Housing

Housing Definitions

AREA AGENCY ON AGING (AAA): Area Agency on Aging 11, Inc. plans, coordinates and advocates for services to meet the needs of the persons aged 60 and over residing in Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. One of twelve area agencies designated by the Ohio Department of Aging to provide federal and state funds for older adult services in Ohio, The Area Agency on Aging plans and contracts for services for seniors in the northeastern Ohio area.

ADULT CARE FACILITY (ACF): A licensed housing facility which provides accommodations and supervision for 3 - 16 unrelated adults, at least three of whom are provided personal care services. Facilities are licensed in the State of Ohio by the Ohio Department of Health.

Adult Family Home: An adult care facility (ACF) which provides accommodations to 3 - 5 unrelated adults, supervision, and personal care services to at least three individuals.*

Adult Group Home: An adult care facility (ACF) which provides accommodations to 6 - 16 unrelated adults, supervision, and personal care services to at least three individuals.*

ADULT FOSTER HOMES: A residence which will provide accommodations, supervision and personal care services to 1 - 2 unrelated adults. Adult Foster Homes will be certified by the Area Agency on Aging in those counties under its jurisdiction, in accordance with rules for certification established by the Ohio Department of Aging.*

ASSISTED LIVING: A marketing term used by a housing facility that may combine apartment-style living with supportive services, designed to help older adults live in an independent setting for as long as possible. Assisted living units include private bedrooms, cooking areas, bathrooms, lockable doors and individual temperature controls. Supportive services include: housing assistance; (meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, and transportation) personal care; (assistance with walking, bathing and dressing) routine nursing services; (administration of medications, special diets and certain dressing changes that may need to be provided within the current scope of the law allowing such provision of 120 days of skilled nursing services) service coordination, health monitoring, and specialty providers. Facilities are licensed as Residential Care Facilities in the State of Ohio by the Ohio Department of Health.

Beginning in July 2006, Ohio now has a Medicaid waiver program that provides funding for individuals to reside in assisted living facilities. To learn more about that program, please visit the Assisted Living Waiver section of the web site.

BOARD & CARE: A broad term used around the country to describe a home which provides shelter and services to an unspecified number of residents, usually a private home operated by the owner; in contrast to a boarding house (room), board and care homes usually provide Acare@ for the residents; if personal care is provided to residents in Ohio the facility is required to be certified or licensed.

CONGREGATE: Independent rental housing facilities in which "hotel" services are included in the monthly rental fee and lease agreement. Services usually include a meal program served in a congregate setting with other residents, and may include housekeeping, laundry, transportation, and other services, but not supervision or personal care.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY (CCRC): An accreditation given to a retirement community that typically contains a number of different living arrangement from independent to skilled. CCRC's often require the payment of an entrance fee or endowment in exchange for a promise of continuing care to the resident for prescribed period usually the life of the resident. CCRC's will arrange for nursing care or provide it on campus.

COOPERATIVE: An independent living facility owned and operated by a non-profit organization for the benefit of the occupants. Co-op members: buy shares in the corporation in exchange for the right to occupy a unit, participate in the activities of their corporate management, and build equity in their shares. Rent is determined by their share of the costs.

DEFERRED PAYMENT LOANS: Loans to older homeowners which do not have to be repaid until a specified date, or usually, until the homeowner dies or moves.

HOME FOR THE AGED: A home which provides accommodations, supervision and personal care services, or all, as well as the administration of medications, supervision of special diets, other than complex therapeutic diets, for three or more unrelated adults (rest home); and provides personal care services and skilled nursing care for at least three other unrelated adults; the portion of the home which provides skilled nursing care must be licensed as nursing home.

HOME EQUITY CONVERSION: A term referring to a variety of plans designed to help older homeowners use the equity in their homes without requiring them to move. The three main types of home equity conversions are: sale-lease-backs, reverse mortgages, and deferred payment loans.

HUD (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT): Federal resources that provides information, funding, technical assistance and enforcement of federal housing development programs. Programs include rental assistance, mortgage insurance, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, Section 202 (Elderly Housing), and others.

INDEPENDENT LIVING: Rental housing without services included in the rent; although services may be available to the residents at additional cost. Many independent living facilities offer amenities which are appealing to the older adults.

MHA OR PHA (METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY): Operated by a board of directors appointed by local and state officials, MHA's receive funds from the federal and state governments to develop, manage and operate public housing and subsidized housing units within their jurisdiction. Public assistance, Social Security, SSI and retirement are the major sources of income for tenants occupying these units.

PERSONAL CARE SERVICES: Services including, but not limited to, assisting residents with activities of daily living; assisting residents with the self administration of medication; preparing special diets in accordance with the instructions of a physician or a licensed dietitian, other than complex therapeutic diets. If a facility provides one of these services, it shall be considered as providing personal care services.

RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY (REST HOME): A facility licensed by the State Health Department to provide accommodations for 17 or more unrelated adults and personal care services for three or more of those residents; or accommodations and personal care services for three or more residents, and supervision of special diets of the administration of medication to at least one resident.*

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY: A grouping of housing facilities for older adults which includes multiple levels of living options, including: independent, congregate, personal assistance, and in some cases skilled nursing care. Residents may or may not pay an endowment fee to obtain services to suit their changing needs. Facilities are often arranged in a campus setting and are similar to CCRC's but lack the accreditation.

REVERSE MORTGAGE: An arrangement where a lender makes monthly payments to the homeowner in an amount based on the age and health of the homeowner, the term of the loan, and the value of the home. Payments may be for a set period or for as long as they live in the home; some plans also offer a line of credit so the homeowner can use the money only when they need it. In most plans, the homeowner retains title to the home, and need not repay any of the money until he/she moves or dies.

SALE-LEASE-BACK: An arrangement in which an older homeowner sells their home, relinquishing responsibility for taxes, repairs and upkeep, but continues to live in it, paying a rental fee which is usually less than the income from the sale.

SECTION 8: A federal rent supplement program; applicants must be a family, or individual at least 62 years old or disabled. Income limits are set by HUD, but are generally 80 percent of the area's median income. Eligible applicants must pay 30 percent of their monthly income towards housing expenses. Contact the local HUD office or the Public Housing Authority for additional information.

SERVICE COORDINATOR: A paid staff person who works with residents of an independent living facility to identify their needs and secure services for them as appropriate. Service coordinators also may plan programs and activities for residents

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SHARED LIVING HOME: A residence for up to 16 adults, with private or semi-private sleeping rooms and shared living, dining, and kitchen areas. The facility is operated by a resident manager and other staff who provide meals, transportation, protective oversight (supervision), and other services in a family-like environment. Facilities that provide personal care in Ohio must be licensed as an Adult Care Facility by the Department of Health.