Home › Glossary

Glossary of terms

Care and benefits come with a lot of jargon. Here are the words you'll run into most, in plain English.

ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)

The basics of caring for yourself: bathing, dressing, using the toilet, getting from a bed to a chair, and eating. Needing help with ADLs is often what triggers care.

IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living)

The tasks of running a household: cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, driving, and managing money and medications.

Aging in place

Staying in your own home as you get older, with help and home changes as needed, instead of moving to a facility.

Medicare

The federal health insurance program for people 65+ (and some younger people with disabilities). Part A covers hospital stays, Part B covers doctors and outpatient care, Part C is Medicare Advantage (private all-in-one plans), and Part D covers prescription drugs.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

A private plan that bundles your Medicare coverage, often with extras like dental or a meal benefit. Rules, costs, and networks vary by plan.

Medigap (Medicare Supplement)

Private insurance that helps pay the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves to you, like deductibles and coinsurance.

Medicaid

A joint federal-state program that helps pay for health care and long-term care for people with limited income and assets. In Florida it covers most long-term care at home or in a nursing home for those who qualify.

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)

Monthly Social Security payments for people who can't work due to disability and who have enough work history.

SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

Monthly payments for people who are disabled, blind, or 65+ and have very low income and few resources. Based on need, not work history.

Older Americans Act (OAA)

The federal law behind many senior services, meals, in-home help, respite, and more, for people 60 and older, with no income test.

Elder Helpline

A free phone line that screens you and connects you to local senior and disability services. Citrus & Hernando 1-800-262-2243; Pasco 1-800-963-5337.

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) / Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)

The regional offices that run senior and disability services and answer the Elder Helpline. Citrus and Hernando are served by Elder Options; Pasco by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas.

SHINE

"Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders", Florida's free, unbiased Medicare counseling program. Counselors don't sell anything.

PERS / medical alert

A Personal Emergency Response System: a help button you wear that reaches a 24/7 monitoring center or calls family.

Fall detection

A feature on some medical alerts and smartwatches that senses a hard fall and calls for help on its own. Helpful, but not 100% reliable.

Homebound

Medicare's term for someone who has real trouble leaving home without help. It's a requirement for Medicare to cover home health care.

Home health vs. home care

Home health is skilled medical care (nursing, therapy) a doctor orders. Home care (or "personal care") is non-medical help with bathing, dressing, meals, and daily tasks.

Skilled care vs. custodial care

Skilled care is done by a licensed nurse or therapist. Custodial (personal) care is everyday help with daily living. Medicare covers skilled care in many cases, but not ongoing custodial care alone.

Respite care

Short-term care that gives a family caregiver a break, a few hours, a day, or a short stay.

Congregate meals

A hot meal served in a group at a senior or community center, for residents 60 and older.

Transportation Disadvantaged / paratransit

Public ride programs for people who can't drive because of age, disability, or income. Paratransit is door-to-door van service you book ahead.

Probate

The court process for settling a person's estate after they die: gathering assets, paying debts, and passing on what's left.

Personal representative

Florida's word for the executor, the person a court appoints to handle an estate in probate.

Homestead exemption

A Florida property-tax break on your permanent main home, up to $50,000 off the taxable value, plus a cap on how much your assessment can rise each year ("Save Our Homes").