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Senior Housing: Glossary of Terms

Choosing senior housing is a big decision, and Garden State Apartments wants to make sure you make the right choice. Below we have compiled helpful information for senior renting.

Senior Reading: Housing Terms - Health Care Terms

What are some of the common terms used in Senior Housing?

ADULT FOSTER CARE:
Adult foster care homes are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to serve up to five residents, if all residents are 60 years or older. Included in this category are corporate adult foster care settings run by paid staff 24 hours a day.

ASSISTED LIVING:
Assisted living is a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services and health care designed to respond to the individual needs of those who need help with activities of daily living, but do not need the skilled medical care provided in a nursing home.

Assisted living care promotes maximum independence and dignity for each resident and encourages the involvement of a resident's family, neighbors and friends. Assisted living primarily is a private pay alternative to nursing homes offered in a residential styled facility.

BOARD AND LODGING:
Board and lodging establishments are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health (or by a local health department) to provide board and room to residents.

CONDOMINIUM:
Condominiums offer ownership housing in an apartment-style building or townhouse-style complex. Condo residents hold title to their own living unit and share ownership of the common areas with other owners in the development.

COOPERATIVE:
This is another form of ownership in a multi-family building or complex. The development is owned by a corporation on behalf of the occupants, who buy shares in the corporation in exchange for the right to occupy a specific living unit.

CCRC (CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY):
Commonly referred to as a "life-care" community offering various living arrangements that also guarantee lifetime care to the buyer. Campus usually includes a combination of different housing options such as: Independent Senior Housing, Assisted Living and Long Term Care. Usually requires an "entrance" fee plus a monthly service fee. Package includes selected housing and service options according to residents needs.

CONGREGATE HOUSING:
Generally refers to multiple-unit (apartment) housing for seniors that offer optional services (housekeeping, meals, social activities). Generally is market rate rental but may be subsidized.

FEDERALLY-SUBSIDIZED RENTAL:
Included in this category are privately-owned rental rental buildings that serve qualified lower-income households. These projects have been developed under federal programs such as Section 202, Section 236, Section 8 new construction, and Farmers Home Administration 515.

INDEPENDENT SENIOR HOUSING:
A generic term that refers to any living options (apartments, condominiums) that promote an independent lifestyle.

LOW/MODERATE RENTAL:
This category of housing includes rental projects that serve low- or moderate-income elderly but do not have any direct federal rent subsidies. Such projects may have been developed through tax increment funding or some other local subsidy, or through federal tax credits.

MARKET RATE RENTAL:
This type of rental housing has no government subsidy; thus, the rent levels are determined by the real estate market.

MARKET RATE WITH ASSISTED LIVING:
The market rate buildings in this category offer an assisted living program of services, which are provided by a licensed home care provider, to frail residents in their building.

PUBLIC HOUSING:
Public housing projects are owned by the local public housing agencies (PHAs) or housing and redevelopment authorities (HRAs) and offer federally-subsidized rents to qualified lower-income households.

SNF (SKILLED NURSING FACILITY):
Refers to a facility that is licensed by the state and federal government and usually participates in Medicaid/Medicare funding.

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What are some common Health Care terms I should know?

COMMUNITY BASE SERVICES:
Services offered to enable seniors live as independently as possible to reduce their need for nursing home care (e.g., home health care, Meals on Wheels, adult day care).

HOME HEALTH CARE:
Short-term and intermittent health care and support services provided in a residential setting. Some expenses covered by Medicare.

MEDICAID:
A State directed program that pays nursing home costs for qualifying residents whose private resources have been exhausted.

MEDICARE:
The Federal health insurance program for seniors that covers a portion of qualifying hospital, physician and limited nursing home costs.

LTC (LONG-TERM CARE):
The "generic" term that generally refers to nursing homes. Fees vary according to residents mental/physical health status.

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