Glossary
A guide to terms used on this website and by those working in housing and social care for older people.
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Alzheimer's disease is a physical disease affecting the brain and is the most common cause of dementia.
Early stages of the condition may begin with minor memory problems and difficulty saying the right words. As the condition develops it may lead to confusion and personality changes. Unfortunately, there is no cure, but treatment can slow down its development. - Assisted living
- A form of housing with care designed for older people. It is also known as extra care or very sheltered housing.
- Assisted technology
- Technology to help older or disabled people with tasks they would otherwise find difficult, such as memory aids, automatic lighting and Telecare sensors.
- Attendance Allowance
- A welfare benefit paid by the Department of Work & Pensions.
It is paid to people 65 and over, who have certain personal care or supervision needs. It is tax free and not means tested. - Care Assessment
- A free assessment by Social Services of carers or people who appear to need community care services.
Also called Needs Assessments. - Care Quality Commission
- The Care Quality Commission regulates all health and adult social care services.
- Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)
- CST is a treatment for people with mild to moderate dementia. It involves 14 sessions of themed activities, which aim to actively stimulate and engage people, whilst providing an optimal learning environment and the social benefits of a group.
- Community Alarm
- Community alarms enable people to call for help in case of emergency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Community Care Services
- Community Care Services include home care, respite care, day care, provision of disability aids and meals on wheels.
Each local authority sets its own eligibility criteria for these services and can charge for services they provide or arrange. - Court
- Our schemes are built around communal areas called 'courts'. They can include a restaurant, health suite, hairdressers and shop.
- Dementia
- Dementia causes the loss of mental abilities and lead to loss of memory, confusion, and changes in personality, mood and behaviour. It is not a disease, but a group of symptoms that may accompany some diseases or conditions affecting the brain.
Dementia usually affects older people and becomes more common with age, but is not a normal part of growing old. - Direct Payments
- Direct payments are cash payments made to individuals who have been assessed as needing services. They enable a person to buy their own care services.
- Domiciliary Care
- Help given to people in their own homes which can include personal care and practical help with household tasks.
- Equity Release
- Refers to the various ways in which older people can release equity from their homes to generate cash whilst continuing to live there.
- Extra Care
- Housing with care designed for older people. Also known as very sheltered housing or assisted living.
- Home Care
- Help given to people in their own homes which can include personal care, and practical help with household tasks.
- Housing Association
- Independent not-for-profit organisation which provides affordable homes to rent and buy.
- Housing Benefit
- Housing benefit is paid by the council to help people pay their rent and some service charges.
- Leasehold
- When you purchase a leasehold property, you are buying the right to live in the property for a fixed period, usually 125 years. You do not own the land surrounding your home or the building that your home is in.
The lease states who is responsible for maintenance and repairs to the property and any conditions you must meet as a resident. - Needs Assessment
- A free assessment by Social Services of carers or people who appear to need community care services.
They are also called Care Assessments. - Personal Care
- Includes help with dressing, feeding and personal hygiene, advice and psychological support.
- Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
- Developed by the Government, the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) provides a way in which the public and private sectors can work together on the design, build or refurbishment and management of facilities and services to the general public.
Contracts typically last for 30 years, during which time the building is leased by a public authority. - Public Private Partnership (PPP)
- An alliance between public bodies, local authorities or central government, and private companies to deliver a public project or service.
- Practical Care
- Includes help with every day tasks such as laundry, cleaning, shopping, preparing food and arranging social activities.
- Registered Social Landlord
- Independent, not-for-profit housing organisations approved and regulated by Government.
- Reminiscence
- A form of therapy which allows people with short-term memory loss to interact by recalling things from their past.
- Resale Property
- A resale property offers you the opportunity to buy a previously owned home.
- Residential Care Home
- A residential home where elderly people live and receive personal care.
- Respite Care
- Respite care provides carers with short-term, temporary relief from caring for someone.
- Retirement Housing
- Accommodation specially designed for older people which you can buy or rent.
- Scheme Manager
- Person responsible for managing a retirement or sheltered housing scheme.
- Service and support charges
- Charges which cover the cost of services such as repairs and upkeep of communal areas.
- Shared Ownership
- Shared ownership makes home ownership more affordable as you buy a share of your property and pay rent on the rest.
- Sheltered Housing
- Accommodation specially designed for older people which you can buy or rent. 24 hour help is on-hand if needed.
- Supporting People
- A government run programme, Supporting People offers vulnerable people the opportunity to improve their quality of life by providing a stable environment which enables greater independence.
- Telecare
- Telecare consists of alarm and monitoring devices to support vulnerable people to live safely and independently at home.
- Tenant Services Authority
- The TSA represents tenants, ensuring they are treated fairly.
