Specific housekeeping services include assistance with shopping, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and laundry. Trained housekeepers provide all services. |
| Housing and Urban Development | The mission of HUD is to provide a decent, safe, and sanitary
home and suitable living environment for every American through such things as: creating opportunities
for homeownership; providing housing assistance for low-income persons; working to create, rehabilitate
and maintain the nation's affordable housing; enforcing the nation's fair housing laws; helping
the homeless; spurring economic growth in distressed neighborhoods; and helping local communities meet
their development needs. (Source: www.hud.gov) |
| Independent Living | A mode of life pursued by a person capable of providing for their own care; if disabled, the person is able to live outside an institution with assistance in obtaining essential services. |
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| Individualized Education Plan | (IEP) The contract between the school district and the
student with special needs which lists the type and amount of services it will provide to the student. The "cast" of participants required for an IEP meeting is listed in the regulations, but generally includes at least one 1) special ed. teacher or provider, 2) representative of the school district who can provide for the instruction the student needs (directly or indirectly), is knowledgeable about the general curriculum, and the resources available to the district, 3) person who can interpret the evaluation results, and 4) regular ed. teacher. Parental participation is specifically required, unless the district has made certain efforts and has been unable to get the parent to the meeting. (Source: www.protectionandadvocacy.com) |
| Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Federal) | (IDEA) The law that guarantees all children with disabilities access to a free and appropriate public education. |
| Information and Assistance/ Information and Referral | (I&A, I&R) Information and Assistance/Referral provides information to persons who contact the agency. They can be directed to appropriate programs, services, activities, events, and other community resources related to aging and disabilities in Delaware. This service is available not only to older persons and adults with physical disabilities, but also to family members, caregivers, service professionals, students, and any other interested persons. |
| Instrumental Activities of Daily Living | (IADL) Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL's)
are tasks like shopping, bill paying, cooking and other tasks very necessary to an individual and a household.
These tasks are similar to the Activities of Daily Living (ADL's) but are more social/societal than
bodily issues. (Source: http://www.assistguide.com) |
| Intergenerational Programs | The goal of the intergenerational programs is to bring elderly and the youth together in planned activities which benefit both generations. |
| Intermediate Care Facility | (ICF) A nursing home which is licensed to provide nursing services and care to individuals who require institutional living and care but do not need the degree of care and treatment a hospital or skilled nursing facility is designed to provide. |
| Joining Generations | Joining Generations is a statewide intergenerational program operated by the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities. Joining Generations administers the Family Circles program. *Please see Intergenerational Programs and Family Circles |
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| Least Restrictive Environment | (LRE) Each public agency shall ensure : 1) That to the
maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions
or other care facilities, are educated with children who are non-disabled; and 2) That special classes,
separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment
occurs only if the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with
the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactory. (Source: IDEA regulations) |
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| Legal Services | The Legal Services Program assists older persons with legal issues. Specifically, the program provides help with matters such as powers of attorney; living wills; and consumer, housing and medical issues. |
| Level of Care | (LOC) Classification based on the kind and extent of services provided by a nursing home. Facilities are licensed and certified to provide a certain level of care in a certain number of beds. |
| Living Wills* | *Please See Advanced Directives |
| Long Term Care | (LTC) The medical and social care given to individuals who have severe chronic impairments and/or disabilities. Long-term care can consist of care in the home, by family members assisting, through voluntary or employed help or care in an institution. |
| Long Term Care Ombudsman | The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program investigates and resolves complaints made by (or on behalf of) residents of long term care facilities (for example, nursing homes). The program also provides volunteer opportunities for friendly visitors/advocates in nursing homes. |
| Lou Gehrig’s Disease | See Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. |
| Managed Care Organization | (MCO) In an effort to control costs and to make them more affordable, managed care plans are more structured and restrictive than fee-for-service plans (A fee-for service plan allows the insured individual to go to a doctor of their choosing and then submit health insurance claims.). Generally, you must be served by a provider within the network that the Managed Care Organization designates. If you use a provider outside the network, you may be liable for any bills that are incurred. The most prevalent MCOs are: Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), and Point of Service Plans. |
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| Meals on Wheels* | *Please see Home-Delivered Meals |
| Medicaid | Medicaid provides health insurance for eligible low income people who are elderly, blind, or disabled as well as for certain groups of children. Services are coordinated by state government through Delaware Health and Social Services Division of Social Services. |
| Medical Transportation | Medical Transportation provides transportation to health care appointments for persons in need. In Delaware, this service is provided through DSAAPD for persons 60 years old and older who live in New Castle County but outside the city limits of Wilmington. |
| Medicare | Medicare is a federal health insurance program for those who receive Social Security benefits. Eligible individuals include those who are 65 and older, people of any age with permanent kidney failure and disabled people under age 65 who have received Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months. |
| Medicare Fraud | The intentional misleading of Medicare beneficiaries and the Medicare program for financial gain. Beneficiaries should review all Medicare payment notices for errors. The payment notices show what Medicare was billed for, what Medicare paid and what you owe. Make sure Medicare was not billed for health care services or medical supplies and equipment you did not receive. |
| Medicare + Choice | A health plan, such as an HMO or Private Fee-for-Service plan offered by a private company and approved by Medicare. An alternative to Original Medicare Plan. |
| Medicaid Waiver | The Medicaid Waiver provides an alternative to nursing home care. The program includes services that allow a person to continue living in his or her home. Nurses and social workers coordinate with participants and their caregivers to develop care plans that meet their individual needs. The agency currently has three waivers: Elderly and Disabled Waiver, Assisted Living Waiver, and the ABI/TBI Waiver. |
| Medigap Insurance | A supplement insurance policy sold by private insurance
companies to fill "gaps" in Original Medicare Plan coverage. There are 10 standardized policies
labeled Plan A through Plan J. Medigap policies only work with the Original Medicare Plan. (Source: www.Medicare.gov) |
| Money Management Program | The Money Management Program promotes independent living
for people on a limited income who are at risk because they cannot manage their financial affairs and
cannot get help from friends or family. The Money Management Program is a partnership between AARP Delaware
and the Delaware Division of Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD). (Source: www.aarp.org) |
| Multiple Sclerosis | (MS) A chronic disease of the white matter of the central
nervous system (CNS). In MS, there are patches of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord that cause
damage to the myelin. This makes it more difficult for information signals to travel along nerve fibers
with the required speed, eventually causing the symptoms seen in MS. (Source: www. msactivesource.com) |
| Occupational Therapy | (OT) Activities or routines designed to increase fine motor skills. |
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| Office of Special Education Programs, U. S. Department of Education | (OSEP) OSEP is dedicated to improving results for infants,
toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial
support to assist states and local districts. Some things include: providing discretionary grants to institutions
of higher education and other non-profit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical
assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information
centers. (Source: www.ed.gov) |
| Older Americans Act | (OAA) The Older Americans Act of 1965 as Amended calls for a range of programs that offer services and opportunities for older Americans, especially those at risk of losing their independence. The Act established the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is headed by the Assistant Secretary for Aging in the Department. |
| Olmstead Decision | In July 1999, the Supreme Court issued the Olmstead v.
L. C. decision. The Court's decision in that case clearly challenges Federal, state, and local governments
to develop more opportunities for individuals with disabilities through more accessible systems of cost-effective
community-based services The Olmstead decision interpreted Title II of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) and its implementing regulation, requiring States to administer their services, programs, and
activities "in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with
disabilities." (Source: www.hcfa.gov) |
| Ombudsman* | *See Long Term Care Ombudsman |
| Paraplegia | Paralysis of the lower part of the body, commonly affecting
both legs and often internal organs below the waist. Paraplegia is caused by an injury or disease that
damages the spinal cord, and consequently always affects both sides of the body. The extent of the paralysis
depends on the level of the spinal cord at which the damage occurs. (Source: www.infoplease.com) |
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| Parent Information Center of Delaware | (PIC) Assists parents of children with disabilities and the professionals who work with them through advocacy, education, housing/residential services, and training. |
| Personal Care | Personal care services are provided for persons who need help at home because of illness or disability. The services are designed to help a person maintain his or her household and continue living independently. Specific activities may include assistance with personal hygiene (for example, bathing or shaving), meal preparation, shopping, light housekeeping, and other services. |
| Personal Emergency Response System | (PERS) A Personal Emergency Response System is a device that allows a person at high risk (for example an older person who lives alone and has a health problem) to get immediate help in the event of an emergency. The person who is using the system wears a button that he or she can push if needed. The button connects electronically to the person's phone, which is programmed to send a signal to a response center. Trained professionals in the response center then carry out a series of actions to help the person in need. |
| Physical Therapy | (PT) Activities or routines designed to increase gross motor skills. |
| Point of Service Plan | This is a type of managed care health insurance plan that
combines features of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs).
They allow members to use services provided outside of the network without prior approval from a network
doctor. Point of service plans offer lower deductibles and no coinsurance for visits to doctors inside
the network. Visits outside the network normally require the payment of deductibles and coinsurance the
same as a traditional fee-for-service insurance policy. (Source: www.state.de.us/inscom) |
| Power of Attorney | (POA) The simplest and least expensive legal device for authorizing one person to manage the affairs of another. In essence, it is a written agreement, usually with a close relative, an attorney, a business associate or financial advisor, authorizing that person to sign documents and conduct transactions on the individual’s behalf. The individual can delegate as much or as little power as desired and end the arrangement at any time. |
| Preferred Provider Organization | (PPO) A type of managed care health insurance plan that
is a group of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers (preferred providers) who have agreed
to provide services to members of a health plan for discounted fees. Some employers combine the PPO with
a traditional major medical plan so you can use providers who are not on the PPOs preferred list. But
to encourage you to use a provider who is on the PPO list, you will usually have lower out-of-pocket expenses
than if you use a provider who is not on the list. (Source: www.state.de.us/inscom) |
| Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly | (PACE) It is an optional benefit under both Medicare and
Medicaid that focuses entirely on older people, who are frail enough to meet their State's standards
for nursing home care. It features comprehensive medical and social services that can be provided at an
adult day health center, home, and/or inpatient facilities. For most patients, the comprehensive service
package permits them to continue living at home while receiving services, rather than be institutionalized.
PACE is available only in States which have chosen to offer PACE under Medicaid. (www.iorhealth.about.com) |
| Quadriplegia | Paralysis of all four limbs or of the entire body below
the neck. (Source: www.infoplease.com) |
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| Qualified Medicare Beneficiary | (QMB) A Medicare beneficiary who, because of low income and limited financial resources, qualifies to have certain medical expenses covered at no additional cost. |
| Rancho Los Amigos | The eight level scale was developed by the professional staff of the Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, California to describe the stages of recovery after brain injury. Rehabilitation centers may use this scale when working with someone with a brain injury. |
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| Request for Proposal | (RFP) Request for Proposals is a system used to obtain bids (proposals) by invitation made by a prospective organization to a prospective bidder. The prospective organization is inviting specific written plans from vendors, suppliers, contractors, non-profit organizations etc. before awarding business or grant funds. |
| Respite Care | Respite care is a program that provides relief to primary caregivers, such as family members, who give 24-hour-a-day care to someone in need. Respite care can be regularly scheduled (for example, once a week) or can be given from time-to-time, as needed by the family. Respite care can be provided at home or in a state-approved nursing home. |
| Rest (Residential) Home | An institution that provides resident beds and personal care services for persons who are normally able to manage activities of daily living. |
| Senior Community Service Employment Program | (SCSEP) The Senior Community Service Employment Program provides part-time employment opportunities for eligible persons. Jobs available through the program take place at various locations and are subsidized (paid for by the program). The program also provides its participants with supportive services; training; and help with finding outside employment. |
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| Skilled Care | Institutional care that is less intensive that hospital care in its nursing and medical service, but which includes procedures whose administration requires the training and skills of an RN. |
| Skilled Nursing Facility | (SNF) A facility which has been certified by Medicare and/or Medicaid to provide skill care. The regulation requires that a Registered Nurse (RN) be on duty at all times to supervise and/or provide needed care. |
| Social Security Administration | (SSA) The federal agency that administers the social security program which provides benefits to retirees, adults with disabilities, children with disabilities, and survivors of those social security eligible. |
| Social Security Disability Income | (SSDI) SSDI is designed to protect workers covered under
the Social Security program who become severely disabled. Applicants are eligible based on a uniform set
of standards. The criteria used to award disability benefits requires that the condition either be expected
to result in death or last at least 12 months. To qualify, the individual must be unable to perform any
substantial work because of a medical condition. (Source: www.ssa.gov) |
| Social Services Block Grant | (SSBG) A Federal grant that enables each State to furnish
social services best suited to the needs of the individuals residing in the State. Federal block grant
funds may be used to provide services directed toward one of the following five goals specified in the
law: (1) To prevent, reduce, or eliminate dependency; (2) to achieve or maintain self-sufficiency; (3)
to prevent neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children and adults; (4) to prevent or reduce inappropriate
institutional care; and (5) to secure admission or referral for institutional care when other forms of
care are not appropriate. (Source: www.aspe.hhs.gov) |
| Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary | (SLMB) A Medicare beneficiary who, because of low income and limited financial resources, qualifies to have certain medical expenses covered at no additional cost. |
| Speech Therapy | (ST) Activities or routines designed to improve and increase communication skills. |
| Spina Bifida | (SB) A neural tube defect (a disorder involving incomplete
development of the brain, spinal cord, and/or their protective coverings) caused by the failure of the
fetus's spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy. Infants born with SB sometimes
have an open lesion on their spine where significant damage to the nerves and spinal cord has occurred.
Although the spinal opening can be surgically repaired shortly after birth, the nerve damage is permanent,
resulting in varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs. Even when there is no lesion present there
may be improperly formed or missing vertebrae and accompanying nerve damage. In addition to physical and
mobility difficulties, most individuals have some form of learning disability. (Source: www.ninds.nih.gov) |
| State Council for Persons with Disabilities | (SCPD) A council that unites disability advocates and state agency policymakers to ensure that individuals with disabilities are integrated within the community. |
| State Plan on Aging | The State Plan on Aging describes new objectives that the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities plans to undertake with Title III and Title VII funds under the Older Americans Act. It is available in electronic format in the Publications section of this website. |
| Supplemental Security Income | (SSI) Administered by the Social Security Administration,
SSI makes monthly payments to people who have a low income and few assets. To get SSI, you must be 65
or older or be disabled. Children as well as adults qualify for SSI disability payments. As its name implies,
Supplemental Security Income "supplements" your income up to various levels--depending on where
you live. The federal government pays a basic rate and some states add money to that amount. Generally,
people who get SSI also qualify for Medicaid, food stamps and other assistance. SSI benefits are not paid
from Social Security trust funds and are not based on past earnings. Instead, SSI benefits are financed
by general tax revenues and assure a minimum monthly income for elderly and disabled persons. (Source: www.ssa.gov) |
| Support Groups | A group of people with common concerns and interests who share, comfort and sustain each other over an ongoing period of time. |
| State Unit on Aging | (SUA) . The Federal Administration on Aging awards funds
under the Older Americans Act and amendments to the 57 State Units on Aging (which are located in every
State and Territory.) These funds provide a broad range of services for older persons including but not
limited to such things as: nutrition services, homemaker services, nursing home ombudsman program, legal
services, and elder abuse prevention. (Source: www.aoa.gov) |
| Telecommunication Device for the Deaf | (TDD or TTY) The TYY functions as a telephone for the
deaf or hard of hearing person. This device 'rings' via flashing light or the more recent vibrating
wrist band that resembles a watch. The TTY consists of a keyboard, which hold somewhere from 20 to 30
character keys, a display screen, and a modem. The letters that the TTY use types into the machine are
turned into electrical signals that can travel over regular telephone lines. When the signals reach their
destination (in this case another TTY) they are converted back into letters which appear on a display
screen, are printed out on paper or both. Some of the newer TTYs are even equipped with answering machines. (Source: www.deafness.about.com) |
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| Telephone Reassurance Program | This program provides telephone calls to individuals over the age of 60 who are homebound and/or live alone. Each day a caller with the program telephones the older adult at a specific time to ask if he/she is safe and well, requires special assistance, or has any problems. The program provides important reassurances and social contact for those who might otherwise be isolated. |
| Temporary Aid for Needy Families | (TANF) This provides cash assistance for the basic needs of children who are not under both parents’ care and support. Some of those needs could be for food, clothing, and rent. Children in financial need, as well as the relative with whom they live, may be eligible for cash assistance if they meet financial eligibility requirements. |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | (TBI) An insult to the brain, not of degenerative or congenital
nature caused by an external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness,
which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also result in the
disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning. Leading causes of TBI are motor vehicle accidents,
falls, acts of violence, sports and recreational injuries, blows to the head, lightening strikes, and
electric strikes. TBI can occur without any outward physical evidence of injury or trauma. Examples include,
whiplash, and shaken babies. (Source: www.biausa.org) |
| Walk Delaware | Delaware Senior Olympics, in partnership with DSAAPD is signing up more seniors every month who agree to WALK DELAWARE this year. Simply walk the length of Delaware (96 miles) – 1 1/2 miles a day – or the width of Delaware (35 miles) – 1/2 mile a day – at home, in your neighborhood or recreation area. |
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