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Housing Types and Definitions
Different types of housing are available to older adults - some provide services on site, some do not. Three basic types of services may be provided by these facilities:
- Hotel Services such as housekeeping, laundry services, congregate meals, and transportation.
- Personal Care Services assist with "activities of daily living" (bathing, dressing, using the toilet, transferring in and out of a bed or chair, eating, walking) as well as with self-administration of medications and preparation of special diets.
- Skilled Nursing Care indicates a "higher level" of care (such as injections, catheterizations, and dressing changes) which must be provided by trained medical professionals, including nurses and therapists.
Council on Aging maintains a searchable database of local housing options for seniors. Click here to search this database.
It may also be possible for the individual to receive care and services in their own home. Click here to learn more about in-home care.
Click here for information on skilled care (nursing homes).
Housing Types, Common Terms and Definitions
Assisted Living Facilities: Assisted living facilities are for those who want help with some activities but don't need extensive, hands-on care. Residents can get just the right amount of care to help them maintain an independent lifestyle in a residential home-like setting (residents have private units with a minimum of a bedroom, bath and kitchenette). Generally, residents can get help with daily living activities such as housekeeping, dressing, and bathing. Assisted living facilities are licensed by the state but typically do not offer advanced medical or nursing care. Amenities will vary by facility. Some assisted living facilities may be part of a larger Continuing Care Retirement Community (see "Other" definitions) or licensed as a Residential Care Facility (see definition below).
Click here for information about Council on Aging's Assisted Living Waiver Program.
Congregate Housing: Congregate communities are multi-unit senior housing developments that offer independentliving in private apartments (private bath and kitchen), with few or no supportive services. Common areas may provide opportunities for social activities (games,movies,meals). Rental or ownership unitsmay be available. Some units/facilities may be subsidized (low-income, affordable housing; see definition below). Nursing Home: A licensed facility that provides 24-hour care for patients who require constant supervision and care. Patients generally rely on assistance for most or all daily living activities (such as bathing, dressing and toileting). Nursing home services may include meals, skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, medical services, personal care, and recreation. Medicare and/or Medicaid are usually accepted. Nursing homes may be stand alone facilities or they may be part of a Continuing Care Retirement community.
Residential Care Facility (formerly known as a Rest Home): A facility licensed by the Ohio Department of Health to provide accommodations for 17 or more unrelated adults. A residential care facility can be a separate facility or part of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (see "Other" definitions). Residential care facilities offer more care and supervision than an assisted living facility, but not as much as a nursing home. These facilities can provide personal care, supervision of special diets, and can also distribute medications.
Retirement Communities: These communities are typically large, self-contained campuses with a variety of living options. Unlike a Continuing Care Retirement Community (see "Other" definitions), traditional Retirement Communities typically do not offer personal or skilled (nursing) care. Instead, they are an attractive option for retired, more active older adults who want to live independently in a community with their peers, own or lease a home, and not worry about lawn or property maintenance. Unlike a CCRC, traditional Retirement Communities are not licensed or accredited (unless personal or skilled care is offered).
Senior Apartments: Apartments or complexes designated for seniors only, may have age- restrictions and some apartments may offer equipped or assistive technology. Subsidized (low-income, affordable housing; see definition below) units may be available.
Subsidized Housing (low-income, affordable housing): Through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the government gives funds directly to apartment owners, who lower the rents they charge low income tenants. Tenants who meet income limits established by HUD pay rent based on the amount of their gross monthly income, rather than the market rate. Rent is typically set at no more than 30% of a household`s total gross monthly income, but may be subject to a minimum rent based on the number of people living in the rental unit. You may search Council on Aging's Housing Database for subsidized senior housing by first selecting the type of housing you are interested in and then clicking the Subsidized Housing check box. Subsidized housing may include senior apartments, retirement communities, congregate housing and more. You can get a more complete list of senior subsidized housing units by visiting HUD's Web site. There you can search by county, community or zip code.
Other Housing Definitions:
ECHO Housing (ECHO): Elder Cottage Housing Opportunities, also called Accessory Units or Granny Flats, are small, separate housing units than can be purchased or leased and installed in the backyard of an existing single-family home. In this way, seniors can maintain their independence in a private residence, but still be near their adult children, grandchildren or another caregiver who lives in the property's single-family home. ECHO units must be approved by the jurisdiction where the single family lot is located.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities: Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) are sometimes called "life care" communities because they are designed to offer life-long living options.Many CCRCs have large campuses that include separate housing options for those who live very independently, assisted living facilities that offer more support, and nursing homes for those needing skilled nursing care. Residents move through the different housing options on campus as their needs change. CCRCs are typically expensive, but offer a contract that promises to provide shelter and care for a prescribed period of time, usually the life of the resident. Facilities on CCRC campuses that offer personal or skilled care are licensed.
CARF International
Washington DC 20036
Description:
Helps consumers identify high-quality providers. Provides information and a listing of CCRC standards and communities.
HUD Glossary of Terms and Other Housing Definitions
Description:
HUD Glossary of Terms and Other Housing Definitions
Aging in Place: A term used to describe elderly residents who have lived in their homes or apartments for years who often require more supportive services than when they moved in.
AAHSA: The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging: the national association for non profit aging service providers. AAHSA currently represents over 5,000 not for profit facilities providing elderly housing and other living arrangements for the elderly. Seventy-five percent of AAHSA member facilities are affiliated with religious organizations. Most of the AAHSA'ss not for profit sponsors of elderly housing are involved in various federal housing programs.
ADA: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says no individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations of any place of public accommodation.
Assisted Housing: Refers to a stock of privately owned and/or operated housing projects. Most assisted housing for the elderly falls under the following programs: Section 202, Section221 (d) 3, Section236, Section 231 or Section 232
The term Assisted refers to the portfolio of HUD facilities having either FHA-mortgage insurance, or a federal mortgage interest subsidy helps to keep rents affordable to low-or very-low income persons, The projects receive project-based rental assistance.
Assisted Living Conversion Program: Refers to Section 202 owners interested in converting facilities or portions of facilities (no less than 5 units) to licensed assisted living. The grant would cover facility modification and upgrades, including the creation of an office, common areas and/or dining/kitchen facilities needed to operate the program, but the services component must be paid for by other (non-HUD) funds.
At-Risk Elderly Person: In accordance with HUD regulations this is an individual 62 years of age or older who is unable to perform one or two ADLs.
Capital Advance: Created in 1990 a HUD program that assist private, nonprofit corporations to finance the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of housing for the elderly (Section 202/Prac) or disable (Section811/PRAC). It has a 40 year term and does not have to be paid back, provided the project continues to serve the low-income population for which it was initially intended.
Certification also "Recertification": The documentation and verification process required of HUD managers in order to determine initial income and eligibility during the application process. The initial certification is used for applicants/new tenants to establish the amount of Rental Assistance Subsidy which the applicant or tenant is eligible to receive. Recertification is required at least once each year. Residents receiving federal rental assistance usually pay 30 percent of their annual adjusted income, and the rental assistance payment (i.e. section 8 or PRAC) makes up the difference between the resident payment and the unit rent level.
Congregate Housing: Apartments or cottages in which residents pay a monthly fee that included rent, utilities, one to three congregate meals daily and including one or more of housekeeping/chore services, 24-hour emergency response, and essential transportation. Personal care services are individually contracted between residents and private vendors.
Congregate Housing Services Program: Began in 1981,CHSP is a program designed to provide meals, expanded services and funding for retrofit and certain modernization activities in housing projects for the frail elderly and non-elderly disabled. Congress renews CHSP existing grantees annually. New competitive grants have not been funded since 1995.
Disabled Family: A family whose head, spouse, or sole member is a person with disabilities; or two or more persons with disabilities living together, or one or more persons with disabilities living with one or more live-in aides.
Elderly Person: In accordance with HUD regulations this is a person who is at least 62 years of age.
Elderly Family: A family whose head,spouse,or sole member is a person who is at least 62 years of age; or two or more persons who are at least 62 years of age living together; or one or more persons who are at least 62 years of age living with one or more live in aids.
Elderly Housing: Elderly Housing is a loose term indicating intended target group, for which the sponsor developed the housing. The needs and concerns for elderly housing programs are often distinguishable from those impacting family housing. Elderly housing programs however, need to be distinguished from within multifamily housing as having a unique position in long term care concerning Medicare and Medicaid.
Enhanced Vouchers: As some for profit owners began to opt-out of the Section 8 program, congress authorized enhanced vouchers for residents currently residing in formerly assisted (section 8 project-based) properties. This was done to prevent forced displacement of residents for whom often times the rent would be beyond the tenant's means when the property was converted to market rate. So at Opt Out, qualified low income residents are issued tenant based vouchers. If they elect to remain at their current location, enhanced vouchers are issued to make up the difference between previously subsidized and new market rent levels. If the resident elects to leave the property, the voucher reverts to the normal payment standard for the area.
Fair Housing Act and Fair Housing Amendments (FHAA): Legislation first enacted in 1968 and expanded by amendments in1974 and 1988, which provides the Secretary of HUD with investigation and enforcement responsibilities for fair housing practices.
The Fair Housing Act (FHA) is a national policy to protect against violations of housing rights. FHA prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, national orgin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. Some states include three additional protected classes to the above: age, sexual orientation and marital status.
It is unlawful to discriminate in housing (treat people differently) based on the above factors. FHA covers most housing with very few exceptions. It prohibits discrimination in the sale and rental of housing and in mortgage lending. Fair Housing means equal opportunity to housing for all. It means equal access to rental housing and homeowner opportunities.
Farmer Home Administration (FmHA): The Farmers Home Administration was the part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture whose purpose was to administer loans, grants, and related assistance for housing and community facilities for low-income rural persons and their communities, AAHSA members with projects funded through FmHA are usually Section 515 projects.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) The Federal Housing Administration is a division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). FHA