Glossary and Acronyms
AAA
(area agency on aging) An agency that has administrative responsibility to carry out the programs funded through the Older Americans Act on the local level.
ADL
(activities of daily living) Basic self-care activities, including eating, bathing, dressing, transferring, and bowel and bladder control, which are widely used as a basis for assessing individual functional status.
aging network
The network of state agencies, area agencies on aging, grantees of Title VI of the Older Americans Act, the Administration on Aging, and organizations that are providers of direct services to older individuals or are institutions of higher education and receive funding through the Older Americans Act.
AoA
(Administration on Aging) The agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that has administrative oversight responsibility for all programs funded through the Older Americans Act.
APS
(Adult Protective Services) An agency, usually state-run, that is charged with investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of anyone over age 18 and providing protective services to those who are found to be maltreated.
B&C
(board and care home) Any category of institutions, foster homes, or group living arrangements in which (as determined by the state) a significant number of recipients of supplemental security income benefits
is residing or is likely to reside and is regulated by the state pursuant to Section 1616(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1382e[e]).
conflict of interest
Although not specifically defined in the OAA, the legislation does provide some guidance on what can be considered a conflict of interest. For instance, it requires the state agency to ensure that the state ombudsman:
a. does not have a direct involvement in the licensing or certification of a long-term care facility or of a provider of a long-term care service;
b. does not have an ownership or investment interest (represented by equity, debt, or other financial relationship) in a long-term care facility or a long-term care service;
c. is not employed by or does not participate in the management of a long-term care facility; and
d. does not receive, or have the right to receive, directly or indirectly, remuneration (in cash or in kind) under a compensation arrangement with an owner or operator of a long-term care facility.
IADL
(instrumental activities of daily living) Home management and independent living activities, such as cooking, cleaning, using a telephone, shopping, doing laundry, and managing money.
LTC
(long term care) A set of health, personal care, and social services delivered over a sustained period of time to persons who have lost or never acquired some degree of functional capacity—either mental or physical. Services can be provided in an institution, the home, or the community, and include informal services provided by family or friends as well as formal services provided by professionals or agencies.
long-term care facility
a. any skilled nursing facility, as defined in section 1819(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3[a]);
b. any nursing facility, as defined in section 1919(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r[a]);
c. a board and care facility;
d. any other adult care home similar to a facility or institution described in subparagraphs (a) through (c).
NASUA
National Association of State Units on Aging
NASOP
National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs
NCCNHR
National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
OAA
Older Americans Act of 1965
ombudsman
As defined in the OAA, the ombudsman is the individual who heads the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. In practice, an ombudsman can be any individual employed by or volunteering with the long-term care ombudsman program who is designated by the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
P&A
(Protective and Advocacy System) A nationwide set of agencies, usually operating at the state level, that works to protect the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities.
quality of care
The degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge (as defined by the Institute of Medicine).
SUA
(state unit on aging) The state-level agency that has administrative responsibility to carry out the programs funded through the Older Americans Act.
