Extended Care Glossary

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Extended Care Glossary

Finding the appropriate type of extended care depends on your current situation. Here, we have provided a brief description of each type of extended-care provider in our database to help you determine where to begin your search.

Click the extended care type to view definition.

ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL

ADAPTIVE DEVICES AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

ADULT DAY SERVICES

ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE

BEHAVIORAL/PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES

COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTERS

HOME CARE SUPPORT SERVICES

HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES

HOME INFUSION THERAPY

OUTPATIENT CENTERS/CLINICS

PEDIATRIC FACILITY

REHABILITATION TREATMENT

RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

SUPPORT SERVICES

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

HOME CARE PHYSICIANS

GERIATRIC CARE MANAGERS

ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL provides medical and/or surgical treatment to patients with an immediate and severe injury or illness. They are duly licensed, certified, and operated as a Hospital.

ADAPTIVE DEVICES AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT includes the following providers:

ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT/ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY provides structurally modified motor vehicles, tools, technology, and clothing, enabling people with physical impairments to perform activities of daily living and promoting independence.

Examples include, but are not limited to, custom seating, driving controls, scooter lifts, wheelchair lifts, lift accessories, body raisers, special feeding devices, assistive listening or hearing systems, voice calculator, assistive visual systems, control systems, and switching devices.
DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT(DME) provides medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, crutches, hospital-type beds, etc.) that can withstand repeated use, is appropriate for home use, is useful in the patient's home, and is not used in the absence of illness or injury. DME is used primarily to serve a medical purpose, is prescribed by a physician, and is typically available for sale or rent.
ORTHOTIC/PROSTHETIC SERVICES provide the design and fabrication of artificial limbs and/or devices that support damaged joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bones. Examples include braces, accommodative shoes, motorized wheelchairs, and other specialized wheelchairs.

ADULT DAY SERVICES provide a supportive group setting to adults with functional and/or cognitive impairment to be with their peers, to receive health monitoring and social services, and to function at their highest potential during any part of a day. Adult day services also include respite, support, and education for families and caregivers.

ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE provides lodging, meals, and personal care to individuals who need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) but do not need nursing care on a daily basis. Accommodations include private or semi-private, furnished or unfurnished units, or suites in a residential home, apartment complex, condominium, or facility. Assisted living residences are licensed by the state.

Assisted living residences are also known as supportive housing, supported care, enriched housing, congregative care, residential long-term care facilities, residential care facilities for the elderly, personal care boarding homes, personal care homes, sheltered care facilities, homes for the aged, housing with services establishments, residential care facilities, residential care home facilities, adult residential care facilities, adult care homes, basic care facilities, board-and-care, sheltered housing, domiciliary care, community-based retirement facilities, adult foster care, and rest homes. The scope of services may vary depending on state law and regulations.

BEHAVIORAL/PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES include the following providers:

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY HOME provides housing options to individuals with chronic mental, cognitive, and/or physical disorders who need specialized care to maintain their highest level of functioning. Developmental disability homes are licensed by the state.
GROUP HOME is a private residence that offers 24-hour supervision, assistance with meal planning and preparation, transportation arrangements, emergency intervention, and the monitoring of medical/psychiatric stability.
HALFWAY HOUSE provides a short-term, therapeutic, and supportive home living environment to individuals after an intensive phase of treatment for substance/alcohol dependencies, domestic violence, mental problems, or criminal offense before returning to independent life in the community. Halfway houses are privately funded and operated or state-supported.
PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL/UNIT provides crisis stabilization, medication management, symptom reduction, monitoring of activities of daily living (ADLs), and case management for individuals with psychiatric and behavioral disorders. These facilities may provide services ranging from acute inpatient care, acute residential care, partial hospitalization, continuing residential care options, and outpatient services. Psychiatric hospitals are licensed by the state.

Examples of services in psychiatric hospitals include, but are not limited to, geriatric psychiatric programs (for older adults), eating-disorders treatment, chemical dependency and dual-diagnosis treatment (for patients with both psychiatric and substance-abuse disorders), adolescent and young-adult treatment options, alcohol and/or chemical-dependency treatment, and forensic programs for patients who have engaged in criminal behavior.
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER provides a secure, structured therapeutic group-living program that includes mental, behavioral, and medical services to children, adolescents, and adults in a home-like environment.

Examples of services include, but are not limited to, treatment programs for substance/alcohol abuse and addiction, physical and sexual abuse, eating disorders, self-destructive behaviors, and psychosexual disorders.

COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTERS include the following providers:

COMMUNITY CENTER provides social, educational, and/or political activities for residents of a specific community.
SENIOR CENTER provides a variety of services to healthy elderly adults during daytime such as exercise programs, health screening, arts and craft, table games, weekly trips, discussion groups, support groups, and food program. Some senior centers provide home-delivered meals program and religious services.

HOME CARE SUPPORT SERVICES includes the following providers:

COMPANION/STAFFING SERVICES provide home care, homemaker and/or nurse registry services such as private duty nurses, private duty caregivers, companions, home care aides; may also provide nurse staffing services in acute care settings.

HOME MODIFICATION/ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES provide customized design and solutions in the home to ensure a safe, comfortable, supportive, convenient, and accessible dwelling for older adults who choose to live independently at home.

Examples include, but are not limited to, modifying treads and risers on stairways, adapting bathrooms and kitchens, widening doors, and adding portable ramps and assistive devices.

HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES provide a full range of skilled-care services delivered in the home of a patient by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or medical social worker.

HOME INFUSION THERAPY provides nursing care, pharmacy, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies needed to administer nutritional therapy and/or medications such as antibiotics, chemotherapy, and/or pain management. Medications are given through one of the following routes: intravenous (in the vein) subcutaneous (below the skin), intraspinal (in the spinal or vertebral canal), epidural (outside the membrane of the spinal cord), and/or intrathecal (in the space under the arachnoid membrane of the brain or spinal cord).

HOSPICE CARE provides a coordinated program of home care focusing on the physical comfort, emotional preparation, and spiritual needs of the terminally ill patient and his or her family.

NURSING HOMES includes the following providers:

NURSING HOME/INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY provides personal care and social services with regular nursing care to individuals not able to live independently, yet not ill enough to need 24-hour nursing care. These facilities are certified as meeting federal standards.
NURSING HOMES/SKILLED NURSING FACILITY provides nursing and rehabilitation services with 24-hour nursing supervision and regular medical care to individuals with long-term illnesses or those recovering from an illness or injury. These facilities may be freestanding or a distinct part of a hospital; they are certified as meeting federal standards within the meaning of the Social Security Act.

OUTPATIENT CENTERS/CLINICS provide diagnosis and treatment of physical and behavioral health problems, including preventive care and health maintenance, to individuals of varying ages in an outpatient setting.

PEDIATRIC FACILITY provides medical, rehabilitation, emotional, or behavioral services to children with acute or chronic physical, cognitive, or behavioral disorders.

REHABILITATION TREATMENT includes the following providers:

REHABILITATION HOSPITAL OR CENTER provides treatment for musculoskeletal (pertaining to the muscles and skeleton), neurological (affecting the nervous system), and orthopedic (bone and joint) conditions resulting from traumatic or non-traumatic illness or injury. Treatment includes services that restore function, help with physical and psychological adaptation to any change in life, and return of patients to activities of daily living, work and recreational activities. A specialized license in rehabilitation is required to operate as a rehabilitation hospital or center.
SUBACUTE CARE/LICENSED provides specialized medical, nursing, and therapeutic services to medically complex, stable patients with emphasis on improving their functional abilities. Patients are admitted directly from a hospital intensive care unit (ICU) setting, physician's office, home health care, emergency room (ER), or medical/surgical setting.
TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT (TCU) provides short-term medical care and rehabilitation services to patients after an acute illness. TCUs are hospital-based units. Typically, patients stay in a TCU because they are not ready to return home or to be discharged to a nursing home.

RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES include the following providers:

CONTINUING CARE COMMUNITY provides services that guarantee residents access to independent living, assisted living, and skilled care as their health and medical-service needs change. Continuing care communities are also known as life-care communities.
INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY provides active and healthy older adults a residential community where they enjoy an independent lifestyle in an atmosphere of support and convenience. These communities typically offer physical fitness amenities, meal services, social activities, organized gatherings, and trips. Residences include homes, condominiums, apartments, and/or mobile and motor homes.
RETIREMENT HOME/HOTEL provides services that may range from independent group living to varying amounts of assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as housekeeping, laundry, meals, dressing, and personal care. Retirement homes are also referred to as residential care homes.

SUPPORT SERVICES include the following providers:

ANCILLARY SERVICES provide supportive services, equipment, or supplies to complement medical care. Examples include services provided by laboratories, imaging centers, radiology centers, pharmacies, and support groups.
CORPORATE OFFICE provides corporate coordination of health and housing services
GOVERNMENT AGENCY/ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING SENIOR CONCERNS provides information and services pertaining to older adults.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES provide emergency and non-emergency ground or air medical or non-medical transportation services.