Glossary of terms

• Assisted living facilities: provide room, board, supervision and assistance with activities of daily living. Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurers don’t pay for assisted-living care. Payment comes from personal funds and, for low-income people, Medicaid Auxiliary Grants via local social service departments (although available beds can be hard to find).
• Home health care: health or support services provided to older and disabled persons while they live at home. Some home-health agencies accept payment by Medicare and/or Medicaid, though restrictions apply. Many don’t because the reimbursement rate is low. Some long-term care insurance policies cover home-health services.
• Nursing homes: provide continuous nursing care on two levels: Intermediate nursing care gives assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, changing dressings, etc.; paid for by private funds and Medicaid. Skilled nursing care facilities must have a registered nurse on duty to perform rehabilitation and medical services; paid for by Medicare (under special circumstances and for a brief period of time), Medicaid and private funds.
• Personal care: assists people with activities of daily living including bathing, grooming and eating. Very limited Medicaid funding is available; most clients pay privately.