Glossary

Accessible housing

Housing with certain features needed by persons with physical disabilities. Typical characteristics of accessible units might include, but are not limited to the following: roll in showers; grab bars in the bathroom and shower areas; wiring to accommodate strobe lights for the hearing impaired; flush interior / exterior thresholds; hallways wide enough to accommodate wheelchair turns; 5 feet turning space in bathrooms and kitchens, lever door knobs; accessible low level cabinets; accessible appliances; low level light switches; rounded counter top edges, etc. Mandatory requirements for accessible housing vary widely and are found in state, local, and model building codes, in agency regulations such as in the Department of Housing and Urban Development`s program 202 and 811, section 504, and the Fair Housing Amendments Act requirements. They are also found in standards such as the American National Standards Institute`s A117.1 (ANSI A117.1 - 1986, 1992) and the Uniform Accessibility Standards, UFAS.

Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

Activities of Daily Living include such things as eating, getting in and out of bed, getting around inside, dressing, bathing and using the toilet. Often assessments are used to determine an individual`s ability to perform such tasks without assistance.

Activities of Daily Living Assessment

Programs that evaluate an individual's capacity for self-care and his or her ability to function independently in the context of everyday living and which, where necessary, may recommend rehabilitative services (e.g., independent living skills instruction), supportive services (e.g., attendant care, personal care or home health care), or an alternative residential setting (e.g., an assisted living center or nursing facility). Activities of daily living include bathing, eating, dressing, mobility, transferring from bed to chair and using the toilet. Most assessments also include instrumental activities of daily living such as using the telephone, taking medication, money management, housework, meal preparation, laundry and grocery shopping. Evaluation services are generally provided for individuals who have physical and/or mental limitations or for people whose age may constitute a temporary (children) or developing (elderly) limitation.

Adult Day Care

A structured program for persons 18 years of age and older who are in need of supervision. Meals and snacks, programming, outings, support and counseling may be provided. If necessary, an adult day care provider may provide a bath for clients. Services may be furnished two or more hours per day, one or more days per week, on a regularly scheduled basis. Transportation is sometimes included in the fee.

Adult Foster Care

Foster care is defined as a licensed, adult-appropriate, sheltered living arrangement provided in a family-like environment for persons needing a 24-hour supervised living environment. Foster homes provide food, lodging, supervision, and household services. They may also provide personal care and medication assistance. Elders with some degree of memory loss may be suited for this type of housing.

Adult Out of Home Respite Care

Programs that provide a brief period of rest or relief for family members, guardians or others who are regular caregivers for dependent adults by offering temporary or intermittent care for the adult in a community setting/facility.

Adult Protective Intervention/Investigation

Programs that investigate and intervene on behalf of adults who are unable to act on their own behalf, manage their own affairs, or who are in immediate danger due to physical or emotional abuse, unsafe or hazardous living conditions, exploitation, neglect or abandonment. Services may include removal of the individual to safer surroundings, authorization for medical treatment and other available services necessary to remove the conditions which have created a threat to life. Included are programs that receive reports of and investigate elder abuse involving noninstitutionalized adults.

Adult Residential Care Homes

Residential homes or facilities that offer personal care and individual attention for older adults, people with disabilities and other populations whose limitations prevent them from living alone. Adult residential care homes (which are also known as board and care homes, residential board and care homes, personal care homes or residential care facilities for the elderly) generally provide a room (which may be shared), meals and supervision; and may specialize in populations with specific needs such as people with Alzheimer's disease or those with developmental disabilities. Services vary from facility to facility but may include dietary and housekeeping services, monitoring of prescription medication, social and recreational opportunities, incontinence care and assistance with toileting, bathing, grooming, dressing, mobility and other activities of daily living. Some homes provide secured surroundings for confused elderly adults who may wander while others are unable to accept individuals who are incontinent or who have severe problems with memory loss. There is considerable variation among these homes in terms of size, resident mix, daily charges and services. Most but not all adult residential care homes or facilities are licensed by the state/province in which they are located.

Adult Respite Care

Programs that provide a brief period of rest or relief for family members, guardians or others who are regular caregivers for dependent adults by offering temporary or intermittent care in the home or in community settings/facilities.

Advance Medical Directives

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to use the tools appropriate in their state/province to express their wishes regarding future medical treatment should they become incapacitated and/or to name the individual they would like to make health care decisions on their behalf. Included are programs that provide copies of necessary forms as well as those that help people complete them.

Affordable housing

Commonly understood as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household`s annual income. May also be understood as housing that costs no more than 30-40% of a household`s annual income.

AIDS/HIV/STD Prevention Kits

Programs that distribute condoms, lubricants, dental dams, bleach kits (ammonia or bleach for cleaning needles and instruction for use) and/or other supplies that can be used to help stop the spread of AIDS, other blood borne infectious diseases and sexually transmitted diseases among high-risk populations. Individuals who have a history of injection drug use, sex with a person with HIV/AIDS, sex with a man who has sex with other men, sex with an injection drug user, a sexually transmitted disease, or are exchanging money or drugs for sex are considered to be at high or increased risk.

Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law, which was enacted in 1990. The law prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in areas such as employment, education, transportation, and communication.

Aptitude Testing

Programs that administer tests which measure the potential ability of an individual to perform an as yet unlearned task, skill or act.

Arts Festivals

Programs that sponsor events which feature activities for the entire family including dance and music performances, storytelling, mime, children's theater, comedy, drama, visual arts, film, poetry, multi-cultural programs, laser shows, parades, participatory processions, workshops and exhibits. Includes First Night Celebrations which are annual events in communities throughout the country which celebrate the arrival of the New Year through a festival of the arts. Participants are encouraged to create masks, wear costumes and paint their faces in honor of the occasion. The festival typically concludes with a countdown to midnight and a fireworks finale.

Assessment for Substance Abuse

Programs that administer tests which substantiate an individual's use of drugs or alcohol, assess the risk factors for the person's involvement in substance abuse and/or determine whether the person has a clinical substance abuse disorder and the nature and extent of the problem. Some programs may also formulate treatment recommendations and/or refer individuals to the inpatient, outpatient or residential treatment services they need.

Assisted Living

Assisted living service is defined as a group of services provided by or arranged for by the management of a Housing with Services Establishment or a residential center or contracted for by the county with a Class A home care agency. Services provided or arranged for by the assisted living provider may include supervision, supportive services, individualized home care aide tasks, and individualized home management tasks.

Assisted Living Facilities

Residential facilities specially constructed or converted to combine housing and supportive services in a "homelike" environment with the goal of maximizing the individual functioning and autonomy of residents. Assisted living facilities generally have private apartment-style accommodations with walk in showers, wide doors for wheelchair access, emergency pull cord systems and other special amenities; and offer the individualized array of personal care services which will allow each resident to function as independently as possible. Services vary from facility to facility, but usually include three meals a day with special diets, as required; housekeeping and linen services; personal laundry; social and recreational activities; transportation to medical appointments, stores and community services; money management assistance; assistance with toileting, bathing, grooming, dressing, mobility and other activities of daily living; medication management and administration; therapy and pharmacy services; and wellness and exercise programs. Assisted living facilities may be licensed by the state/province or may not require a license depending on the area in which they are located.

Assisted Living Plus

The same as Assisted Living and must include 24-hour, on-site, awake staff.

Assistive Devices

Assistive devices are pieces of equipment that allow people with disabilities to function more independently. They can be simple or complex. Some examples of assistive devices include kitchen utensils with large grips, seats for the shower or bath, wheelchairs, and specialized computers.

Assistive Technology Product Descriptions

Programs that publish newsletters, offer printed materials or maintain Web sites which provide information about specific assistive technology products or recent developments in the field. The product descriptions are generally intended to provide people with disabilities, their families and caregivers, health care professionals and special educators with enough information to get a better understanding of the assistive technology product without going into complex technical details. They provide a sense of the range of available features and an understanding of why there may be a wide variation in cost, for example, because of differences in sound quality, speed, capacity, or user flexibility and friendliness.

At Risk Families

Families who, because of their economic or environmental situation or history or a health problem or disability, are considered more likely than others to follow a generational pattern of self-destructive behavior, criminal activity, gang involvement, substance abuse, child abuse, welfare dependency, chronic unemployment, homelessness, unwanted pregnancy and other problems which threaten the health, safety and/or personal development of family members.

Automobile Insurance

Organizations that issue insurance policies which indemnify the holder against loss or damage to a motor vehicle caused by fire, windstorm, collision or other insurable hazards, and against legal liability for personal injuries or damage to property resulting from operation of the vehicle. Automobile insurance requirements are established at the state/provincial level and vary in terms of the type and level of coverage that may be necessary.

Automobile Insurance Payment Assistance

Programs that make car insurance payments for individuals who are at risk of losing their automobile insurance without assistance. These programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.

Automobile Loans

Programs that provide or arrange for financing for individuals who want to lease, purchase or repair an automobile or other means of transportation. Included are programs that provide or arrange for low interest or interest free loans as well as those that provide access to loans at market rates.

Automobile Payment Assistance

Programs that make automobile payments for people who are at risk of losing their means of transportation without assistance. These programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.

Automotive Repair

Programs that pay for or provide maintenance and repair services for people whose automobiles, trucks, trailers or other motorized vehicles have mechanical or structural problems, who are unable to pay for the service themselves and who would have no means of transportation without assistance. Also included are work experience programs that provide automobile repairs for the general public.

Baby Clothing

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand clothing and layettes for infants and young children whose parents are unable to obtain baby clothing without assistance.

Baby Furniture

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand cribs, bassinets, strollers and other infant/baby furniture for families who cannot purchase these items at retail prices.

Banking Services Information and Support

Programs that provide information and/or support for people who need assistance in selecting a bank, opening checking and savings accounts, writing checks, balancing their checkbooks, using an ATM machine, making direct deposit arrangements, banking online (e.g., paying bills, reviewing account balances, ordering checks via the Internet), paying bills by telephone, changing currency, conducting wire transfers or understanding and/or managing other activities related to banking. Included are programs that help people who are homeless, people with little income and few resources and others with special problems to establish bank accounts and obtain and/or use other banking services.

Banks/Savings and Loans

Traditional banking establishments that are responsible for the custody, loan, exchange, or issue of money; for the extension of credit; and for facilitating the transmission of funds. Included are national and state banks, state and federally chartered savings and loan companies and chartered commercial banks.

Barrier Free Home Rental Listings

Programs that maintain lists of available wheelchair-accessible rental homes or apartments for review by people with disabilities in search of housing.

Basic Income Maintenance Programs

Programs that provide cash income on a regular basis, and in some cases, social services to provide for the basic material needs of income-eligible individuals and families.

Better Business Bureaus

Nonprofit organizations sponsored by private, local businesses which provide general information about products or services, reliability reports, background information regarding local businesses and records of the companies' complaint handling performances. Most Better Business Bureaus accept complaints against businesses and help to resolve disputes through mediation or binding arbitration utilizing volunteer arbitration panels.

Board And Lodging

A housing option that provides a room, three daily meals, and linens. People who live in a board and lodge need to be totally independent.

Board And Lodging With Special Services

Includes a room, three daily meals, linens, housekeeping and assistance with social services and/or health supervision. Residents need to be semi-independent (including ambulation with or without assistive devices). Limited social service assistance is available, such as arranging for medical or transportation appointments, or health supervision, such as medication reminders. If health supervision is provided, an R.N. is required to be on staff/consultant for a few hours each week.

Bus Fare

Programs that provide cash or tokens for individuals who have no personal means of transportation and are unable to use public transportation (or a taxi service) for necessary local travel without assistance with the fare. Also included are programs that provide bus fare for people who need to travel out of town (e.g., for a funeral) but do not have the means to do so.

Camp Counselor Volunteer Opportunities

Camping programs that are actively seeking individuals with the requisite skills and experience who are willing to serve as camp counselors or counselor aides on a voluntary basis without remuneration. Camp counselors and their aides are responsible for supervising a small group of campers, ensuring their well-being and health, instructing them in outdoor skills and associated safety procedures, planning recreational activities, organizing education and work projects and developing and implementing other projects and activities that contribute to the overall camping experience for participants.

Campus Information and Visitor Services

Programs that provide general information about events, activities and services on a college or university campus for current and prospective students, alumni, staff, faculty, family members and the general public; help people locate the classrooms, buildings or the other needed services on campus; conduct campus outreach and student recruitment programs; and/or offer guided tours of their facilities and grounds.

Career Counseling

Programs that provide information and guidance for people who need to evaluate their aptitude, abilities and interests in order to choose a vocation or career and select the type of training that will enable them to obtain and progress in positions in the public or private sector that are productive and fulfilling.

Career Exploration

Programs that provide opportunities for people to investigate their occupational interests through simulated job experiences such as role playing; career mentoring, i.e., pairing professionals and people interested in that occupation; and job shadowing, a work-based learning experience that allows a visitor to follow a host during a typical day (or other period of time) observing and asking questions about a particular career. Also included are police explorer programs, fire cadet explorer programs, military cadet programs and other similar groups which provide opportunities for youth who may be interested in pursuing a career in these fields as adults to gain experience in the area.

Caregiver

Caregivers are family members, friends, and adults who assume the responsibility for the care of older persons, or they are older relatives such as grandparents caring for children.

Caregiver Issues

Programs that provide information and/or services that deal with the topic of caregivers and their concerns.

Case Management

The case manager is responsible for assisting the client in gaining access to necessary home and community based services, as well as medical, social, educational, or other needed services, regardless of the funding source; coordinating the plan of care; monitoring services so the client`s health and safety are assured; and conducting reassessments. Case management helps older persons, persons with disabilities, and caregivers get connected with the services that they need. Case managers help in three ways: 1) assessing (or evaluating) a person`s situation and needs; 2) working with individuals and their families to develop "care plans" to map out what kind of services an individual needs, how often they are needed, etc.; and 3) providing ongoing coordination to see that an individual`s care needs are being met.

Central Intake/Assessment for Substance Abuse

Programs that serve as gatekeeper agencies which evaluate individuals who are in need of substance abuse services and triage them for the limited number of subsidized beds that may be available in the community. Some programs may also offer medical detoxification services for people who need them.

Child Care Providers

Programs that provide substitute parental care for children during some portion of a 24-hour day. Services may include recreational and developmental activities and snacks and/or meals as appropriate.

Child Custody/Visitation Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to obtain custody of their children as a part of a divorce or separation action, who want to appeal all or a portion of the terms of a previous child custody decision, or in the case of a noncustodial parent, who want to establish or appeal the terms of a visitation award or a court-ordered visitation schedule. Included are programs that provide child custody/visitation assistance for people who are not legally married but have children together.

Child Support Assistance/Enforcement

Programs that provide assistance which helps to ensure that parents fulfill their mutual obligation to financially support and provide health care for their children. Included are services for people who want to locate an absent parent; establish paternity; establish a child support order; request that the non-custodial parent provide health insurance for a child in conjunction with a child support order; change the amount of a child support award; dispute a child support award; or enforce payment of child support monies in cases where the supporting parent is delinquent in paying or refuses to pay or make health insurance arrangements altogether. Child support is money paid by one parent to another for the maintenance, including the education, of their children following the dissolution of their marriage or other relationship. Non-custodial parents enrolled in an insurance plan at work may be required to include the child under this coverage while those not covered by any insurance plan may be required to obtain medical coverage, if available at a reasonable cost. Child support assistance/enforcement may be provided by private attorneys, legal clinics, family law facilitators' offices or child support enforcement programs which are available in all states, often as a component of the district attorney's office.

Childbirth Education

Programs that offer classes or other educational experiences which prepare prospective mothers and their birth partners emotionally and physically for the labor and birth process. Topics covered include anatomy and physiology of birth, relaxation and breathing techniques, different types of labors, birthing/delivery options and postpartum care. Also included are programs that prepare other members of the family (grandparents and siblings) for the arrival of a new family member.

Chore Services

Chore services are services that are needed to maintain the home in a clean, sanitary and safe environment. This service includes heavy household chores, such as washing windows and walls, cutting grass, putting up and taking down storms and screens, fixing loose rugs and tiles, moving heavy items of furniture in order to provide safe access inside the home for the client and shoveling snow to provide access and egress.

Chronic

A disease or condition that is long-lasting

Civic Groups

Clubs, associations and other voluntary organizations whose members are concerned with the general welfare of the community and enhancing the life of its residents.

College/University Entrance Support

Programs that provide information and guidance for high school students and others who are preparing for or in the process of choosing and applying for admission to a college, university or other postsecondary institution. Assistance may include information about various college/university programs and their requirements, advice on college/university selection, suggestions regarding high school classes students should take to best qualify for the school of their choice, information and counseling regarding financial aid, assistance in completing necessary application forms and supporting materials such as application essays, and advice regarding the scheduling of SATs/ACTs. The objective of most college/university entrance support programs is to help students select the most appropriate institution and present their credentials in a way that heightens their chances of having their application accepted. Included are programs that sponsor fairs where representatives from a broad range of postsecondary institutions are available to meet with prospective students and discuss course offerings, admission and financial aid requirements, college/university life in general and other information that is pertinent to the selection process.

Community Clinics

Consumer-based, community-controlled, nonprofit outpatient facilities that provide basic health care including physical examinations, immunizations, family planning, nutrition assistance and diagnosis and treatment of common ailments for low income people, people who are homeless or uninsured/underinsured or other medically underserved populations that are geographically, economically and culturally challenged. Services are generally provided on an ability-to-pay basis. In the U.S., community clinics are part of the network of Federally Qualified Health Centers, and many are known as "free clinics".

Community Colleges

Public postsecondary educational institutions, commonly organized into two-year programs, which offer instruction that has been adapted in content, level and schedule to meet the needs of the community in which they are located. In the U.S., community or junior colleges generally offer a comprehensive curriculum which includes basic liberal arts and sciences with transfer, occupational, general education and adult education components. The program awards an Associates in Arts (A.A.) certificate to those who successfully complete the requirements. In Canada, while broadly known as community colleges, these entities operate under a range of titles including institutes of science and technology, cegeps, and university-based community colleges. Institutions vary in mandate, management models and policy frameworks. However, they share the primary functions of responding to the training needs of business, industry, the public service sectors and the educational needs of vocationally oriented secondary school graduates. Historically, community colleges offered diplomas and certificates, not degrees. However, many have university transfer programs and some offer degree programs.

Comprehensive Job Assistance Centers

One-stop centers that provide an array of employment and training services in a convenient, easily accessible location. Services may include job counseling, testing and assessment; resume preparation assistance, interview training and other prejob guidance services; job matching and referral; unemployment insurance and job registration; labor market and career information; information on financial aid for education and training; and referral for job training, transportation, child care, personal and financial counseling, health care and other human services resources in the community.

Congregate Meals

Congregate meals are provided daily in-group settings such as senior centers. Participants in the congregate meal program have the opportunity to socialize while enjoying nutritionally balanced meals. As part of the program, nutrition counseling and nutrition education are also made available.

Congregate Meals/Nutrition Sites

Programs that provide hot meals on a regular basis for people who are elderly, adults with disabilities or other targeted populations who may be at risk for nutritional deficits without assistance and who can profit from an opportunity to socialize with others. Congregate meals are often combined with recreational, educational and social activities.

Conservatorship

An adult person or financial institution appointed by a court, who is responsible for a minor child`s or legally incapacitated person`s property until that minor child becomes an adult or the legally incapacitated person becomes competent to be responsible for his or her own property.

Conservatorship Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who are in favor of or want to oppose the appointment of a conservator to protect adults from physical danger and improper treatment and/or to protect their estate from exploitation or waste when they are incapable of managing their own affairs or are competent but infirm. Conservatorships differ widely among jurisdictions. In some states/provinces, conservatorships are voluntary arrangements in which a physically infirm but competent individual petitions the court to appoint the conservator of choice to manage whatever powers and property the conservatee chooses to include in the arrangement. In these jurisdictions, guardianships apply to adults who are found to be incompetent. In other states/provinces, conservatorships apply only to an individual's property while guardianships address responsibility for the person. States/provinces having no conservatorship arrangements generally have guardianship provisions which address the needs of adults who have been found by the courts to be incapable of managing their own affairs.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Residential facilities, usually licensed by the state/province, which combine all three levels of care (independent living, assisted living and nursing home care) in a single setting. CCRCs offer older adults long-term contracts which guarantee a place to live and access to specified personal and health care services. Residences may be apartments, townhouses, duplexes, clusters or single family homes and offer differing arrays of service, usually including a common dining room, exercise and activity areas, outdoor recreation and swimming pools. New residents are expected to move into the community when they are healthy and able to maintain an independent lifestyle, and may be asked to pay a sizable entry fee plus monthly maintenance fees, may have the option of a month to month rental arrangement or may purchase and develop equity in the property. Depending on the contract, specified health services may be covered by the entry fee, may be included in the maintenance fees or may be paid for at the time of need. The monthly fee also covers meals, housekeeping, linen and personal laundry, utilities and other basic services.

Credit Counseling

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to improve their understanding of the consumer credit lending and collections systems, and maximize their skill in utilizing the credit that is available to them. Services may include help in completing credit application forms; and information and guidance about a variety of topics such as understanding how credit information is analyzed, choosing the best credit cards and/or interest rates available, determining how many credit cards can be managed, protecting one's credit information and credit rating, communicating with creditors, repairing poor credit ratings, and eliminating credit card debt.

Crisis Nurseries

Programs that provide temporary shelter for infants and young children who are at risk for or who have experienced child abuse or neglect in the home.

Crisis Shelter

Programs that provide a temporary place to stay for people who are unable to return to their own homes due to sexual assault, domestic violence or other problems. Also included are programs that provide motel vouchers for people who are in one of these situations.

Cultural Heritage Programs

Programs that support and celebrate the diversity of the community's social, artistic and intellectual inheritance.

Daily living activities

Daily living activities are made up of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs).  ADLs include such things as eating, getting in and out of bed, getting around inside, dressing, bathing and using the toilet. Often assessments are used to determine an individual`s ability to perform such tasks without assistance.  IADLs are tasks like shopping, bill paying, cooking and other tasks very necessary to an individual and a household.

Daily Living Aids

Programs that provide equipment that has been especially designed or adapted to assist people who have physical disabilities to bathe, shave, dress, brush their teeth, comb their hair, prepare their meals, eat, drink, clean their homes and perform other daily tasks.

Debt Consolidation Services

Programs that pay all or a portion of an individual's outstanding bills and negotiate a loan agreement with the individual for reimbursement. The individual makes one payment rather than many and the total monthly payment amount is frequently lower than it was previously.

Debt Management

Programs that provide information and guidance and/or legal representation for people who are having difficulty meeting their financial obligations and, as a result, are faced with bankruptcy or loss of their homes or property.

Delivery/Childbirth

Programs that provide facilities and/or necessary medical attention for women who are ready to give birth.

Dementia

A progressive illness involving loss of memory, loss of intellectual functions like reasoning and planning, and eventual loss of physical functions and personality.

Dementia Evaluation

Programs that offer a variety of tests to establish the presence of Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease or other conditions which involve loss of memory, deterioration of intellectual functioning, disorientation and other similar symptoms.

Dental Bill Payment Assistance

Programs that pay the dental bills of people who are unable to obtain necessary dental care without assistance. Also included are programs that provide vouchers which enable eligible individuals to obtain dental care. Dental bill payment assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.

Dental Care

Programs that specialize in the care of the teeth and associated structures in the oral cavity including the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the teeth and gums.

Depression

An extreme mood of sadness with physical symptoms such as loss of appetite and sleep.

Disability

With respect to an individual (A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; (B) a record of such impairment; or (C) being regarded as having an impairment. (ADA, 42 USC 12102) The phrase physical impairment includes but is not limited to orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, specific learning disabilities, HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), tuberculosis, drug addiction, and alcoholism The phrase major life activities means functions such as caring for one`s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.

Driver Licenses

Programs that issue permits which provide written authorization for an individual to operate a motor vehicle on public roads and highways following successful completion of a written and/or driving examination and a vision test. These programs also renew driver licenses that are about to expire, replace driver licenses that are lost or stolen, and process name and address changes.

Drop In Centers

Programs that provide an alternative, non-residential environment that people with any of a variety of issues can visit on an informal basis to find mutual support and access to social and recreational activities. People can drop by whenever they like without the need to make an appointment and have the option of participating in whatever activities are currently underway.

Dropout Programs

Programs that provide educational services for students who have been suspended or expelled from school or have left school for other reasons prior to receiving a diploma; or which seek to prevent students of compulsory school age from skipping classes, being suspended or expelled for disruptive behavior, failing or maintaining a low grade point average, or dropping out of school.

Durable Power of Attorney for Asset Management

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to officially authorize another individual (and one or more alternates) to handle important matters such as bill paying, contracts, investments, taxes, estate planning or a business in the event that the individual becomes incapacitated. There are two kinds of power of attorney: a power of attorney which takes effect immediately upon signing, and a springing power of attorney which does not take effect unless and until the individual becomes incapable of handling his or her own affairs (and expires if the person regains capacity.)

Emergency Food

Programs that provide a limited amount of food for individuals or families during times of personal crisis, or for people who have no food or cannot afford to purchase food at retail costs.

Emergency Response System

Includes equipment hooked to the telephone line and a wireless signal button worn by the older adult. Trained responders are available 24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week to provide assistance in the event of a medical emergency in the home.

Emergency Shelter

Programs that provide a temporary or transitional place to stay for newcomers, people who are in crisis, or homeless individuals in the community.

Emergency Shelter Clearinghouses

Programs that coordinate requests for emergency shelter by screening homeless individuals who apply using criteria established by the shelters, maintaining lists of individuals who have been aided, and checking new applicants against the lists before referring them to a resource that can meet their needs. Emergency shelter clearinghouses help to avoid duplication of service and maximize the availability of shelter resources while relieving the agencies of the task of handling requests directly. Also included are programs that refer people needing shelter to an appropriate resource, but which are not the sole source for this information.

Employment Preparation

Programs that provide assistance for people who need information, guidance and/or training in specific job-related skills to make appropriate occupational choices and secure and retain positions that effectively utilize their abilities.

Environment Volunteer Opportunities

Organizations that are actively seeking individuals with the requisite skills and experience who are willing, on a voluntary basis without remuneration, to work on conservation projects or on other initiatives that will improve the natural and built aspects of the physical environment.

Equipment/Supplies

Equipment and supplies includes durable and non-durable medical supplies and equipment that are provided as a necessary adjunct to direct treatment of the recipient`s condition. This may also include grab bars, handrails, stair lifts or ramps if these items are essential to keep the client in the community.

Estate Planning

The process of arranging one`s personal and financial affairs.

Ethnic/Cultural Festivals

Programs that coordinate events such as Native American Pow-Wows, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, Greek festivals, Oktoberfests, Renaissance fairs and Irish fairs which feature music, art, crafts, dance, food, games, drama and other activities that reflect the cultural heritage, traditions and skills of a particular ethnic group, culture or era.

Family Planning

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to control the size of their families and the spacing of their children, usually through some form of birth control; who have a problem with infertility; or who have questions about the advisability of becoming pregnant or following through with a current pregnancy.

Fee-for-Service

The way traditional Medicare and health insurance work. Medical providers bill for whatever service they provide. Medicare and/or traditional insurance pay their share, and the patient pays the balance through co-payments and deductibles.

Field Trip Aide Volunteer Opportunities

Educational institutions that are actively seeking individuals who are willing to accompany teachers and school children on educational excursions to factories, farms, museums or other places of interest on a voluntary basis without remuneration. Field trip aides help the classroom teacher keep track of the students and supervise their behavior.

Food Pantries

Programs that acquire food products through donations, canned food drives, food bank programs or direct purchase and distribute the food to people who are in emergency situations. Some pantries deliver food to people whose disabilities or illnesses make it difficult for them to leave home.

Food Stamps

A federally-funded program administered locally by the county or the state that enables low-income and indigent households to obtain food stamp coupons which can be exchanged in nearly all grocery stores for food or electronic benefit transfer (EBT) "debit" cards which can be used to purchase food. Approved households are entitled to receive a monthly allotment of food stamp coupons (or to purchase a designated amount of food utilizing their cards) based on net income and household size. Expedited food stamps are available within five days for people who are in an emergency situation and whose income and spendable resources for that month are within specified limits.

Free Schools

Alternative schools at the elementary or secondary level that offer a completely voluntaristic framework including an unstructured curriculum and a spontaneous learning environment in which students are free to select what, with whom, and how to learn. Grades, competition and comparisons between individual students are discarded.

Friendly Telephoning

Programs that help people who are socially isolated due to disability or old age relieve their loneliness by arranging for people (usually volunteers) to telephone them on a regular basis to listen, talk and help them maintain contact with the outside world.

Friendly Visiting

Programs that use "friendly visitors" (usually volunteers but also paid hourly companions) to call on people who are hospitalized or in another institutional setting or who are socially isolated due to disability or old age with the objective of brightening their day and helping them to maintain contact with the outside world by reading, talking, listening, writing letters or performing other similar tasks.

Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Support Groups

Mutual support groups whose members are gays, lesbians, bisexual individuals, people who are in the process of coming out, people who are questioning their sexual orientation, transgender individuals, cross-dressers and/or gender questioning youth. Some groups may include intersexed individuals (people born with reproductive organs and/or genitalia that are ambiguous or atypical). Groups may also be structured for the parents, children, heterosexual spouses or partners or other relatives or significant others of people with sexual orientation or gender identity issues. The groups provide an opportunity for members to share their issues and concerns with others in a safe, supportive environment. Meeting formats may include in-person, telephone or Internet options.

General Legal Aid

Programs that provide legal counseling and/or representation for low-income individuals who need assistance in routine legal matters, usually in the area of bankruptcy, housing, public benefits, family law, elder law or immigration/naturalization.

Geriatric Assessment

Programs, generally staffed by an interdisciplinary team comprising a geriatrician, a nurse, a social worker and a pharmacist, that evaluate the functional ability, physical health, cognitive and mental health and socioenvironmental situation of older adults, particular those who are frail or chronically ill, to identify health-related problems, develop plans for treatment and follow-up, coordinate care, determine the need for long-term care, and ensure the optimal use of health care resources. Beneficial outcomes may include greater diagnostic accuracy, improved functional and mental status, reduced mortality, decreased use of nursing facilities and acute care hospitals and increased satisfaction with care.

Government Consumer Protection Agencies

Consumer protection offices that are part of federal, state/provincial, county or city governments which receive, investigate and resolve through direct action or referral to law enforcement or regulatory agencies, consumer complaints that are a result of transactions in the marketplace. Most government consumer affairs offices also publish and disseminate a large selection of consumer education materials, initiate studies to improve standards of conduct for businesses and consumers, and analyze and recommend changes in consumer protection legislation.

Government Subsidized Private Rental Housing Listings

Programs that maintain lists of privately owned apartment buildings that offer housing units at below market rates because public funding was used to develop the complex.

Graduation Requirements Programs

Programs, usually offered by community adult schools, that provide opportunities for adults and eligible minors who have not completed their formal education to earn eighth grade or high school diplomas or the equivalents.

Grocery Delivery

Food markets that accept telephone orders and deliver food and household supplies to the homes of people who are unable to go out and shop on their own behalf or who prefer to have their groceries delivered. Also included are food pantries that deliver the food to people with illnesses, disabilities, transportation issues or other extenuating circumstances which prevent them from picking it up; groceries on wheels programs which transport and sell groceries at or near the residences of elderly individuals and people who have disabilities; and food mobiles that make stops in rural towns at varying times and locations.

Group Homes for Dependent Children

Facilities that provide an alternative living environment for children and youth who have been neglected, abused or abandoned or have had contact with the juvenile justice system, who are unable to live with their own family or a foster family and who would benefit from a professionally supervised, structured group environment. In some situations, particularly with older youth, a group home is the only option available. Group homes for dependent children are generally licensed by the state/province.

Guardianship

An adult person appointed by a surviving parent in his or her will or by a court, who is responsible for a minor child or legally incapacitated person`s personal care and nurturing.

Guardianship Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who are in favor of or want to oppose the appointment of a guardian to care for and/or manage the affairs of a child or adolescent during minority (generally younger than age 18). In some states/provinces, particularly those with no arrangements for conservatorships, whose conservatorships are voluntary covering property and powers designated by the conservatee or whose conservatorships address only the individual's estate, guardianships may also apply to adults who have been found by the courts to be incapable of managing their own affairs.

Health Care Directive

A health care directive is a written document that informs other of your wishes about your health care. It allows you to name a person ("agent") to decide for you if you are unable to decide. It also allows you to name an agent if you want someone else to decide for you. You must be at least 18 years old to make a health care directive.

Health Insurance Information/Counseling

Programs that offer information and guidance for people who need assistance in selecting appropriate health insurance coverage and which may also answer questions about health insurance benefits and help people complete insurance forms.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

The federal HIPAA law was passed by Congress in 1996.  HIPAA is not a state or federal program, but an industry-wide effort to enhance consumer control of insurance coverage, create health care industry standards to improve administration; and protect and secure personal health information.

Health Insurance Premium Assistance

Programs that make health insurance payments for individuals who are at risk for losing their health, dental and/or vision care coverage and who meet age, income, disability, need or other requirements.

Health Supportive Services

Programs that provide equipment, information, social services or other forms of support which supplement the treatment or habilitation of people who have illnesses, injuries or disabilities or facilitate their ability to function. Included are blood banking services and other anatomical specimen banks, assistive technology equipment and services, medical equipment and supplies, health care referrals, health insurance, pharmacy services, prescription medication support services and health education information which may be instrumental in the prevention of illnesses, injuries or disabilities prior to their occurrence, teach people to provide emergency first aid or help people make informed decisions about health care.

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)

A wide array of services that an individual may need to avoid institutionalization. This includes such things as, case management, homemaker services, home health aides, personal care services, adult day health care, respite care and other services.

Home Barrier Evaluation/Removal

Programs that pay for or provide assistance in the form of labor and supplies for people with disabilities who need to install ramps, elevators, stair glides or lifts; widen doorways; install grab bars in showers and bathrooms; lower kitchen and other cabinets; or make other modifications in their homes or apartments to make them accessible. Also included are programs that assess the accessibility of homes and apartments of people who have disabilities and make recommendations regarding necessary modifications.

Home Based Parenting Education

Programs that visit the homes of parents who want to acquire the knowledge and skills to be effective in their parenting role and provide parenting education services in the family setting. The programs may focus on teen parents; parents who need to develop skills to handle a difficult child; families who want to learn school-readiness activities to share with their child; individuals for whom parenting is a new experience; families at risk for child abuse, neglect or out-of-home placement; or others who have issues that are most effectively resolved in the home environment.

Home Delivered Meals

Home delivered meals are provided to people in their own home when they are unable to prepare their own meals, when no other person is available to prepare their meal, or where the provision of a home delivered meal is the most cost-effective method of delivering a nutritionally adequate meal.

Home Delivered Meals

Programs that prepare and deliver regular meals to older adults and people with disabilities who are unable to shop and/or prepare the food for themselves or travel to a site where a meal is being served.

Home Health Aide

Home health aides and personal care workers provide personal care services, including help with bathing, dressing, and other types of personal care. Some home health aides provide light housekeeping, and home health aides also may be able to apply prescribed ointments and change dressings. All aides performing services must be directly supervised by a registered nurse (RN). Each aide must have completed a home health aide or nurse aide training curriculum approved by an Area Agency on Aging and is trained for each task they perform. A registered nurse must be available for advice and consultation by telephone or otherwise at all times aides are providing services.

Home Health Nursing

A home health nurse coordinates the physician`s plan of care and performs skilled nursing care. The skilled care is initiated by a complete physical assessment and, depending upon the patient`s needs, may include wound care, administration of intravenous or injectable medications, taking blood samples for laboratory testing, or almost any treatment you would receive from a nurse in a hospital or clinic setting. A primary focus of the home care nurse is patient and caregiver education. The nurse instructs on medication side effects and dosage and may monitor the patient for medication compliance. He or she will also teach the patient about the disease and the signs and symptoms that warrant a phone call to the doctor or the home care agency. The nurse will also focus on teaching the patient or caregiver self-care skills. The patient may learn how to self-inject medication, change a wound dressing, or monitor his or her blood sugars.

Home Health Therapies

Skilled medical care provided in the home. Examples of skilled medical care include; physical therapist who provides rehabilitative therapy to help the patient regain mobility, increase endurance, and improve balance and gait; occupational therapist who will provide therapy and a home exercise program to improve range of motion and upper body strength and will also help the patient to gain independence in the activities of daily living, including being able to dress, groom, bathe, and cook; or, speech/language therapists who provides treatment for regaining language skills and improving the ability to chew food and swallow.

Home Maintenance and Repair Services

Programs that provide assistance for people who need to do routine maintenance on their homes or make minor repairs.

Home Medical Equipment (also called durable medical equipment)

Equipment such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, and prosthetics used at home. May be covered by Medicaid and in part by Medicare or private insurance.

Home Modification

Structural or other changes to a home that allows for older adults to remain safely in their homes. Examples include wheelchair ramps to front and back doors, installation of grab bars in the bathroom, etc.

Home Nursing

Programs that offer skilled nursing care under the guidance and supervision of a physician in the homes of recently discharged hospital patients and other people who need continuous nursing care but are not in an acute phase of their illness.

Home Rehabilitation Programs

Programs that provide assistance for people who need to make essential repairs to their homes in order to eliminate health or safety hazards or improve their security. Most home rehabilitation programs cover major repairs, system upgrades and replacements (e.g., plumbing, heating or electrical systems) but not minor repairs.

Home Rental Listings

Programs that maintain lists of available rental housing for review by people who are in search of housing.

Home/Community Care Financing Programs

Programs that support the purchase of case management and other home and community based services as a means of helping people avoid premature institutionalization. Funding is usually through state/provincial and local resources, but may also include some federal dollars. The programs typically provide case management and, unless other funding sources are available, provide funding for and link program participants to existing home and community based services, home modification programs, assistive technology equipment, assisted living facilities or other supported housing options, and/or other needed services. Individuals must meet certain eligibility criteria as specified by the program and usually must have documentation from a physician stating that they are at risk for institutionalization.

Homeless Drop In Centers

Programs that provide a center where homeless people can spend time during the day or evening. The center may provide counseling and/or medication monitoring on a formal or informal basis; facilities for showering, shaving, napping, laundering clothes, making necessary telephone calls or attending to other personal needs; and/or other basic supportive services. Some centers may also provide food or facilities for cooking.

Homeless Shelter

Programs that provide a temporary place to stay (usually three days to two weeks), generally in dormitory-style facilities with very little privacy, for people who have no permanent housing. Also included are programs that provide motel vouchers for people who are homeless.

Homemaker

Homemaker services include meal preparation, routine household care, shopping and errands, assisting with daily activities, arranging transportation, providing emotional support and social stimulation, and monitoring safety and well being.

Homemaker Assistance

Programs that offer the services of trained homemakers who go into the homes of families whose routines have been disrupted by long or short-term illness, disability or other problems, and assume responsibility for routine household activities including menu planning, budgeting, shopping, child care, meal preparation and general household management including light housekeeping.

Hospice

Specialized care for the terminally ill, focusing on comfort and pain control, not cure. Services include medical, home care, social services, and bereavement counseling to the terminally ill and their families.

Hospice Care

Programs that provide a full range of supportive services for terminally ill people who are in the final stages of their illnesses and for their families. Services may include medical care, pain and symptom management, home nurse visitation, case management, emotional and spiritual support, and bereavement services for the patient and members of the family. Hospice care may be provided at home, in a freestanding hospice facility, a hospice unit of a hospital or in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. In the U.S., in order to qualify for Medicaid or Medicare reimbursement, an individual must have a life threatening illness and must be certified by their physician to have entered the last six months of life.

Household Goods

Programs that pay for or supply new, reconditioned or secondhand furnishings for the homes or apartments of people who cannot afford to equip their residences at retail prices.

Household Related Public Assistance Programs

Programs that provide financial assistance to enable eligible individuals and families to purchase essential services that will allow them to remain safely and independently in their homes or to care for their children while they are working or participating in job training programs.

Housekeeping Assistance

Programs that offer the services of domestic workers who go into people's homes and help with heavy house cleaning chores.

Housing Authorities

City, county, or state/provincial housing offices that provide information about eligibility for and vacancies in the subsidized housing properties that are under their jurisdiction. In the U.S., housing authorities accept Section 8 applications, provide Section 8 vouchers, make approved Section 8 rental payments and administer public housing communities while in certain rural areas, the housing finance agency may play this role.

Housing Expense Assistance

Programs that pay current housing bills or finance new living accommodations for people who are otherwise unable to provide for their housing needs. Housing expense assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.

Housing Search Assistance

Programs that assign a staff member to assist people who are looking for housing to survey the available residences and to choose and obtain the most suitable option.

Housing/Shelter

Programs that seek to meet the basic shelter needs of the community by providing temporary shelter for people who are in emergency situations, home improvement programs, housing location assistance and a variety of housing alternatives.

HUD Counseling Agencies

Agencies funded by the federal Office of Housing and Urban Development to provide prepurchase and mortgage default counseling, home equity conversion (reverse mortgage) counseling and information about the HUD rent assistance program for current and prospective purchasers and tenants.

Immunizations

Programs that provide inoculations or other prophylactic measures to prevent susceptible individuals from contracting specific diseases for which means of control have been developed.

In Home Meal Preparation

Programs that offer the services of homemakers who prepare and serve meals in the homes of frail elderly individuals, people with a disability or others who are unable to prepare their own food or leave their homes to travel to a site where a congregate meal is being served.

Incontinence Management Programs

Programs that provide comprehensive preventive, diagnostic and treatment or management services for individuals of all ages who are troubled by total or partial loss of bowel or bladder control. Services may include a complete work-up to determine the cause of the individual's incontinence; selection of a treatment option which may involve pelvic floor exercises, drug therapy or surgical intervention; development of an incontinence management routine should the condition be only partially remediable; and information and support for family members and other caregivers who may need to deal with practical health issues such as skin care, dehydration and prevention of bed sores.

Individual and Family Support Services

Programs that provide alternative living arrangements for children who have no birth family or whose family environment is abusive; or offer services that augment and expand the protection, supervision, care and support that are provided through the primary family unit, or which enhance the recipient's mobility or ability to communicate and live more comfortably.

Informal Caregivers

Family members, friends, neighbors and others who assume responsibility for attending to the daily needs of individuals who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves due to general frailty; illnesses, injuries or progressively debilitating conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or mental illness; or other incapacitating problems without compensation. Through some programs, family or friends who provide care on an informal basis may be paid to fulfill their caregiver role.

Information and Assistance

Information and Assistance is a free telephone service that makes it easy for people to get information in Minnesota. Two of the statewide Information and Assistance helplines are the Senior LinkAge Line® (1-800-333-2433) and the Disability Linkage Line (1-866-333-2466); both numbers are answered Monday- Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30pm. The Linkage Lines can help you get connected to programs, services, activities, events, and other community resources for seniors and persons with disabilities. This service is available not only to older persons and adults with physical disabilities, but also to family members, caregivers, service professionals, students, and any other interested persons.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL`s) are tasks like shopping, bill paying, cooking and other tasks very necessary to an individual and a household. These tasks are similar to the Activities of Daily Living (ADL`s) but are more social/societal than bodily issues.

Job Corps

A nationwide, government-subsidized youth training program that provides remedial education, vocational training and useful work experience including on-the-job training for low and moderate-income, disadvantaged youth who have poor job skills.

Job Finding Assistance

Programs that help people identify and secure paid employment opportunities that match their aptitude, qualifications, experience and interests.

Job Information

Programs that maintain lists of available employment opportunities that people who are searching for a position can access.

Job Information Lines

Programs that provide taped information regarding employment opportunities that job seekers can access by telephone.

Landlord/Tenant Assistance

Programs that provide assistance, information and support for tenants and/or landlords who are involved in rental housing disputes; or which administer state/provincial laws or local ordinances which govern rent control and other aspects of tenant/landlord relations.

Lawn Care

Programs that pay for or provide lawn care assistance including mowing, hedging and weeding for people who need or want this service.

Leaf Raking

Programs that provide or pay for the removal of leaves and other accumulated plant debris from the property of people who need or want this service.

Legal Counseling

Programs that are staffed by lawyers who offer information and guidance regarding legal matters, proposed lines of conduct, claims or contentions including opinions on the party's rights, responsibilities and liabilities; and who offer suggestions for an appropriate course of action, but do not represent clients in court.

Legal Information Lines

Programs that provide telephone information about specific legal problems and procedures. Included are programs like Tel-Law and Ask Immigration with tapes on specific topics that people can select and access through a central number which are then played over the telephone, those that are staffed by live operators who have legal expertise and who answer questions directly, and those that provide legal information via an Internet Web site.

Life Care Communities

Residential facilities, usually licensed by the state, which provide a place to live and lifelong health care including surgery, medication, physical therapy and round-the-clock care for people who can afford to pay a sizable entry fee (which may be as much as $200,000) and a monthly maintenance fee which covers rent, meals, housekeeping, linens, utilities and other basic services. Healthy residents maintain independent living in apartments, studios or cottages while residents whose health problems require constant medical care are guaranteed a bed in the community's long-term care nursing home. Monthly fees are generally regulated by the state and facilities are required to maintain an emergency fund to cover residents who find themselves unable to make the payments.

Live In Companions

Programs that help people who are socially isolated due to disability or old age relieve their loneliness by providing a companion who shares the individual's home and is available on a continual basis for reading, talking, listening, writing letters and other tasks which help the individual maintain contact with the outside world.

Living at Home/Block Nurse Programs

Programs that organize neighbors within communities to offer whatever assistance is needed to help seniors continue living in their homes for as long as possible. Neighborhood volunteers and caring health professionals provide a variety of services that help seniors remain safe and independent while enhancing the aspect of truly "living." Each Living at Home/Block Nurse Program in Minnesota is customized to its community and its needs, therefore Programs do not all offer the same services.

Local Transportation

Organizations that arrange for or provide transportation for individuals whose points of origin and destinations are within their community or other nearby communities. These organizations also provide information for the public about rates, schedules and routes for these services.

Long Term Care (LTC)

Range of medical and/or social services designed to help people who have disabilities or chronic care needs. Services may be short- or long-term and may be provided in a person`s home, in the community, or in residential facilities (e.g., nursing homes or assisted living facilities).

Long Term Care Consultation (LTCC)

LTCC services help people make decisions about long-term care. Consultants help people and their families choose services that reflect their needs and preferences.  LTCC services are provided locally, through the county social service office, and at no cost.

Long Term Care Insurance

A private insurance policy to help pay for some long-term medical and non-medical care, like help with activities of daily living.

Low Cost For Sale Homes/Housing Units

Programs that offer homes or housing units including condominiums and apartments at lower than current real estate prices for individuals and families who wish to purchase housing and qualify on the basis of income. Also included are properties that are available under lease-purchase arrangements.

Low Cost Home Rental Listings

Programs that maintain lists of available low-cost apartments and houses for lease or rent for review by low-income people in search of housing.

Low Income/Subsidized Private Rental Housing

Privately owned rental housing that is made available to low-income individuals and families at reduced rates based on a contract between HUD or the state housing authority and the property owner. Subsidies are paid directly to the owner of the property who then rents units to income-eligible individuals and families. Also included are low-cost or below market rate housing that is operated or sponsored by religious or charitable organizations for the benefit of low-income individuals and families; and rental housing targeted to lower income households that has been purchased, rehabilitated or constructed by developers who are receiving a federal income tax credit under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program or are participants in other similar affordable housing incentive programs. Some privately owned rental units that were developed or improved with public funds are also required to rent a designated number of units at reduced prices to people who meet low-income eligibility requirements until the federal or state loans are paid. Some complexes or housing units may be reserved for low-income older adults, people with disabilities and/or other special populations.

Market Rate Rental Housing Listings

Programs that maintain lists of rental housing that are available on an unsubsidized basis at market rates for review by people who are in search of housing.

Maternity Homes

Programs that provide shelter, care and support services, which often include counseling regarding future plans and instruction in child care and development, for pregnant women who are unable to remain in their own homes.

Mature Driver Training

Programs that offer courses for individuals age 55 and older which focus on safe driving practices for older adults. People who successfully complete the course may receive certificates that make them eligible for reduced motor vehicle liability insurance.

Meals

Programs that provide supplementary nutrition (which may include hot meals, snacks or milk) for homeless people, individuals with low or fixed incomes, older adults, children from low-income families and/or people with disabilities.

Medical Assistance (Medicaid)

A Minnesota program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources.  Medical Assistance rules can change often and the rules can be difficult to understand.  The Senior LinkAge Line® (1-800-333-2433) can help people understand Medical Assistance rules in Minnesota.

Medical Public Assistance Programs

Programs that provide financial assistance to ensure that low-income and indigent individuals and families have access to essential medical services.

Medical Transportation

Programs that provide nonemergency transportation for individuals who require routine medical services and who, because of financial problems or their physical condition, are unable to use other available means of transportation.

Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy Applications

Social Security offices that accept applications and determine eligibility for the subsidies that are available to low income beneficiaries enrolled in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit. Beneficiaries may also apply for the subsidy through the online application available on the Social Security Administration Web site.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Enrollment

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans that are approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer prescription drug coverage and accept applications for enrollment from Medicare beneficiaries. Beneficiaries may also enroll in a plan through the online enrollment application available on the CMS Web site which also has a tool for comparing different plans.

Medication Dispensing Systems

Programs that supply electronic equipment for monitoring and dispensing medication. The device is filled with medication by the caregiver on a regular basis and can be set to remind the individual to open a drawer in the device and take the medication at a particular time each day. If the drawer is not opened at the scheduled time, the caregiver receives a message through the system that the individual has not responded. The equipment is usually attached to a personal emergency response system.

Medication Information

Programs that answer questions concerning prescription, over-the-counter or street drugs, and herbal remedies and other "nutriceuticals". Responses may address appropriate therapeutic uses of particular substances, adverse side effects, interaction/reaction with foods and other drugs, product identification and availability or equivalency and safety when used by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women or older adults, many of whom may have multiple prescriptions.

Mental Health Care and Counseling

Programs that provide preventive, diagnostic and treatment services in a variety of community and hospital-based settings to help people achieve, maintain and enhance a state of emotional well-being, personal empowerment and the skills to cope with everyday demands without excessive stress. Treatment may include emotional support, introspection and problem-solving assistance using a variety of modalities and approaches, and medication, as needed, for individuals who range from the severely chronically mentally ill through those who are experiencing difficult life transitions or who are having problems in coping with daily living.

Mental Health Drop In Centers

Programs that provide an alternative, nonresidential environment for people who have mental, emotional or social problems and which may offer recreational activities, socialization, individual or group counseling, mutual support group meetings, information and referral or other similar services. Included are centers that are staffed by consumers of psychiatric services as well as centers that are managed by professional staff.

Mental Health Evaluation

Programs that provide screening, diagnostic and treatment planning services for people who are experiencing acute or chronic psychiatric problems. Included is a continuum of assessment services ranging from a comprehensive psychiatric or psychological evaluation to the administration of one or a combination of psychological tests to examine a particular personality variable. Services may be provided in a variety of settings including hospitals and community-based clinics.

Mental Health Hotlines

Programs that provide telephone crisis intervention services for individuals whose emotional distress may range in severity from difficulty in coping with daily pressures to the crisis of a psychotic episode. The objective of intervention is to defuse the immediate crisis and to help the person develop a plan for establishing linkage with resources for ongoing assistance, if required.

Mental Health Services

Variety of services provided to people of all ages, including counseling, psychotherapy, psychiatric services, crisis intervention, and support groups. Issues addressed include depression, grief, anxiety, stress, as well as severe mental illnesses.

Mentoring Services Volunteer Opportunities

Organizations that are actively seeking individuals who are willing, on a voluntary basis without remuneration, to provide companionship and guidance and/or serve as role models for individuals who are disadvantaged because of age, income, physical or developmental disabilities or family environment. Some programs may be looking specifically for male or female adult volunteers to serve as mentors for young men or women from families in which adult figures of the same gender are absent or only available on a limited and inadequate basis or who are troubled and at risk for delinquency; or for people who are willing to serve as peer role models. Also included are volunteer opportunities for career mentors, i.e., professionals who are willing to be paired with people who have an interest in their occupation/job.

Military Recruitment Offices

Sites established by any of the branches of the armed forces which provide information about career opportunities with the military and encourage young men and women to join.

Mortgage Payment Assistance

Programs that make mortgage payments for people who are at risk of losing their homes without assistance. Mortgage payment assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.

Mother and Infant Care

Programs that prepare expectant mothers for childbirth and provide health care services for mothers and infants during pregnancy and following birth.

Moving Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who are moving from one residence to another or who are moving their homes from one location to another.

Music Performances

Community or university-based programs or organizations operating on a commercial basis that offer classical, jazz, folk or rock concerts or other types of musical productions. Also included are programs that arrange for music festivals which are often organized thematically within a prescribed period of time and music competitions that are staged as public performances.

Mutual Support Group Clearinghouses

Programs that maintain lists of mutual support groups and link individuals who are in need of this type of service with a local group that meets their needs.

Mutual Support Groups

Autonomous groups of individuals who share a common problem or concern, either directly or through their partners and families, who meet together on a voluntary basis, either in-person, by telephone or via the Internet, to fulfill a need, overcome a disability or cope with a crisis. Members of mutual support groups share their experiences, strengths and hopes and rely on one another for emotional support, information and resources. Included are professionally-facilitated groups, faith-based and secular 12-step models with or without professional participation, groups that use a set of guidelines prepared by a national organization or headquarters, and groups that have no professional participation and/or no specifically-structured format.

Neighborhood Watch Programs

Programs that encourage total community involvement in discouraging preventable crime by organizing awareness meetings to help neighbors get to know one another and look out for each other, learn to secure their property, and recognize and report suspicious activity. Technical assistance may also be provided.

New Driver Training

Programs that provide behind the wheel instruction for individuals who are learning to drive for the first time.

Nursing Home

24-hour nursing care and supervision, monitoring of vital signs, administration of medications and treatments, as well as assistance with all activities of daily living. A nursing home can also provide short-term care for rehabilitation and respite.

Nursing Home Transition Financing Programs

Programs designed to assist institutionalized residents, or those about to be discharged from a hospital to a nursing home, to return to the community to live in a less restrictive setting. Some transition programs are funded using Medicaid and therefore require that eligible participants be Medicaid recipients. Other programs have been created using state or local funds. The programs typically provide case management and, unless other funding sources are available, provide funding for and link program participants to existing home and community based services, home modification programs, assistive technology equipment, assisted living facilities or other supported housing options and/or other needed services.

Occupational Therapy

Programs that evaluate the task performance skills of individuals of all ages with physical and emotional disabilities and devise treatment programs to develop or restore the basic motor skills that are needed by these individuals to engage in desired self-care, work, play or leisure time activities.

Parent Support Groups

Mutual support groups for parents who share a common characteristic or circumstance such as being single parents, dual career parents, multiple birth parents, parents with children who are out of control, or parents of children with disabilities, who come together for educational and social purposes as well as for mutual support. Meeting formats may include in-person, telephone or Internet options.

Parenting/Family Support Groups

Mutual support groups whose members are individuals who have experiences relating to adoption, birth control, family planning, pregnancy, childbirth, foster care, kinship care, marriage, parenting, separation/divorce, single parenting, step families, blended families, grandparent rights or other family situations. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and provide an opportunity for participants to share their experience, strengths and hopes, understand their relationships and work through related emotions.

Parish nurses

Parish nurses educate and advocate on behalf of church members in an effort to meet the needs of mind, body and spirit. Parish nurses make referrals to services in the community; they do provide hands-on care.

Parish Nursing

Programs sponsored by the faith community that provide public health nursing services within a spiritual framework. Parish nurses are licensed registered nurses who promote wellness by addressing the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of individuals and families through a combination of professional nurs