R-S Respite Care: The provision of short-term relief (respite) to families caring for their frail elders. It offers tremendous potential to maintain dependent persons in the least restrictive environment. Respite services encompass traditional home-based care, as well as adult day health, skilled nursing, home health aide, and short-term institutional care. Respite can vary in time from part of a day to several weeks. Reverse Mortgage: A loan available to seniors used to release the home equity in the property as one lump sum or multiple payments. The homeowner’s obligation to repay the loan is deferred until the owner dies, the home is sold, or the owner leaves (e.g. goes into a nursing home). However, the homeowner must continue to pay taxes and utilities. Senior Centers: A vital link in the service delivery network for use by seniors, senior centers may function as meal sites, screening clinics, recreational centers, social service agency branch offices, mental health counseling clinics, older worker employment agencies, volunteer coordinating centers, and community meeting halls. The significance of senior centers cannot be underestimated for they provide a sense of belonging, offer the opportunity to see old acquaintances, make new friends, and encourage individuals to pursue activities of personal interest and involvement in the community. Social Security: A federal social insurance program established in 1935 that includes a retirement income program, disability, and survivor Supplemental Security Income benefits, and health insurance through the Medicare program. Spend Down: A Medicaid financial eligibility requirement that requires beneficiaries to spend down their income/or assets by paying for health care with their own assets or income until they reach the income-eligibility level. Support Groups: Groups of people who share a common bond (e.g. caregivers) and come together on a regular basis to share problems and experiences. The groups may be sponsored by social service agencies, senior centers, and religious organizations. State Units on Aging (SUAs) : The Older Americans Act mandates that each state have a state agency on aging which is part of state government. The State Agency on Aging is the designated focal point within the state government responsible for administering a complex service system designed to complement and support other human service systems in meeting the needs of the elderly. Senior Glossary
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Frequently Used Aging Terms
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