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A |
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| ADL |
Activities of Daily Living |
A group of personal tasks or
abilities such as dressing, bathing and eating |
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APS |
Adult Protective Services |
Adult Protective Services that investigates the abuse, neglect or
exploitation of the aged or disabled |
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Advance Directive |
A witnessed written document or
oral statement in which instructions are given by a principal or in
which the principal's desires are expressed concerning any aspect of
the principal's health care and includes the designation of a health
care surrogate, a living will, or do not resuscitate orders. |
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AIP |
Alleged Incapacitated Person |
An individual currently being assessed by the court for incapacity |
| AAA |
Area Agency on Aging |
Established under the Older
Americans Act (OAA) in 1973 to respond to the needs of Americans
aged 60 and over, AAAs plan, coordinate and offer services that help
older adults remain in their home at a local community level,
combining local, state and federal funds. |
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ALF |
Assisted Living Facility |
A residence that provides some assistance with IADLs and ADLs that
is licensed by the Department of Children and Families (formerly
ACLF, Adult Congregate Living Facility) |
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Attorney in Fact |
Title used by an individual acting
under a Power of Attorney document |
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| C |
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| CNA |
Certified Nursing Assistant |
An individual who has
passed a nursing assistant competency exam (does not require any
specific training) |
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Companion |
A caregiver with no special
training but often skilled at offering psycho-social support within
the home environment |
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| D |
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DIF |
Decline in Function |
A common medical diagnosis used for geriatric clients, often used in
conjunction with a trauma such as a fractured bone or episode of
electrolyte imbalance |
| |
Dementia |
A group of symptoms that may
accompany certain diseases or physical conditions. Dementia results
in the loss of intellectual functions (thinking, remembering and
reasoning) of sufficient severity to interfere with a person's daily
functioning. |
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DCFS |
Department of Children and Family Services |
Formerly titled the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services |
| DoEA |
Department of Elder Affairs |
State agency created
to implement, administer and supervise services for Floridian Elders |
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Depression |
A diagnostic term representing several different clinical conditions
with symptoms ranging from loss of interest or pleasure, decreased
energy, decreased ability to think or concentrate, poor appetite,
low self-esteem and poor ability to make difficult decisions, to
feelings of hopelessness. |
| DNRO |
Do Not Resuscitate Order |
Document which authorizes the
withholding or withdrawing of life-prolonging techniques by
emergency medical services |
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| E |
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ETG |
Emergency Temporary Guardianship |
Legal mechanism used to supplement a normal guardianship proceeding |
| EOB |
Explanation of Benefits |
A document generated by an
insurance company itemizing the services billed by medical providers
and the insurers subsequent approval or denial of payment |
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| G |
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Guardianship |
Legal procedure by which an individual is appointed to handle some
or all of the decisions and affairs of a person unable to care for
themselves |
| H |
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HCS |
Health Care Surrogate |
A written document designating another to make health care decisions
in the event of incapacity |
| HMO |
Health Maintenance Organization |
Prepaid providers of healthcare
with services that mirror Medicare services |
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Home Health Agency |
Organization that offers the services of home care workers who are
employees of the agency. This assures the caregiver is covered by
worker's compensation, is properly licensed and trained (and usually
bonded as well.) |
| HHA |
Home Health Aide |
A caregiver who has been trained in
accordance with State of Florida requirements (currently 40 hours of
training) - also requires a physical exam and CPR training |
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Home Health Registry |
Organization that offers the services of home care workers on an
independent contractor basis. Registries are not required to
supervise their workers. |
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Hospice |
A special kind of care designed to
provide comfort and support to patients and their families in the
final stages of a terminal illness. Hospice does not prolong life
nor does it hasten death, it merely provides a specialized knowledge
of medical care, psychological, emotional and spiritual support
during the dying process. |
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I |
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Incapacity |
A legal term used in Florida
recognizing a person's inability to function within certain areas of
life (see
removable rights) |
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Incompetent |
A legal term (no longer used in Florida) describing a person's
inability to function within all areas of life |
| ILF |
Independent Living Facility |
A community, usually apartments,
geared to retirees. Many have on-site services, organized activities
and scheduled transportation to local merchants. Some also include
one meal, housekeeping services, and utility expenses such as water
and cable |
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IADL |
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living |
A group of tasks or abilities such as shopping, laundry and money
management |
| L |
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Living Will |
A witnessed document or oral statement made by the principal
expressing his or her instructions concerning life-prolonging
procedures |
| M |
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Medicaid |
A federally funded program that is administered on a state level
with eligibility based on age and/or disability, assets, income and
level of care |
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Medicare |
A federal program available to all
individuals who paid a minimum amount of social security taxes with
eligibility based on either retirement or disability |
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O |
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| OSS |
Optional State Supplementation |
Funding for ALFs by the state of
Florida to underwrite the cost of care for individuals with markedly
low income |
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P |
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POA |
Power of Attorney |
A legal document that provides for financial management and decision
making when a person is incapacitated, physically and/or mentally |
| PCP |
Primary Care Physician |
A term often used by HMOs
describing the main doctor supervising an individual's care - often
acting as a "gatekeeper" to other medical specialists and service
providers |
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S |
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| SNF |
Skilled Nursing Facility |
A residence for individuals who
require 24 hour supervision (many of whom are confined to bed for
some portion of the day) staffed with highly trained professionals
who can provide skilled, custodial, intermediate and rehabilitative
care |
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SPGO |
Statewide Public
Guardianship Office |
Florida State supervising entity which oversees the registration of
professional guardians and the administration of Florida Public
Guardians. Housed by the DoEA |
| SSDI |
Supplemental Security Disability
Income |
Monthly income paid by the federal
government based on the individual's payment of social security
taxes and their documented disability |
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SSI |
Supplemental Security Income |
Monthly income paid by the federal government as a supplementation
to individuals with an income level below the Federal Poverty Level |
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T |
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Trust |
A legal document that provides for
financial management and decision making when a person is physically
and/or mentally incapacitated and allows the assets to avoid the
probate process upon the person's death |
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W |
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Ward |
Term used by the court for an
individual under guardianship |
