ADRC Glossary

Alzheimers' Association. Non-profit organization promoting support and research regarding Alzheimer's disease.

Area Agency on Aging. Local agencies that provide information and assistance regarding services for seniors.

Aged, Blind, Disabled. Term used by Department of Human Services as a criteria for eligibility of services and/or benefits. "Aged" is 65 years or older

Adult and Community Care Services Branch. Section of Department of Human Services that provides services to dependent adults.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Adult Day Care. Facility that provides meals, activities and social stimulation in a supervised environment.

Adult Day Health Care. Programs for those who require a higher level of care than Adult Day Care facilities would provide. This could include health assessments, administration of medication, or care coordination. There may also be specialized care such as programs for dementia patients. Staff includes Registered Nurses who are qualified to dispense medication and provide skilled nursing level care.

Activities of Daily Living. Basic, self-care tasks individuals perform on a daily basis, including bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, and using the toilet. Used as a measurement of a person's ability to stay independent.

Aging and Disability Resource Center. Initiative created by the federal government to assist states and counties in streamlining access to long term care information and services for seniors, persons with disabilities and caregivers.

The Adult Foster Care Program provides placement and case management services to eligible clients in licensed Adult Residential Care Homes. To receive adult foster care services, an individual must be eligible for Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, or financial assistance from the Department of Human Services.

Section of Department of Human Services - Adult and Community Care Services Branch, that provides Adult Protective Services, Residential Alternatives to Community Care Program, Nursing Home Without Walls, and Adult Day Care licensing

Formerly known as "Living Will." These documents let your family and physician know what kind of treatment you want in the event you cannot speak for yourself. You can designate someone to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. You can get these forms from most hospitals, healthcare organizations, many attorney's offices or from University of Hawaiʻi Elder Law Program.

Concept that allows a person to continue living at home even if their need for assistance increases. Universal design, in-home assistance, and assistive technologies are some ways Aging in Place can be achieved.

Assisted Living Facility or Retirement Residences. Senior residences that provide amenities such as meals, housekeeping, and on call medical assistance. Refer to the Senior Information & Assistance Handbook for listings on Oʻahu.

Administration on Aging. Federal agency that administers programs for seniors.

Adult Protective Services. Agency that provides services for abused or neglected dependent adults.

Adult Residential Care Home. Homes licensed by the Department of Health to provide custodial care. Most are licensed for up to 5 clients. There are over 400 on Oʻahu alone.

Transportation that includes assistance between the vehicle and the door and in some cases escort service.

Transportation that is limited to picking up and dropping off at the curb.

Transportation that includes assistance between the vehicle and the door.

Simple assistance provided to a frail elder that may include companionship, assistance with transferring, meal preparation, etc.

Body Mass Index. System of determining healthy weight by height.

Related Links
Calculate your BMI

Care from non-profit organizations, independent providers, and private and government agencies.

Care from relatives, friends, and neighbors.

Assistance either in the form of access or care coordination in circumstances where the older person is experiencing diminished functioning capacities, personal conditions or other characteristics which require the provision of services by formal service providers or family caregivers. Activities of case management include such practices as assessing needs, developing care plans, authorizing and coordinating services among providers and providing follow-up and reassessment, as required.

Catholic Charities Hawai'i. Non profit organization that provides several services for seniors.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Child and Family Services. Parent Organization of Honolulu Gerontology.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Certified Nurses Assistant. Healthcare worker that has been trained in a course to provide personal care, transferring, etc.

Dining sites for seniors to gather, socialize and eat nutritious meals.

Community Service Aide. Outreach workers of the Elderly Affairs Division. CSAs go door to door in communities to identify and educate isolated and/or frail elders about services.

Department of Community Services (City & County)

Developmentally Disabled/Mentally Retarded

Impairment or loss of mental capacity from a condition such as vascular or Alzheimer's disease.

Department of Health & Human Services (Federal)

Department of Human Services (State)

When a patient is deemed to no longer need the services of a hospital, a discharge planner will arrange a plan of care for the patient. This plan could include wound care, rehabilitation, physical therapy, personal care, etc. Services can be provided by professionals or the patient's family. It is crucial that the family understands their role after discharge or they may be overwhelmed. Make sure to bring up concerns with the Discharge Planner no matter how insignificant you may think it is.

Do Not Resuscitate and Comfort Care orders give instructions to health care personnel to provide comfort care only. DNR's are typically used for patients who have a terminal illness where resuscitating would cause additional pain or suffering. Patient must give forms to doctor and hospital and wear a DNR bracelet.

Related Links
Download forms

Department of Health (State)

Department of Parks & Recreation (City & County). Department that provides a wide range of recreational opportunities, including clubs for seniors 55 years and older.

Related Links
City & County DPR

Department of Transportation Services (City & County). Agency that runs and operates theBus and theHandivan.

Related Links
theBus

Elderly Affairs Division (City & County)

Also known as Medical Alert, Personal Response, Medical Response, etc. Electronic devices that are attached to a home phone that will call a designated number or call center when a wireless unit (that is worn on the person) is activated.

A service that is associated with death, including preparing for or responding to a death. This includes advance directives, wills, trusts, Comfort Care Only/Do Not Resuscitate orders, funeral plans, life insurance, bereavement counseling, hospice, organ donation, etc.

Executive Office on Aging (State)

Someone who accompanies and personally assists a person with a service.

Fee-for-Service. A service that charges a fee.

Family and Medical Leave Act

Fiscal Year

Hawai'i Alliance for Retired Americans

Honolulu Community Action Program. Non-profit agency that provides several services and programs including Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Older American Community Service Employment Program.

Related Links
Honolulu Community Action Plan website

Home and Community Based Services. Services provided as an alternative to institutional care. This may include Adult Residential Care Homes or programs such as Kupuna Care or Nursing Home Without Walls.

Hawai'i Center for Independent Living (Non-profit). Agency that provides support for persons with disabilities.

Hawai'i County Office of Aging (Big Island AAA)

Honolulu Committee on Aging (City and County)

Hawai'i Family Services

Honolulu Gerontology Program

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

Health Maintenance Organization

Hawai'i Meals on Wheels

Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association

Agency licensed by DOH Office of Health Care Assurance that provides in-home care ranging from companion care up to skilled nursing care. Medical services ordered by the doctor may be covered under Medicare. All other services such as companion care or personal care would be paid out of pocket, usually on an hourly basis.

Hawai'i Pacific Gerontological Society

Department of Housing and Urban Development (Federal)

Information and Assistance/Referral

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

Intermediate Care Facility. Care facility that provides intermittent Skilled Nursing Care.

Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded

Internal Revenue Service (Federal)

Kaua'i Agency on Elderly Affairs (Kaua'i County AAA)

Kupuna Care. Hawai'i State program that provides in home services to frail elders.

Curb-to-curb shuttle van transportation that includes door-to-door assistance

Kaua'i Economic Opportunity, Inc.

Kōkua Kalihi Valley

Lanakila Meals on Wheels

Lanakila Multipurpose Senior Center

Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Social Worker

Long Term Care

Licensed Vocational Nurse

System of streamlining medical care opposite of FFS systems. Managed care is meant to reduce costs and improving the quality of care of patients.

Mo'ili'ili Community Center. Parent organization of MSC.

Maui County Office on Aging (Maui AAA)

Doctor of Medicine

Meals on Wheels. Program that delivers nutritious meals planned by a dietician to homebound elders. On Oʻahu providers include Lanakila Meals on Wheels, Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels, and several other private pay providers.

Med-QUEST Division. State agency under Department of Human Services that administers the Medicaid and QUEST programs.

Mental Retardation and Other Developmental Disability

Mo'ili'ili Senior Center. Aging network service provider for the City & County of Honolulu. 

Masters of Social Work

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging

National Association of State Units on Aging

National Center on Elder Abuse

National Council on Aging

National Family Caregiver Support Program. Federal program that provides support for Family Caregivers.

Nursing Homes Without Walls. Medicaid waiver program that provides in-home care to Nursing Home eligible clients.

National Institutes of Health

Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. A community with an unplanned, high percentage of elders.

Nurse Practitioner

See CAN, LPN, RN, NP, LVN

Older Americans Act of 1965

Older American Community Service Employment Program (formerly the Senior Community Service Employment Program). Program that provides training and job placement for seniors with limited income.

Occupational Therapy

Physician’s Assistant

Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs (State)

Personal Care Services

Public Health Nurse

Inter-faith volunteer organization that provides services for frail seniors and their caregivers.

Physical Therapy

QUEST Expanded Access.  A program developed by the Hawai'i State Department of Human Services (DHS) for Medicaid Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) members, who formerly received services through a fee-for-service (FFS) system. The design of QExA is for members to receive service coordination, outreach, improved access and enhanced quality healthcare services coordinated by health plans through a managed care delivery system. In QExA, ABD members, with a few exceptions, will receive their primary, acute, and long-term care services through a managed health care plan. The long-term care services offered will include both home and community-based services (HCBS) as well as institutional care (nursing facilities). The two QExA health plans are Evercare and Ohana Health Plan.

A program administered by the Hawai'i State Department of Human Services that provides medical and mental health services to low income persons. Dental Services are provided under the Medicaid Fee-For-Service Program.

Residential Alternatives Community Care Program. Serves eligible adults who are in need of a residence as well as assistance with their care needs. Individuals may be served in an Assisted Living Facility or in a RACC family home that provides personnel case, [homemaking] homemaker services, transportation as needed, and other services. Individuals may also receive private duty nursing services, respite care and/or adult day health services as part of their service plan. To receive services, a person must be eligible for Medicaid, require nursing facility level of care, and also meet other program related requirements.

Registered Nurse

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program

Prescription Drug

In Hawaiʻi, Senior Centers mostly provide recreational activities only. Other services, such as social services for seniors are handled by other agencies.

Government subsidized rental units for independent seniors 62 years and older. In Honolulu, waiting lists for these units can be quite long.

State Health Insurance Program. Medicare and health insurance counseling program. In Hawai'i the program is called Sage Plus.

Senior Medicare Patrol. Formally SageWatch. A volunteer-based program sponsored by the EOA to prevent Medicare fraud. If you suspect fraud or errors when reviewing your Medicare statement, please contact SMP Hawai'i at 586-7281 on O'ahu and toll-free at 1-800-296-9422 from the neighbor islands.

Skilled Nursing Facility

State Pharmacy Assistance Program. DHS program that provides support to very low income persons with prescription drugs.

Social Security Administration or Social Security Act

Supplemental Security Income

Kupuna Care provider for Personal Care services on Oʻahu.

State Unit on Aging

University of Hawaiʻi Elder Law Program

Design concept that accommodates the needs of people of varying abilities. Examples are walk-in bathtubs and walkpaths that were designed for reducing trips and falls.