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Glossary of Terms

Abbeyfield Houses are run by voluntary organisations and offer supported housing for between 6 and 12 older people. A majority are owned and managed by independent local Abbeyfield Societies, but a gr.... read more

Advocate

An advocate is someone who, with your permission, will act independently on your behalf and represent your views and interests to another party, such as a care home, the NHS, the council, or a mem.... read more

AIMS (Advice, Information and Mediation Service)

AIMS is a specialist Age Concern England Service offering information, advice and a full mediation service for sheltered and retirement housing. It can help with enquiries and problems in rented shelt.... read more

Almshouses

Almshouses are independent local charitable trusts that provide affordable housing for older people in need. Most are for older people living in a specific geographical area or connected with a partic.... read more

Amenity Housing

Amenity housing is a term used primarily in Scotland for rented accommodation provided by housing associations and local councils that is designated and particularly suitable for occupation by older p.... read more

ARHM

The Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM), represents 52 organisations which, between them, manage 79,000 retirement properties. ARHM Statement: The Association is committed to high standa.... read more

Assessment of Needs

Local authority Social Services departments are responsible for assessing individual people’s need for ;community care services, and arranging or providing services to meet their identified personal c.... read more

Assisted living

A name used by some private sector providers as an alternative to very sheltered housing; also for a US model of hotel-style care facility for older people who can no longer live on their own at home .... read more

Assistive technology

Assistive technology promotes greater independence for people with disabilities by enabling them to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing. .... read more

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance (AA) is a welfare benefit paid by the Department for Work Pensions. It is not means tested, is tax free, doesn’t depend on National Insurance contributions, and does not count as.... read more

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Capital

In the context of means-testing for Local Authority contributions to care costs, most forms of capital and savings are included - building society accounts, national savings accounts, premium bonds, s.... read more

Care & Repair Services in England

Home Improvement Agencies are locally based, not-for-profit organisations. They help older, disabled and vulnerable homeowners or private tenants to repair, improve, maintain or adapt their homes. So.... read more

Care & Repair Services in Scotland

Throughout Scotland, Care & Repair Services offer advice and assistance with housing repairs, adaptations and improvements, so that people’s homes can remain suitable for their needs. The services he.... read more

Care & Repair Services in Wales

Care & Repair Agencies work to help older and disabled owner-occupiers to remain in their own homes, in their own communities, living as independently as possible, through providing information about.... read more

Care Assessment

Care Commission

The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (The Care Commission) was established in 2002 as the independent regulator set up to regulate care and housing support services in Scotland. These se.... read more

Care home

A residential setting where a number of older people live, usually in single rooms, and have access to on-site care services. Since April 2002 all homes in England, Scotland and Wales are known as ‘ca.... read more

Care options classification

The Care Options classificationSimply read the four pen portaits below. Each describes a different kind of person. If you can identify more with one of these people than the others, remember their co.... read more

Care plan

A care plan is a written statement of your individual assessed needs identified during a Community Care Assessment. It sets out what support you should get, why, when, and details of who is meant .... read more

Careline

A community alarm is for for summoning help in case of emergency. All kinds of emergencies are covered, from accidents and sudden health problems to anxiety or panic. Pull cords are installed around t.... read more

Carer

If you live at home and have a special relative or friend who looks after you, this person is your carer. Sometimes professionals will refer to your carer as an ‘informal’ carer, which is differen.... read more

Choice based lettings

Choice-Based Lettings (CBL) allows applicants for social housing (and tenants who want to transfer) to apply for vacancies which are advertised widely in the neighbourhood (e.g. in the local newspaper.... read more

Chronic Illness

A chronic illness is a disease or disorder of slow progression and long duration which causes continuous or episodic periods of incapacity. Examples of chronic illnesses are arthritis, asthma, chronic.... read more

Close care housing

Close Care developments are a relatively new concept and consist of independent flats or bungalows built on the same site as a care home. Residents often have some services (such as cleaning) included.... read more

Common Housing Register

This is a concept promoted by government to simplify the process of applying for social or 'affordable' housing in any area. A group of landlords (usually Local Authority and Registered Social Landlor.... read more

Community alarm

CSCI

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is an independent public body which came into being in April 2004. It brings together the work previously undertaken by the Social Services Inspectorat.... read more

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Day centre

A service managed by the local council social services, NHS or voluntary or private body, which people who are socially isolated can attend during the day to meet other people, have meals and take.... read more

Direct Payments

Cash payments made to people who need care (following a community care assessment) by a local authority to enable them to buy their own care or support services. Care cannot be bought from the local a.... read more

Disability Living Allowance

Although many people continue to enjoy good health well into old age, some people find that they need help with daily living.You may need help with walking or getting about, with personal care, su.... read more

Disabled Facilities Grant

Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a means-tested grant that enables the home of disabled homeowners and private tenants to be adapted to meet their needs, with for example, a walk-in shower or stair.... read more

Domicilary care

Home care or Domicilary Care is care provided in an individual’s home, normally of a personal nature such help with dressing, washing or toileting. It can be arranged by Social Services following an a.... read more

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Emergency alarm

Community alarmA community alarm is for for summoning help in case of emergency. All kinds of emergencies are covered, from accidents and sudden health problems to anxiety or panic. Pull cords are in.... read more

Enduring Power of Attorney

Enduring Power of Attorney is the legal ability to manage someone’s financial affairs on their behalf. It applies to people who do not have the mental capacity to decide on their financial matters.... read more

Equity release

There are a number of financial products or 'plans' which help older home owners turn some of the value of their homes into cash - a lump sum, regular extra income, or sometimes both. Plans availa.... read more

Extra care housing

New forms of sheltered housing and retirement housing have been pioneered in recent years, to cater for older people who are becoming more frail and less able to do everything for themselves. These ar.... read more

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Home care

Home care agency

A home care agency is an agency that provides care workers to help you at home. The agency might be a private company or a charity. The agency can be employed by the council to provide you with se.... read more

Home Improvement Agency

Home Improvement Agencies are local not-for-profit organisations that provide advice, support and assistance to elderly, disabled and vulnerable people and help them repair, improve, maintain or adapt.... read more

Hospice care

The Charity Hospice Information Service explains as follows: "Hospice care is one of the UK's outstanding success stories. From the opening of the first modern hospice, St Christopher's, in south Lond.... read more

Housing Association

Housing associations are independent not-for-profit organisations that provide affordable homes for people in need. They are now the UK's major providers of new homes for rent. Many also run shared ow.... read more

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit (HB) provides financial help towards rent and some service charges for private, local authority and housing association tenants, and it is payable either to the claimant or to the land.... read more

Housing Options

This is jargon, or shorthand, that's used more and more amongst people who work in housing or advice & information services. We use it here to reflect a postive approach to making decisions about how .... read more

Housing Support Services

Housing support services help people to live as independently as possible in the community. Services can either be provided in your own home, or within specific accommodation like sheltered housing or.... read more

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Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)

The Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) is a new role created by the Mental Capacity Act 2005. A local council or NHS body has a duty to involve an IMCA when a vulnerable person who lacks .... read more

Intermediate care

Intermediate care includes a range of short-term treatment or rehabilitative services designed to promote independence, reduce the length of time you might be in hospital unnecessarily, or help yo.... read more

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Lasting Power of Attorney

Lasting Power of Attorney is a new provision created by the Mental Capacity Act 2005. It is the legal document which states that a third party is able to have control over someone’s affairs, inclu.... read more

Leasehold Schemes for the Elderly (LSE)

Leasehold Schemes for the Elderly (LSE) are run by a small number housing associations and involve you buying a proportion (e.g. 70%) of the equity of the property, the remaining portion being owned b.... read more

Licence

An agreement giving the right to occupy accommodation. Licences are used by many almshouses charities, some Abbeyfield Societies, some charities and also for private lettings. Licenses provide less se.... read more

Life Interest Plan

Life Interest Plans offer the opportunity to purchase the right to occupy a retirement property for life, or for both of your lifetimes, in the case of couples. This can substantially reduce the capit.... read more

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Mixed tenure

A small number of sheltered / retirement and extra care housing schemes offer a choice of tenure. Typically you might be able to buy outright, rent, or opt to part buy your property on a 'shared owner.... read more

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National Minimum Standards for Care Homes

National Minimum Standards for Care Homes are a set of standards which all care homes must meet in order to operate and be registered as a care home. Standards set and monitored by the Commission .... read more

National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care

National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care are a set of standards which home care providers must meet in order to be registered by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). There are .... read more

National Service Framework for Older People (NSF)

National Service Framework for Older People (NSF) contains strategic national guidance, set by government, to ensure the standards of care older people receive are raised and maintained across the.... read more

Needs Assessment

Local council social services departments must assess anyone who appears to be in need of a community care service that they provide. If you have a disability, social services has a duty to assess.... read more

NHFA

NHFA offers an information source to help you understand and plan for long-term care funding. As specialist care fees advisers they provide financial advice to help you understand any state help you .... read more

NHS Continuing healthcare

NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of continuing care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. It can be delivered in any setting and can include the full cost of a place in a nursing home.Guidance.... read more

Nursing Care

In terms of care home funding, tasks identified by a nursing needs assessment as those that need to carried out or supervised by a qualified nurse - injections, dressings etc. Will be paid for by the.... read more

Nursing home

Apart from in Northern Ireland where it is still used, the term nursing home has been replaced by care home with nursing. Homes where nursing is not provided, formerly known as residential care homes .... read more

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Occupational Therapist

An Occupational Therapist (OT) is someone who can look at the support you need to carry on performing everyday activities independently and can advise you about, provide, loan, or help you get access.... read more

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Park Home

Park homes are residential mobile homes, some resembling bungalows and others closer to traditional caravans. Currently there are about 250,000 people living in park homes on more than 1700 sites in E.... read more

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a means tested benefit that contributes towards a guaranteed level of income for people aged 60 and over. From 2010 the age from which you will be able to get Pension Credit will gra.... read more

Pension Service

Part of the Department for Work and Pensions set up to improve the service you receive, whether you are already a pensioner or are planning for your retirement, no matter how far off it might be. The .... read more

Personal Assistant

This is the term usually given to someone who is employed to give them personal care and support. They can be directly employed, or be employed via an agency.Government policy is encouraging older peo.... read more

Personal Care

Personal Care includes: assistance with dressing, feeding, washing and toileting, as well as advice, encouragement and emotional and psychological support. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) de.... read more

Physical Disability

People with physical disabilities, also known as disabled people or physically disabled people, have a physical impairment which has a substantial and long term effect on their ability to carry our da.... read more

Power of Attorney

Power of Attorney is someone who has the legal ability to manage someone’s financial affairs on their behalf. It applies to people who have the mental capacity to decide on their financial matters.... read more

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Registered Nursing Care Contribution

Registered Nursing Care Contribution is a way of working out whether a resident in a care home requires care from a registered nurse. This determines whether the NHS will pay an amount to cover th.... read more

Residential care home

Apart from in Northern Ireland where this term is still used, residential care homes are now generally referred to simply as care homes. And what used to be called nursing homes are now called care ho.... read more

Respite care

Short term care, usually in a care home, but possibly at home with the assistance of professional carers. People may consider respite care for a number of reasons: after a stay in hospital, while they.... read more

Retirement housing

Retirement housing (also known as sheltered housing) is a group of flats or bungalows where all residents are older people (usually over 55). With a few exceptions, all developments (or 'schemes') pro.... read more

Retirement village

An increasingly popular concept, but unfortunately lacking any single, clear definition. Essentially anything from an estate to a full blown village-sized development of bungalows, flats or houses, in.... read more

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Scheme manager

The job title of the person responsible for managing a sheltered or retirement housing scheme - now more commonly known by titles such as Scheme Manager, House Manager or Court Manager.Some housing sc.... read more

Scottish Secure Tenancy

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 established the Scottish Secure Tenancy (SST) as the tenancy for all tenants of social housing in Scotland. In some circumstances, for example when an organisation .... read more

Section 117 Aftercare

In England and Wales, if someone has been detained in hospital for assessment and treatment under sections 3, 37, 45A or 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983, aftercare services provided under section 117.... read more

Service and support charges

The services that are provided in retirement housing are paid for through a service charge. If you are renting, the service charge will be included in your rent, if you have bought the property leaseh.... read more

Shared ownership

Shared ownership is a way of buying a stake in a property if you cannot afford to buy it outright. You have sole occupancy rights, that is you do not have to share your home with anyone else.Shared ow.... read more

Sheltered housing

Sheltered housing (also known as retirement housing) is a group of flats or bungalows where all residents are older people (usually over 55). With a few exceptions, all developments (or 'schemes') pro.... read more

Single Assessment Process

The Single Assessment Process is the process that should be followed by health and social services staff when undertaking the assessment of need for an older person. This means that, if appropriat.... read more

Social services department

A social services department is a department of the local council with responsibility for assessing the needs of, and providing support to, older, disabled or vulnerable people in the community in.... read more

Supporting People

Supporting People is a Government run programme that funds services to help older people and others to live independently at home. Local Councils have responsibility for identifying what the local nee.... read more

Supporting People - Support Plans

Everyone who receives housing support (under Supporting People arrangements) should have a support plan. This is a document that describes the assistance that will be given to an individual person, wh.... read more

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Telecare

Telecare is a service that enables people, especially older and vulnerable people, to live independently in their own home. It is a way of enabling them to call for assistance, at any time of the day .... read more

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