AAA – Area Agency on Aging

AARP – American Association of Retired Persons

Abuse – Abuse applies to injurious or improper treatment. Abuse can be of a physical, mental, or emotional nature.

Activities of Daily Living – This is a term that refers to those things that people do every day to take care of themselves, such as bathing, eating, dressing, and using the bathroom

ADC – Adult Day Care

ADHC – Adult Day Health Care

ADI – Alzheimers Disease Initiative

ADL – Activities of Daily Living

ADNet – Adult Day Services Network

ADRC – Aging and Disability Resource Center

Advance Directive – Legal documents that let others know your end-of-life wishes in relationship to your future medical treatment

Advance Directive – Legal documents that let others know your end-of-life wishes in relationship to your future medical treatment

AFCH – Adult Family Care Home

Affordable Housing – dwellings consisting of rental units or forsale units. Both shall be economically within the means of the equivalent of the starting salary of a local elementary school teacher.

Age Discrimination Act – The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination based on age. The ADEA’s protections apply to both employees and job applicants. Under the ADEA, it is unlawful to discriminate against a person because of his/her age with respect to any term, condition, or privilege of employment, including hiring, firing, promotion, layoff, compensations, benefits, job assignments, and training.

Aging in Place – Aging in Place is the concept that supports the aging process in a residential environment. The goal is to maintain independence with dignity in a safe and comfortable environment.

AHCA – Agency for Health Care Administration

ALF – Assisted Living Facility

ALW – Assisted Living for the Elderly Medicaid Waiver

Ancillary Unit – an apartment not greater than 600 square feet sharing ownership and utility connections with a Principal Building. An Ancillary Unit may or may not be within an outbuilding. Ancillary Units do not count toward maximum density calculations (see Tables 16 and 12).

ANDI – Aging Network Development Institute

ANE – Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation

Anxiety Disorders – Illnesses associated with feeling frightened or distressed for no apparent reason. Anxiety disorders include Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Social Phobias, and General Anxiety Disorder.

Apartment – a dwelling unit sharing a building and a lot with other dwellings and/or uses. Apartments may be for rent or for sale as condominiums.

APS – Adult Protective Services

ARC – Aging Resource Center

Assisted Living – This is a term that refers to the housing arrangement for people who need assistance in taking care of themselves. Assisted living includes arrangements such as a continuing care retirement community, an assisted living community, a group home setting, or in one’s own home utilizing in-home assistance with personal care, cooking, and/or assistance with housekeeping, etc.

BCOA – Brevard County Commission on Aging

Burnout – Physical, emotional, and/or mental exhaustion.

Caregiver – A caregiver is a person who is responsible for attending to the daily needs of another person. The care recipient may be a family member, life partner, or friend.

CARES – Comprehensive Assessment and Review of Long Term Care Services

CCDA – Community Care for Disabled Adults

CCE – Community Care for the Elderly

CCRC – Continuing Care Retirement Community

CHIC – Community Health Improvement Council

CIRTS – Client Information Registration & Tracking System

CIS – Client Information System

CM – Case Management

CMS – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly HCFA)

CNA – Certified Nursing Assistant

Congregate Meal Site – Sites (or centers) where seniors can go to eat lunch with one another

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) – This is a large complex that provides a continuum of care, from apartments to assisted living units to skilled nursing care. CCRC’s typically require a long-term contract and can provide a range of services that meet the elder’s changing needs.

COW – Community Outreach and Wellness Program

CPSS – Community Partnership for Senior Services

Cross Contamination – The passing of bacteria, microorganisms, or other harmful substances indirectly from one surface to another

CSC – Community Service Center

CSN/211 – Community Service Network/Senior Helpline

CSS – Community Service System

DCF – Department of Children & Family Services (formerly HRS)

Density – the number of dwelling units within a standard measure of land area, usually given as units per acre.

Depression – Persistent sad mood. Sufferers feel hopeless and/or helpless. It may be associated with physical ailments and/or from other losses.

Dietary Guidelines – Dietary Guidelines describe the nutritional components of a healthy diet. The USDA Dietary Guidelines emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and a diet low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

DOEA – Department of Elder Affairs

DPOA – Adult Services District Office

DriveABLE – Driving Assessment System utilized by Senior Resource Alliance

DriveWell – National Speaker’s Bureau on Older Driver Issues

Durable Power of Attorney – This is a document (prepared in advance) that outlines what powers you give to another person to act on your behalf when you are unable to do so. You can use durable power of attorney for financial as well as health care matters.

Durable Power of Attorney – This is a document (prepared in advance) that outlines what powers you give to another person to act on your behalf when you are unable to do so. You can use durable power of attorney for financial as well as health care matters.

ECC – Extended Congregate Care

EEOC – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

EHEAP – Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program

Elder Transportation Council – Elder Transportation Council was created in 2005. It aims to prevent physical and mental health declines when older adults can no longer safely drive. Dedicated to the concept of Safe Mobility for Life, the Council aims to create and enhance mobility options through advocacy, collaboration, education and identification of resources.

F4A – Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging

FAAN – Florida Association of Aging networks

FADCA – Florida Adult Day Care Association

FAHA – Florida Association of Homes for the Aged

FALA – Florida Assisted Living Association

FAMI – Florida Alliance for Mentally Ill, Inc.

FASC – Florida Association of Senior Citizens

FASP – Florida Association of Service Providers

FCOA – Florida Council on Aging

FFS – Fee for Service

FHCA – Florida Health Care Association

FLAG – Florida Local Action Group

Foodborne Illness – Commonly known as food poisoning, foodborne illness is caused by eating food that is contaminated by bacteria or other harmful substances. A foodborne illness can cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or fever.

FPECA – Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging

Fraud – Theft through deceitful means.

FSSRC – Florida Senior Safety Resource Centers

Full-time Care – This is a term that refers to the housing arrangement for people who need full-time assistance in taking care of themselves. Full-time care arrangements include homes with 24-hour nursing services (often called skilled nursing facilities) or care in one’s own home with a 24-hour caregiver.

General Anxiety Disorder – Chronically worrying about everday events without the ability to turn off the worry

GR – General Revenue

GRTS – Geriatric Residential Treatment Systems

H&W – Health and Wellness

HCBS – Home and Community Based Services

HCE – Home Care for the Elderly

HCFA – Health Care Finance Administration – Now CMS – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

HCI – Healthy Community Initiative

Health Care Surrogate – A health care surrogate serves as the decision-maker about health issues if you are not able to do so. You can limit the amount of authority that you give the person. Surrogate must be named in writing.

Health Care Surrogate – A health care surrogate serves as the decision-maker about health issues if you are not able to do so. You can limit the amount of authority that you give the person. Surrogate must be named in writing.

HHS – U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Home Care Services – A variety of services, typically for a fee, that are brought into the home of the older adult and may include such assistants as: home health aides, in-home physical or occupational therapists, nutritionists, and/or nurses.

Home Delivered Meal – Meals delivered to the home; most often associated with a nonprofit agency, e.g., Meals on Wheels

Hospice – A program model for delivering palliative care to individuals who are in the final stages of terminal illness

HUD – Department of Housing and Urban Development

I&R – Information & Referral

ICP – Institutional Care Program

Independent Living – This is a term that refers to the housing arrangement for people who need little or no assistance in taking care of themselves. Independent living includes all types of options such as apartments, town homes, and single-family homes. Independent Living residents includes those people who have remained in their homes as they have gotten older, as well as retirement communities, 55+ communities, “active” adult communities, etc.

Independent Transportation Network (ITN) ® – ITN® is a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to helping seniors (65 and older) and people with visual impairments with their transportation needs. Using private automobiles and both volunteer and paid drivers, the ITN transports these community members 24 hours a day, seven days a week anywhere within an ITN service area.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living – These activities are less related to personal needs and refers to those routine activities that people do every day such as paying bills, grocery shopping, cooking meals, cleaning the house, etc.

Internet – An interconnected system of networks that connects computers around the world.

IRIS – Information & Referral Information System

ITN – Independent Transportation Network

ITNOrlando® Pilot Replication Project – Central Florida is joining a select group of communities in replicating and pilot testing the Independent Transportation Network (ITN) as part of the ITNAmerica® national rollout. Service is expected to begin in 2006.

JEP – Jobs & Education Partnership

JTPA – Job Training Partnership Act

KPMG – Accounting and Management Consulting Firm

LAN – Local Area Network

Legal Aide Programs – Legal Aide Programs provide free quality legal advocacy to economically disadvantaged persons in order to improve their quality of life and to enhance their self-sufficiency.

Living Will – An document (prepared in advance) that lets people know what medical care you would want or not want to receive if you are seriously ill and cannot communicate. The purpose of a living will is to guide family members and doctors in deciding how aggressively to use medical treatments to delay death.

Living Will – An document (prepared in advance) that lets people know what medical care you would want or not want to receive if you are seriously ill and cannot communicate. The purpose of a living will is to guide family members and doctors in deciding how aggressively to use medical treatments to delay death.

Long-Term Care Insurance – Private insurance that a person can purchase to cover or defray the cost of long-term care in a skilled nursing facility or at home. Specific terms of policies vary greatly.

LTCDPP – Long Term Care Diversion Pilot Program

LTCOC – Long Term Care Ombudsman Council

Managed-Care Plan – As one option of choice under Medicare, Managed-Care plans combine health insurance and health care in one pre-determined, comprehensive network of health care providers.

Medicaid – A program of federal and state governments in which states provide health care for low-income individuals of any age who have little or no assets. The federal government establishes general rules, but each state administers its own Medicaid program.

Medicare – A program of the federal government that provides health care coverage for people over 65 and some people with disabilities.

Medigap – This is a popular term for private insurance that individuals can buy to supplement the gaps in Medicare coverage.

MIS – Management Information System

MMC – Mobile Medical Clinic

MW – Medicaid Waiver

N4A – National Association of Area Agencies on Aging

NASW – National Association of Social Workers

NCOA – National Council on Aging

Neglect – To pay little or no attention to, to disregard, or to fail to care for properly.

OAA – Older Americans Act

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder – Repeated thinking of unwanted thoughts or engaging in repeated behaviors

OPPAGA – Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

OSS – Optional State Supplementation

Palliative Care – Treatments that focus on comfort rather than cure

Panic Disorder – Suddenly feeling extremely fearful without apparent reason. Patients may experience chest pain or palpitations during a panic attack.

PDAA – Aging and Adult Services Program Office

PIC – Private Industry Council

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder – Nightmares and flashbacks related to experiences during natural disasters, wars, physical injury, or or other disturbing events

Primary Care Physician – A family practice doctor or internist who provides primary care to the individual and who can, when needed, refer the individual to a medical specialist.

PSA – Planning and Service Area

Respite – Respite is a short period of rest or relief. It might be an afternoon, a day, or even a week off from caregiving responsibilities. Respite may be delivered in thecaregiver’s home or at a facility. Examples include adult dayservices or out-of-home respite programs, some of which areoffered by nursing homes for a fee.

RFP – Request for Proposal

RSVP – Retired Senior Volunteer Program

Sage-ing – A term coined by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Professor Emeritus at Temple University, refers to a reflective process. It includes embracing life and making friends with one’s past and future. Sages live consciously and learn to know themselves.

Senior Center – A Senior Center is a gathering place that offers a variety of leisure activities for older adults. Some are open from early morning until late evening. Many are open on the weekends.

Setback – the area of a lot measured from the lot line to a building facade or elevation. This area must be maintained clear of permanent structures with the exception of: galleries, fences, garden walls, arcades, porches, stoops, balconies, bay windows, terraces and decks (that align with the first story level) which are permitted to encroach into the Setback.

SHINE – Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders

Social Phobias – Avoiding objects or situations due to an irrational fear

Special Needs Individuals – Special needs Individuals are those with health or medical conditions who need assistance during a disaster.

SRA – Senior Resource Alliance

SSI – Supplemental Security Income

STCM – Short-Term Case Management

TTY/TDD – Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf

Universal Design – Universal design is a design strategy that supports the aging process in a residential environment that has been designed and arranged for the goal of independence, safety, and comfort.

Variance – an administrative technique granting relief from the provisions of a code.