Glossary

VRD Group’s care glossary provides a clear, concise understanding of commonly used terms and phrases related to home care, health care, services, etc. Whether you’re trying to navigate the world of healthcare complexities or seeking to understand the terminology in the industry, our glossary is here to help.

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I

  • These are routine activities an individual tends to do routine activities daily for self-care and normal living. These include eating, bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, transferring (walking, bed, to chair), and continence. 

  • A legally executed document that explains a participant’s or client’s healthcare-related wishes and decisions. It is drawn up while the client or participant is still competent and is used if the person becomes incapacitated or incompetent.

  • Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified or customized, used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

  • The ability of where older adults can make and carry out decisions about their daily lives based on their own values, briefs, and preferences.

  • The process of organizing and managing healthcare services for individuals collaboratively and efficiently. It usually involves the coordination of various healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.

  • A comprehensive suite of services and activities that help individuals with chronic or complex conditions manage their health.

  • A written plan of services developed by a care manager, in consultation with a participant, to guide health care professionals involved with the participant’s care.

  • A health and human services professional who oversees the coordination of overall care, services, and resources delivered to an individual and their support systems based on their health and human services needs, and interests.

  • A health care process in which a professional helps an individual to develop a plan that coordinates and integrates the support services necessary and goals contained in a written case management plan.

  • An individualized counseling service designed to assist the waiver participant who may experience problems managing emotions as the result of adjusting to a physical or cognitive disability. The CIC can be provided in either the participant’s home or in the provider’s office. 

  • These are individually designed services intended to assist a waiver participant in transition from a nursing home to living in the community.

  •  A Conflict-Free service coordination agency, means an agency does not provide any other Waiver Services, such as independent living skills training, home and community support staff, etc.

  • These are providers of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for the individual or those who have an interest in or are employed by a provider of HCBS for the individual must not provide care management or develop the person-centered service plan.

  • The process of organizing and managing healthcare services for individuals collaboratively and efficiently. It usually involves the coordination of various healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.

  • This includes physical changes to a home that can improve the health and safety of a person with disabilities. E-mods can be internal or external and must be related to an assessed health-related need.

  • A type of advance directive, which is part of advance care planning that involves preparing for future decisions This can be any adult you want as your proxy, such as a relative, friend, neighbor, or community member. You can also name a second person as a backup agent in case your primary agent can’t fulfill their duties.

  • These services are utilized when oversight and/or supervision as a discrete service is necessary to maintain the health and safety of the participant living in the community. HCSS can also be provided to participants needing oversight and/or supervision who also require assistance with personal care services.

  • ILST is geared toward participants with a chronic illness to help them maintain essential skills that allow them to live as independently as possible in their community.

  • The decision a case manager makes about the provision of case management services to a client or client’s support system. Usually, a case manager makes an intake decision after considering basic information such as the client’s demographics, current health program, medical and social history, treatment plan, etc. 

  • This plan is developed when an individual is applying to become a waiver participant. The Individual Service Plan is a collection of personal, historical, medical/function, and social information about the applicant gathered through an interview and assessment of the individual by the Service Coordinator, clinicians, and service providers.

  •  A set of skills necessary for an individual to maintain independent living. These skills require cognitive, emotional, and physical capacity for successful performance. They include the ability to use a telephone, shop, or groceries, handle finances, perform housekeeping tasks, prepare meals, do laundry, take medications, and transportation use.

M

  • A program that helps people who are chronically ill or have disabilities and who need health and long-term care services, such as home care or adult day care, stay in their homes, and communities as long as possible.

  • A joint federal/state program that provides basic health insurance for persons with disabilities, or who are poor, or receive certain governmental income support benefits and who meet income and resource limitations.


  • A nationwide federally administered health insurance program that covers the cost of hospitalization, medical care, and some related services for eligible persons. 

N

  • The state government department is responsible for public health in New York. The department’s mission is to protect and promote the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.

  • A professional who assists the RRDC in the administration and monitoring of the NHTD Waiver Program.


  • A New York home and community-based program, geared to seniors who require a nursing home level of care, but want to remain in their own homes and retain their independence.

  • An individually designed service that provides an assessment of the waiver participant’s nutritional needs and food patterns, and the planning for the provision of food and drinks appropriate for the waiver participant’s conditions.

P

  • A participant in the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Medicaid waiver program is an individual who is enrolled in the program. 

  •  An individually designed service to improve the waiver participant’s self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and ability to access needed services, goods, and opportunities in the community. 

  • This plan is for NHTD and refers to a tailored, individualized document that outlines the specific services and supports needed by an individual to live independently in the community rather than in a nursing home or similar facility.

  • These services are designed for waiver participants who have significant behavioral difficulties that jeopardize their ability to remain in the community.

  • This is a legal document that identifies and empowers a person to speak for someone who wants assistance with financial or healthcare matters or can no longer speak for themselves.

R

  • These centers are part of the statewide network that supports the administration and coordination of services under various Medicaid waiver programs, including the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) waiver.

  • These specialists are responsible for the development, management, administration, and monitoring of the NHTD waiver for the RRDC on a regional level.

  • An individually designed service, specifically provided in the home intended to provide preventative, maintenance, and rehabilitative airway-related techniques and procedures. 

  • These services are provided to participants unable to care for themselves and need relief from those persons who normally provide care for the participant.

  • This plan refers to an updated or modified version of the original service plan that was initially developed for an individual participant. 

S

  • This is designed to facilitate the transition to or maintenance of community-based living for individuals who would otherwise require institutional care. It emphasizes individual planning, coordination of services, and ongoing support to enhance the participant’s quality of life and independence.

  • This person is responsible for developing a personalized, tailored plan for participants; ensuring the services are meeting their individual needs.

  • A detailed document that outlines the specific services and supports an individual will receive to address their needs and goals in various healthcare or social service settings.

  • These are individually designed services, provided in an outpatient setting or in the community, to improve or maintain the waiver participant’s skills and ability to live as independently as possible in the community.

T

  • Transportation is offered as a direct service to waiver participants to enable individuals to gain access to: identified community resources, other community services, and activities as specified in their service plan.

  • This program is designed to allow individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or stroke to stay in or return to their homes and continue to make choices about their care.

v

  •  These modifications provide the participant with the means to increase independence and access to services in the community and could potentially include adaptive equipment and/or vehicle modifications.

W

  • This refers to an individual who qualifies for and receives services under one of the Medicaid waiver programs. When you are a waiver participant in New York State involves receiving specialized services support under Medicaid waivers designed to facilitate community living and enhance the quality of life for individuals 

  • An individually designed service intended to assist the medically stable waiver participant in maintaining optimal health status. This specific service is intended to be available to a waiver participant who does not otherwise have access to nursing services.