Referencia
Glosario de atención a personas mayores
457 plain-language definitions for home care, Medicare, Medi-Cal, workforce, and aging terms — written for families, caregivers, and agency operators.
These definitions are plain-language summaries for orientation — not legal or clinical advice. Program rules, eligibility, and rates change. Confirm details on the official sources linked below or on the related Knowledge Hub guides before making decisions.
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Care types & settings
50 terms- 24-hour care Around-the-clock caregiving delivered in shifts.
- activities of daily living (ADLs) Basic self-care tasks: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, eating.
- adult day care Daytime program offering supervision, activities, and meals for older adults.
- adult day health care Adult day program with nursing and therapy services added.
- aging in place Staying in one's own home safely as needs change.
- assisted living Housing with meals, help with daily activities, and 24-hour staff, but not skilled nursing.
- board and care home Small licensed home, often 4-6 residents, providing room, meals, and personal care.
- care coordination Organizing providers, services, and information so care works together.
- care plan Written plan describing a person's needs, services, and schedules.
- companion care Non-hands-on support: company, meals, errands, light housekeeping, and safety supervision.
- congregate meals Group meals for seniors at community sites.
- continuing care retirement community (CCRC) Community offering independent living through nursing care on one campus.
- custodial care Non-skilled help with daily living; generally not covered by Medicare.
- elopement Leaving a care setting unnoticed; a safety event in dementia care.
- geriatric care manager Professional who assesses needs and coordinates a senior's care; also called aging life care manager.
- home care Non-medical help at home with daily activities like bathing, dressing, meals, and companionship.
- home health care Doctor-ordered skilled care at home, such as nursing or therapy, usually after illness or surgery.
- home-based primary care Doctors or nurse practitioners who make house calls.
- home-delivered meals Meals brought to homebound seniors; Meals on Wheels is the best-known program.
- homebound Medicare status meaning leaving home requires considerable effort; required for home health.
- hospice Comfort care for people expected to live six months or less who stop curative treatment.
- independent living Housing for active seniors with services like meals and events but no personal care.
- instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) Household tasks: cooking, cleaning, shopping, transportation, finances, medications.
- level of care Assessment category describing how much help a person needs.
- life plan community Modern name for a CCRC.
- live-in care A caregiver resides in the home and provides care with sleep and break rules.
- long-term care Ongoing help with daily living due to chronic illness or disability.
- long-term services and supports (LTSS) Umbrella term for long-term care services, paid and unpaid.
- memory care Secured assisted-living setting designed for people with dementia.
- nursing home Common term for a skilled nursing facility providing long-term or rehab care.
- overnight care A caregiver present during nighttime hours.
- PACE Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; full medical and social care to help people stay home.
- palliative care Comfort-focused medical care for serious illness, alongside treatment.
- personal care Hands-on help with bathing, dressing, toileting, and other activities of daily living.
- plan of care Physician-approved plan governing home health services.
- post-acute care Recovery care after a hospital stay, in facilities or at home.
- private duty nursing Ongoing skilled nursing at home, usually privately paid or waiver-funded.
- rehabilitation (rehab) Therapy services - physical, occupational, speech - to regain function.
- respite care Short-term care that gives a family caregiver a break.
- respite stay Short temporary stay in a facility, often while caregivers travel.
- respite voucher Funding that pays for short-term relief care for family caregivers.
- restorative care Care focused on maintaining or regaining function after rehab ends.
- senior center Community hub offering activities, meals, and resources for older adults.
- skilled nursing facility (SNF) Licensed facility providing 24-hour nursing and rehabilitation.
- subacute care Higher-intensity nursing care for medically complex patients, below hospital level.
- sundowning Late-day confusion and agitation common in dementia.
- telehealth Health care delivered by video or phone.
- transitional care Short-term support that bridges hospital discharge and home.
- two-person assist Care tasks that safely require two caregivers.
- wandering When a person with dementia leaves or moves about unsafely.
Clinical & conditions
61 terms- actively dying Final days-to-hours phase with recognizable signs.
- ADL assessment Evaluation of how much help someone needs with daily tasks.
- Alzheimer's disease Most common dementia; gradual memory-first decline.
- anticholinergic burden Cumulative effect of common drugs that worsen memory in elders.
- aphasia Language loss after brain injury, often stroke.
- aspiration Food or liquid entering the airway; can cause pneumonia.
- atrial fibrillation Irregular heart rhythm raising stroke risk.
- beers criteria List of medications risky for older adults.
- bereavement The grief period after a death; hospices support families through it.
- cataracts Clouded lenses; surgery is routine and effective.
- catheter Tube draining urine from the bladder.
- chronic kidney disease Gradual kidney failure; late stages may need dialysis.
- comfort care Treatment aimed only at comfort, not cure.
- comfort feeding Hand-feeding for pleasure without tubes in advanced dementia.
- congestive heart failure (CHF) Weak heart pumping causing fluid buildup and fatigue.
- contracture Permanent joint tightening from immobility.
- COPD Chronic lung disease causing breathlessness; includes emphysema.
- delirium Sudden, fluctuating confusion from illness or medication; a medical emergency.
- dementia Umbrella term for memory and thinking decline severe enough to affect daily life.
- deprescribing Carefully stopping medications that no longer help.
- diabetes High blood sugar disease requiring diet, monitoring, or medication.
- dialysis Machine treatment doing the kidneys' filtering work.
- DNR Do Not Resuscitate order declining CPR.
- dysphagia Difficulty swallowing.
- edema Fluid swelling, often in legs.
- failure to thrive Decline in weight, function, and appetite in elders.
- fall risk assessment Screening for likelihood of falling.
- FAST scale Staging tool for dementia; stage 7 supports hospice eligibility.
- frailty Medical syndrome of weakness, slowness, and low reserve.
- frontotemporal dementia Dementia beginning with behavior or language change, often younger onset.
- gait How a person walks; changes predict falls.
- glaucoma Eye-pressure disease damaging side vision.
- hypertension High blood pressure.
- incontinence Loss of bladder or bowel control.
- Lewy body dementia Dementia with hallucinations, fluctuating alertness, and Parkinson-like movement.
- macular degeneration Central-vision loss disease of aging eyes.
- mild cognitive impairment (MCI) Measurable memory decline not yet interfering with independence.
- mixed dementia More than one dementia type at once.
- MoCA / MMSE / Mini-Cog Common short tests screening memory and thinking.
- neuropathy Nerve damage causing numbness or pain, often in feet.
- orthostatic hypotension Blood-pressure drop on standing; causes falls.
- osteoarthritis Wear-and-tear joint pain and stiffness.
- osteoporosis Bone thinning that makes fractures likely.
- ostomy Surgical opening for waste with an external pouch.
- oxygen saturation Blood-oxygen percentage measured by pulse oximeter.
- palliative sedation Comfort-focused sedation for intractable end-of-life suffering.
- Parkinson's disease Progressive movement disorder: tremor, stiffness, slow movement.
- PEG tube Feeding tube placed through the abdomen.
- polypharmacy Taking many medications, raising interaction risk.
- presbycusis Age-related hearing loss.
- pressure injury (bedsore) Skin breakdown from unrelieved pressure; staged 1-4.
- range of motion How far joints move; exercises prevent stiffness in the immobile.
- sarcopenia Age-related muscle loss.
- sepsis Life-threatening body-wide reaction to infection.
- stroke Blocked or burst brain blood vessel causing sudden brain injury.
- syncope Fainting.
- terminal agitation Restlessness sometimes seen near death.
- TIA Mini-stroke with temporary symptoms; a major warning sign.
- tracheostomy Breathing opening in the neck.
- urinary tract infection (UTI) Bladder infection; in elders may appear as sudden confusion.
- vascular dementia Dementia from strokes or blood-vessel damage; often step-wise decline.
Medicare, Medicaid & insurance
54 terms- Aid & Attendance VA pension add-on for wartime veterans or survivors needing help with daily living.
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) Oct 15-Dec 7 window to change Medicare drug or Advantage plans.
- assignment of benefits Authorization letting a provider bill your insurer directly.
- benefit period Medicare Part A measure starting at admission and ending after 60 days without facility care.
- benefit triggers Conditions - typically 2-of-6 ADLs or cognitive impairment - that activate LTC benefits.
- Care Compare Official medicare.gov tool showing quality ratings for providers and facilities.
- CHAMPVA VA health coverage for certain spouses and survivors.
- chronic illness rider Life-policy rider advancing the death benefit for care needs.
- coinsurance Percentage of costs you pay after deductibles.
- D-SNP Dual-eligible Special Needs Plan - Medicare Advantage designed for duals.
- dual eligible Person with both Medicare and Medicaid.
- elimination period Waiting days you self-pay before LTC insurance begins.
- estate recovery State reclaiming certain Medicaid costs from a deceased member's estate.
- explanation of benefits (EOB) Statement showing what was billed, covered, and owed.
- Extra Help (LIS) Federal subsidy lowering Part D drug costs for low-income enrollees.
- formulary A drug plan's covered-medications list.
- General Enrollment Period Jan-Mar window for those who missed initial Part B enrollment.
- HCBS Home and Community-Based Services funded by Medicaid waivers.
- hybrid life/LTC policy Life insurance with a rider that pays for long-term care.
- Initial Enrollment Period Seven-month window around turning 65 to join Medicare.
- IRMAA Higher Medicare premiums charged to higher-income enrollees.
- late enrollment penalty Lifelong premium increase for enrolling late in Part B or D.
- long-term care insurance Private policy paying for care after you cannot do set ADLs.
- look-back period Review of past asset transfers when applying for long-term-care Medicaid.
- Medicaid Joint federal-state program covering health and long-term care for people with low income and assets.
- Medicaid managed care Private plans administering Medicaid benefits.
- Medicaid waiver State permission to pay for home and community services instead of nursing homes.
- Medicare Federal health insurance for people 65+ and some younger people with disabilities.
- Medicare 100-day rule Up to 100 SNF days per benefit period after a qualifying hospital stay; day 21 starts coinsurance.
- Medicare Advantage (MA) Private plan alternative to Original Medicare; networks and prior authorizations apply.
- Medicare Part A Hospital insurance: inpatient stays, skilled nursing after hospital, hospice, some home health.
- Medicare Part B Medical insurance: doctor visits, outpatient care, equipment, some home health.
- Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage - private plans bundling Parts A and B, often with extras.
- Medicare Part D Prescription drug coverage through private plans.
- Medicare Plan Finder Official medicare.gov tool for comparing drug and Advantage plans.
- Medicare Savings Programs State programs paying Medicare premiums and sometimes cost-sharing for low incomes.
- Medigap Private supplement that pays costs Original Medicare leaves, like coinsurance.
- network Providers contracted with a plan; out-of-network care costs more.
- observation status Hospital classification that is not inpatient; can block SNF coverage.
- Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) Jan 1-Mar 31 window for Medicare Advantage members to switch once.
- Original Medicare Traditional fee-for-service Parts A and B run by the federal government.
- out-of-pocket maximum Annual cap on what you pay in a plan.
- Plan G / Plan N Popular standardized Medigap plans differing in copays and excess-charge coverage.
- prior authorization Plan approval required before certain services are covered.
- share of cost Monthly amount some Medicaid members must incur before coverage pays.
- Special Enrollment Period Enrollment window triggered by events like moving or losing coverage.
- spend down Reducing countable income or assets to qualify for Medicaid.
- spousal impoverishment protections Rules letting the at-home spouse keep income and assets.
- star ratings CMS 1-5 quality scores for plans, home health, hospices, and nursing homes.
- three-day stay requirement Original Medicare requires a 3-night inpatient hospital stay before covering SNF care.
- transfer penalty Medicaid ineligibility period caused by giving assets away.
- TRICARE for Life Military retiree coverage that wraps around Medicare.
- VA pension Needs-based VA payment for wartime veterans with limited income.
- Veteran-Directed Care VA program giving veterans a budget to hire their own caregivers.
California programs (CA)
52 terms- Adult Protective Services (APS)CA County agency responding to abuse or neglect of elders and dependent adults.
- Advance Health Care DirectiveCA California document naming a health agent and stating care wishes.
- Area Agency on Aging (AAA)CA Regional agency funding senior services under the Older Americans Act.
- ARFCA Adult Residential Facility - licensed care home for adults 18-59.
- Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)CA Medi-Cal waiver paying assisted-living care costs in participating communities.
- Cal Health FindCA CDPH site for facility licenses and inspection results.
- CalABLECA Tax-advantaged savings account for people with disabilities.
- CalAIMCA DHCS initiative transforming Medi-Cal with care management and social supports.
- CalFreshCA California's food-stamp (SNAP) program.
- CAPICA Cash assistance for certain immigrants ineligible for SSI.
- CARE/FERACA Utility bill discounts for lower-income households.
- CBASCA Community-Based Adult Services - Medi-Cal adult day health care.
- CCRC certificateCA DSS authorization CCRCs need to sell life-plan contracts.
- CDACA California Department of Aging.
- CDPHCA California Department of Public Health - licenses home health, hospice, SNFs, and CNAs.
- CDSSCA California Department of Social Services - licenses home care agencies and RCFEs.
- Community Care Licensing (CCLD)CA CDSS division inspecting RCFEs and care homes.
- Community SupportsCA CalAIM services like home modifications and respite offered by Medi-Cal plans.
- conservatorshipCA Court arrangement giving someone authority over an adult's care or finances (California's guardianship).
- Covered CaliforniaCA State ACA marketplace for individual health insurance.
- Denti-CalCA Medi-Cal dental coverage.
- DHCSCA Department of Health Care Services - runs Medi-Cal.
- Domestic Worker Bill of RightsCA California overtime law covering personal attendants (9/45 rule).
- Electronic Services Portal (ESP)CA CDSS website where IHSS timesheets are submitted.
- Enhanced Care Management (ECM)CA CalAIM benefit: intensive coordination for high-need members.
- Exclusively Aligned Enrollment (EAE)CA Policy behind Medi-Medi plans: same insurer for both programs.
- HCBA waiverCA Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver for nursing-level care at home.
- Health Care OptionsCA State enrollment service for choosing Medi-Cal plans.
- HICAPCA Free, unbiased Medicare counseling program in California.
- Home Care Aide (HCA) registryCA State registry all agency caregivers must join after background check.
- Home Care Organization (HCO)CA California license required for home care agencies.
- IHSSCA In-Home Supportive Services - Medi-Cal program paying caregivers, often family, to help at home.
- IHSS providerCA The person paid by IHSS to give care; enrolled through the county.
- IHSS recipientCA The person approved to receive IHSS hours.
- Long-Term Care OmbudsmanCA Advocate investigating complaints in facilities.
- Medi-CalCA California's Medicaid program.
- Medi-Medi PlanCA California plan aligning Medicare and Medi-Cal in one carrier for duals.
- Medical BaselineCA Utility program giving extra power allowance and outage alerts for medical equipment.
- MSSPCA Multipurpose Senior Services Program - care management keeping frail seniors home.
- Paid Family Leave (PFL)CA State benefit paying workers who take time off to care for family.
- paramedical servicesCA IHSS hours for health tasks a doctor delegates, like injections.
- personal attendantCA Wage-order category for caregivers; overtime after 9 hours/day or 45/week.
- POLSTCA Bright-pink physician order stating end-of-life treatment wishes.
- protective supervisionCA IHSS hours for constant observation of someone with cognitive impairment.
- PSPSCA Public Safety Power Shutoff - planned outages during fire weather.
- RCFECA Residential Care Facility for the Elderly - California's assisted living / board-and-care license.
- Regional CenterCA Nonprofit coordinating services for Californians with developmental disabilities.
- SDICA State Disability Insurance - wage replacement when you cannot work.
- Self-Determination ProgramCA Regional-center option giving families an individual budget.
- SOC 2298CA Live-in self-certification form excluding IHSS wages from income tax.
- SOC 2299CA Form canceling live-in tax exclusion after moving out.
- SSI/SSPCA Federal SSI plus California's supplement for aged, blind, disabled with low income.
Legal & financial
49 terms- ABLE account Tax-free savings account for disability expenses.
- advance directive Document stating medical wishes and naming an agent.
- annuity Insurance contract converting savings into income.
- beneficiary designation Named recipient on accounts that pass outside a will.
- burial trust Prepaid, often irrevocable fund for funeral costs.
- capacity Legal ability to understand and make a decision.
- capital gains exclusion Tax break on profit from selling a primary home.
- credit freeze Blocking new credit in someone's name to stop fraud.
- durable power of attorney POA that stays valid after incapacity.
- EAR (elder abuse restraining order) Court order protecting an elder from an abuser.
- elder financial abuse Illegal or improper use of an elder's money or property.
- elder law attorney Lawyer specializing in aging: benefits, incapacity, estates.
- estate recovery claim State's post-death claim for Medicaid costs paid.
- executor Person who carries out a will through probate.
- fiduciary Person legally required to act in another's best interest.
- filial responsibility Laws in some states obligating children for parents' care costs; rarely enforced.
- gift tax exclusion Annual amount you may give per person without filing.
- guardianship Court-appointed decision-maker for an incapacitated adult (called conservatorship in CA).
- health care agent / proxy Person named to make medical decisions for you.
- Heggstad petitionCA California court shortcut moving an omitted asset into a trust.
- HIPAA authorization Signed permission letting providers share medical information.
- irrevocable trust Unchangeable trust used for asset protection.
- letter of intent Non-legal guide describing a dependent's needs for future caregivers.
- life settlement Selling a life-insurance policy for cash.
- living will Written wishes about life-sustaining treatment.
- Medicaid planning Legal structuring of assets to qualify for long-term-care Medicaid.
- Medicaid-compliant annuity Special annuity structure used in spend-down planning.
- notario fraud Scam where a 'notario' poses as an immigration or legal expert.
- payable-on-death (POD) Bank designation transferring funds at death without probate.
- personal care agreement Contract paying a family caregiver; documents care to protect benefits.
- power of attorney (POA) Document naming someone to act for you in finances.
- probate Court process settling an estate.
- professional fiduciaryCA Licensed professional serving as trustee, agent, or conservator (CA license).
- representative payee Person SSA appoints to manage someone's Social Security.
- required minimum distribution (RMD) Mandatory yearly withdrawal from retirement accounts.
- reverse mortgage (HECM) Loan paying homeowners 62+ from equity; repaid when they leave the home.
- revocable living trust Changeable trust avoiding probate.
- right of survivorship Joint ownership passing automatically to the co-owner.
- small estate affidavit Simplified transfer for estates under a state limit.
- special needs trust Trust preserving benefits eligibility for a person with disabilities.
- springing power of attorney POA effective only upon proven incapacity.
- step-up in basis Tax reset of an inherited asset's value at death.
- supported decision-making Formal alternative to conservatorship using chosen helpers.
- trust Legal container holding assets managed by a trustee.
- trust funding Retitling assets into the trust so it works.
- trustee / successor trustee Person managing trust assets now / after the creator cannot.
- undue influence Improper pressure that overcomes someone's free will.
- viatical settlement Selling a policy while terminally ill.
- will Document directing who inherits and naming an executor.
Workforce & roles
45 terms- 1099 contractor Self-employed worker; misclassification of caregivers is a legal risk.
- activity director Facility staffer running engagement programs.
- CalEVVCA California's EVV system.
- care coordinator / scheduler Office role matching caregivers to shifts and clients.
- care notes / charting Written record of each visit's care and observations.
- caregiver Anyone providing care; in agencies, a trained non-medical aide.
- case manager Professional coordinating services across providers.
- CEU Continuing education unit required to keep certifications.
- CNA Certified Nursing Assistant - state-certified aide who passed training and exam.
- compassion fatigue Emotional exhaustion from prolonged caregiving.
- director of nursing (DON) Nurse leading clinical operations in an agency or facility.
- discharge planner Hospital staffer arranging post-hospital care.
- domestic referral agencyCA California model referring independent domestic workers.
- employer model Agency structure where caregivers are W-2 employees.
- EVV Electronic Visit Verification - digital proof of visit time and place, required for Medicaid care.
- family caregiver Unpaid relative or friend providing care.
- HHA Home Health Aide - CNA with additional home-care certification.
- Home Care Aide (HCA) California-registered non-medical caregiver.
- hospice aide CNA delivering personal care on hospice teams.
- household employer Family directly employing a caregiver, with payroll duties.
- live scan Electronic fingerprinting for background checks.
- LVN Licensed Vocational Nurse (California's LPN).
- mandated reporter Person legally required to report suspected abuse.
- medical social worker Clinician connecting patients to resources and counseling.
- medication technician RCFE staffer trained to assist with medications.
- nurse delegation RN authorizing specific tasks to non-nurses.
- nurse practitioner Advanced nurse who can diagnose and prescribe.
- OASIS Standard assessment home health agencies must complete.
- occupational therapist (OT) Therapist restoring daily-task ability; leads home-safety assessments.
- on-call pay Compensation for being available to work.
- PAGACA California law letting employees sue over labor violations on the state's behalf.
- per diem Working shift-by-shift without guaranteed hours.
- personal care aide Non-certified caregiver providing ADL help.
- physical therapist (PT) Therapist restoring movement and strength.
- RCFE administrator State-certified manager legally responsible for an assisted-living facility.
- registry Business referring independent caregivers rather than employing them.
- RN Registered Nurse.
- scope of practice Tasks a license legally allows.
- SEIU 2015 / UDW Unions representing California IHSS providers.
- shift differential Extra pay for nights, weekends, or holidays.
- sleep time Unpaid sleeping hours allowed on some 24-hour shifts under strict rules.
- speech-language pathologist (SLP) Therapist for speech, language, and swallowing.
- split shift Two work periods in one day separated by unpaid time.
- TB clearance Tuberculosis test required before caregiving work.
- workers' compensation Insurance covering job injuries.
Equipment, home & tech
40 terms- adaptive utensils Easy-grip eating tools.
- bedside commode Portable toilet chair.
- blood pressure monitor Home cuff for tracking pressure.
- CAPS Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist - contractor credential for senior remodels.
- chux / underpads Absorbent bed protection.
- compression stockings Squeeze socks reducing leg swelling.
- door sensor Alert when an exterior door opens.
- durable medical equipment (DME) Reusable medical gear - walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds.
- fall detection Sensor tech triggering alerts after a fall.
- gait belt Strap giving caregivers a safe grip during transfers.
- GPS tracker Wearable locator for wandering risk.
- grab bar Wall-mounted support bar preventing bathroom falls.
- HME supplier Company providing home medical equipment; Medicare requires enrolled suppliers.
- home safety assessment Professional walkthrough identifying fall hazards.
- hospital bed Adjustable bed; rentable and often Medicare-covered with need.
- Hoyer lift Sling lift transferring non-weight-bearing people.
- hoyer sling sizes Correct sling sizing prevents transfer injuries.
- key lockbox Coded box giving caregivers entry.
- lift chair Recliner that rises to standing.
- medication dispenser Locked device releasing scheduled doses.
- mobility scooter Motorized cart for longer distances.
- modular ramp Sectional wheelchair ramp for entries.
- PERS Personal Emergency Response System - the help button.
- pill organizer Weekly compartments for medications.
- power wheelchair Motorized wheelchair for daily mobility.
- pressure-relief mattress Surface preventing bedsores.
- pulse oximeter Fingertip oxygen and pulse reader.
- raised toilet seat Height-adding seat easing transfers.
- reacher / grabber Tool extending reach without bending.
- remote patient monitoring (RPM) Clinician-tracked home health readings.
- shower chair Seated bathing support.
- shower handheld wand Flexible sprayer easing seated bathing.
- sit-to-stand lift Device assisting people who can bear some weight.
- smart speaker routines Voice-assistant reminders and check-ins.
- stair lift Seated rail carrying a person up stairs.
- threshold ramp Small ramp smoothing doorway edges.
- transfer bench Seat spanning the tub edge for safe bathing.
- transport chair Lightweight wheelchair pushed by a companion.
- trapeze bar Overhead bar helping bed mobility.
- walker / rollator Frame support; rollators add wheels, seat, and brakes.
Housing & facilities (consumer)
25 terms- 30-day noticeCA Standard California RCFE eviction notice period.
- 55+ community Age-restricted housing for independent older adults.
- admission agreement The facility contract; regulated terms in California.
- affordable housing waitlist Queue for subsidized units; often years long.
- aging-in-place clause Whether a community can serve rising care needs or must discharge.
- bed hold Paying to reserve a facility bed during hospitalization.
- community fee One-time move-in fee at assisted living.
- continuum of care Range of settings from independent living to skilled nursing.
- entrance fee Large upfront CCRC payment.
- HUD Section 202 Federal supportive housing program for very-low-income seniors.
- involuntary discharge / eviction Facility-initiated move-out; notice and appeal rights apply.
- level-of-care fee Assisted-living charge tier based on assessed needs.
- life safety code Fire-safety standards facilities must meet.
- LIHTC housing Income-restricted apartments funded by tax credits.
- move-in assessment Facility evaluation setting care level and price.
- negotiated risk agreement Documented resident choice to accept a risk.
- ombudsman complaint Resident-rights complaint filed with the LTC Ombudsman.
- private vs semi-private room Single occupancy versus shared.
- refundable entrance fee CCRC contract returning part of the fee at exit.
- resident council Organized resident voice within a facility.
- respite rate Daily price for short facility stays.
- second-person fee Added charge for a spouse sharing a unit.
- secured unit Locked area preventing wandering in memory care.
- senior apartments Rentals for older adults, often income-restricted.
- Type A / B / C contract CCRC contracts from all-inclusive lifecare to fee-for-service.
End of life & after
20 terms- attended vs unattended death Whether death occurred under expected medical care; affects who is called.
- body donation Whole-body gift to medical education.
- burial permit Authorization required before disposition.
- comfort kit Home medication kit for hospice symptom crises.
- coroner case Death requiring coroner review, typically unexpected or unattended.
- death certificate Legal record needed for every estate task; order extra copies.
- death rattle Noisy breathing near death; usually not distressing to the patient.
- direct cremation Cremation without services; lowest-cost option.
- estate settlement Winding up assets, debts, and accounts after death.
- funeral rule FTC rule requiring itemized funeral pricing.
- general price list (GPL) Itemized funeral price sheet you may request.
- green burial Burial without embalming in natural grounds.
- grief counseling Professional bereavement support; hospice provides 13 months.
- hospice election Signed choice of hospice replacing curative Medicare coverage.
- hospice revocation Patient's written choice to leave hospice.
- letters testamentary Court document empowering an executor.
- obituary fraud watch Scammers target the recently bereaved; freeze credit early.
- pre-need contract Prepaid funeral arrangement.
- pronouncement Official determination of death.
- six-month prognosis Physician certification required for hospice.
Agency & facility operations (B2B)
61 terms- accreditation Private survey (ACHC, CHAP, Joint Commission) verifying standards.
- ADR (additional documentation request) Payer request to justify billed claims.
- Anti-Kickback Statute Federal law barring payment for Medicare/Medicaid referrals.
- assignment of benefits (AOB) Client authorization to bill their insurer directly.
- bereavement services Hospice-required family grief support after death.
- bill rate Hourly price charged to clients.
- burden rate Employer costs (taxes, insurance, benefits) added to wages.
- business associate agreement (BAA) HIPAA contract with vendors handling health data.
- CAHPS Standardized patient-experience surveys affecting ratings.
- case mix Acuity blend of patients driving payment.
- CCPA/CPRACA California consumer-privacy laws governing client data.
- census Current patient or resident count.
- certification period Defined episode requiring physician recertification.
- change of ownership (CHOW) Regulated transfer of a licensed provider.
- CMIACA California's medical-privacy law.
- CMS-855A Medicare enrollment application for institutional providers.
- Conditions of Participation (CoPs) Federal rules providers must meet to bill Medicare.
- continuous home care Hospice crisis-level nursing at home.
- cost per hire Recruiting spend per caregiver hired.
- deemed status Accreditation accepted in place of state Medicare surveys.
- emergency preparedness plan Required disaster plan for providers.
- EPLI Employment-practices liability insurance.
- face-to-face requirement Mandatory clinician visit certifying home health or hospice eligibility.
- fill rate Percentage of requested shifts staffed.
- General Inpatient (GIP) Hospice level for short-term acute symptom control.
- gross margin Revenue minus direct care costs.
- HHVBP Home Health Value-Based Purchasing - quality-adjusted payment.
- HIPAA Federal health-privacy law.
- HIS / HOPE Hospice quality data reporting requirements.
- hospice aggregate cap Annual per-patient limit on Medicare hospice payments.
- immediate jeopardy Severe citation for danger to patients; triggers fast enforcement.
- initial certification survey First inspection before Medicare billing may begin.
- interdisciplinary team (IDT/IDG) Required hospice team: doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain.
- license moratorium State pause on issuing new licenses (California hospice) [verify status].
- live discharge Patient leaving hospice alive; high rates draw scrutiny.
- LUPA Low-visit episode paid per-visit instead of full rate.
- marketing liaison Agency rep building referral relationships; compensation rules apply.
- Medicare cost report Annual financial filing certified providers must submit.
- non-owned auto coverage Insurance for caregivers driving their own cars on duty.
- NPI National Provider Identifier number.
- payer mix Revenue split among private pay, Medicaid, Medicare, VA, insurance.
- PDGM Medicare's payment model for home health episodes.
- PECOS Medicare's online enrollment system.
- plan of correction Provider's written fix for cited deficiencies.
- policies and procedures Written operating rules surveyors inspect.
- preferred provider agreement Contract making an agency a facility's go-to partner.
- private pay Clients paying out of pocket.
- professional liability insurance Coverage for care-related claims.
- QAPI Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement program requirement.
- recertification survey Periodic compliance inspection.
- referral source Professional or organization sending clients.
- safe harbor Regulatory exception protecting certain arrangements from kickback liability.
- Stark law Physician self-referral prohibition.
- statement of deficiencies (CMS-2567) Official report of survey findings.
- surety bond Bond protecting clients from employee theft.
- third-party billing Invoicing LTC insurance, VA, or trusts on clients' behalf.
- TPE / UPIC audits Medicare review programs targeting billing errors and fraud.
- turnover rate Share of caregivers leaving per year.
- unusual incident report Required report of serious events to licensing.
- utilization Scheduled hours actually worked and billed.
- workers' comp class code Rating category setting comp premiums for caregivers.
Verificar en fuentes oficiales
Las reglas del programa cambian; utilice estas referencias gubernamentales junto con las guías del centro de recursos.
Care types & settings
- Medicare — Home health services Medicare.gov
- California CDSS — Home care services California CDSS
Clinical & conditions
- NIH NIA — Alzheimer's & dementia NIH National Institute on Aging
Medicare, Medicaid & insurance
- Medicare.gov — Get started with Medicare Medicare.gov
- California DHCS — Medi-Cal California DHCS
- Medicaid.gov — Home & community-based services Medicaid.gov
California programs (CA)
- California CDSS — IHSS California CDSS
- California DHCS — Medi-Cal California DHCS
- California Department of Aging — Find services California Department of Aging
Legal & financial
- California Courts — Self-help conservatorship California Courts
Workforce & roles
- California CDSS — Home care aide registry California CDSS
Housing & facilities (consumer)
- California CDSS — RCFE overview California CDSS
- California CCL — Facility search California Community Care Licensing
End of life & after
- Medicare.gov — Hospice care Medicare.gov
- NIH NIA — Hospice and palliative care NIH National Institute on Aging