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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a painless technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves without radiation to create clear cross-sectional pictures of the body.

Maintenance/Repair
Maintenance/Repair helps individuals to improve, repair, or maintain their residence, appliances, etc.

Managed Care
Managed Care is a method of delivering and paying for health care through a system of networks of providers, such as HMO's, preferred provider networks, and similar plans. Managed care seeks to ensure the quality and contain the cost of comprehensive medical care. The basic goal of managed care is to coordinate all health care services received to maximize benefits and minimize costs. Managed care plans use their own network of healthcare providers and a system of prior approval from a primary care doctor in order to achieve this goal. Providers include: specialists, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, therapists and home healthcare agencies.

Market Rate Rental
Market Rate Rental is the monthly rental rate for an apartment based on the local market costs and supply and demand in that geographic area for apartment rentals.

Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy is the manipulation of muscle and connective tissue to enhance the function of those tissues and promote relaxation and well being. Therapeutic massage can ease tension and reduce pain. Massage therapy is a form of physical therapy. It can be highly effective for reducing the symptoms of arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and other disorders of the muscles and/or nervous system.

Material Aid
Material Aid is assistance in the form of cash, goods or material items (i.e. clothes, food, physical products, etc.).

Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is a volunteer organization that provides routine nutritious meal delivery for homebound older adults unable to provide meals for themselves. (Also known as mobile meals)

Median Income
Median Income is an average income for residents in a specific geographic area.

Medicaid Certified
Medicaid-certified facilities can offer services to individuals receiving Medicaid assistance in exchange for reimbursement.

Medicaid Waiver Programs
Medicaid Waiver Programs are services provided in the home or community as an alternative to placement in a long term care institutional setting.

Medicaid
Medicaid is a joint The federally supported, state operated public assistance program that pays for health care services to people with a low income, including elderly or disabled persons who qualify. Medicaid pays for some long term nursing facility care, some limited home health services, and may pay for some assisted living services, depending on the state. Programs vary from state to state, and programs may operate by another name.

Medical & Drug Trials
Medical & Drug Trials are used to establish average efficacy of a treatment as well as learn about side-effects, often participants receive new treatment or medication options. (see also clinical trials)

Medical Alert & Call Systems
Medical Alert & Call Systems is an electronic system or device that connects an individual to assistance in an emergency. (see also Emergency Response System)

Medical Alert Jewelry
Medical Alert Jewelry includes bracelets or necklaces that depict the wearer's medical condition or impairment, such as safe return information for Alzheimer's sufferers who wander, medication information, allergies, or other health conditions.

Medical Director
Medical Director is a doctor who oversees medical care in a facility and coordinates with an individual's personal physician to ensure that the facility delivers the care that is prescribed. In some instances, the medical director may be a resident's primary physician. A staff medical director assumes overall responsibility for the formulation and implementation of all policies related to medical care.

Medical Equipment
Medical Equipment includes products such as wheelchairs, walkers, respiratory equipment, diabetic supplies, home oxygen and much more. Many companies dealing in home medical equipment can bill Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance for products needed by the consumer. Also known as, Home Medical Equipment (HME) or Durable Medical Equipment (DME). See also (Adaptive Products)

Medical Necessity
Medical Necessity refers to services or supplies that are proper and needed for the diagnosis or treatment of a medical condition. They must meet the standards of good medical practice in the local medical community, rather than for the convenience of the beneficiary or the physician.

Medical Services
Medical Services on this website includes health and medical conditions. Topics included are: associations for specific conditions, dental, hearing, vision, foot care, dialysis, hospice, hospitals, pharmacies, physicians, prescription assistance, rehabilitation, substance abuse, therapy services and other health related subjects.

Medical Social Services
Medical Social Services is assistance with social and emotional concerns one may have related to an illness.

Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is the California version of Medicaid. Medi-Cal provides many individuals vital health insurance coverage, including wrap-around coverage for medical services Medicare does not cover. It also provides a safety net for seniors requiring long-term care who have exhausted their own financial resources.

Medicare Advantage Plan
Medicare Advantage Plan is offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. In most cases, Medicare Advantage Plans also offer Medicare prescription drug coverage. A Medicare Advantage Plan can be an HMO, PPO, or a Private Fee for- Service Plan. May sometimes be referred to as Medicare Part C.

Medicare Certified
Medicare Certified facilities can offer services to individuals receiving Medicare benefits in exchange for reimbursement from Medicare.

Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A is the part of Medicare that helps pay for inpatient hospital care, limited skilled nursing care, hospice care and some home health care. Most people get Medicare Part A automatically when they turn 65.

Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B is Medical insurance that helps pay for doctors' services, outpatient hospital care and some other medical services not covered by part A (including some home health care). Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary. A monthly premium must be paid to receive Part B.

Medicare Part C
Medicare Part C is also known as Medicare Health Plans (formally, "Medicare+Choice" and "Medicare Advantage"). These are Medicare-approved private insurance plans, including HMOs, PPOs, private fee-for-service plans, and medical saving accounts. These plans may or may not include prescription drug coverage.

Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D is also known as Medicare Prescription Drug plan. This is Medicare's new insurance coverage to help people in Medicare pay for their prescription drugs. Medicare recipients can elect this higher coverage to receive discounts on certain prescription drugs.

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage is another name for Medicare Part D and is a stand-alone drug plan, offered by insurance and other private companies to add prescription drug coverage to the Original Medicare Plan.

Medicare Supplemental Insurance
Medicare Supplemental Insurance is private insurance (often called Medigap) that pays Medicare's deductibles and co-insurances and may cover services not covered by Medicare.

Medicare
Medicare is a Federal insurance health insurance program for those 65 and over, or who meet other criteria. Benefits are broken into Medicare part A,B, C and D. Consumers contribute to some of the costs of Medicare through premiums, deductibles and co-payments.

Medication Management
Medication Management is reminding, administering and/or counseling regarding the medication regime that individuals are using including prescription and over the counter medications, vitamins and home remedies. Depending on state specific regulations, a program may include management of the timing and dosage for residents. In some cases, the medication cannot be handled directly by staff; the resident must take the medication by him/her self. However, if licensed nursing staff is available, less restrictions apply and injections may be arranged.

Medication Reminder
Medication Reminders are services or devices that assist individuals in remembering to take their medicine on the prescribed schedule. Products range from watches with alarms, weekly pill containers, binder systems to electronic and medical alert systems that also provide this service. There are also individuals that provide this service as part of phone reassurance programs.

Medication System
Medication System is a device that dispenses the proper dosage of medications at a specified time. Most systems use an alarm, bell or other sound to notify the recipient that it is time to take their medicine. Some systems notify recipients through their television screen or computer.

Medigap Insurance
A term commonly used to describe Medicare supplemental insurance policies available from various companies. Medigap is private insurance that may be purchased by Medicare-eligible individuals to help pay the deductibles and co-payments required under Medicare. Medigap policies generally do not pay for services not covered by Medicare. See also (Medicare Supplemental Insurance)

Memory Care Assisted Living
Memory Care Assisted Living is a state licensed community that provides a secure setting that alerts staff if a resident has exited and a secure outdoor area; the staff receives training on Alzheimer's and related dementia. A secure environment equates to one that is locked to prevent wandering. Electronic surveillance or personal monitoring systems alone do not qualify as "secure environment".

Memory Care Nursing Homes
Memory Care Nursing Homes is a state licensed community that provide 24-hour skilled nursing care in a secure environment where the staff is trained to work with the needs of older adults with Alzheimer's and related dementia and they require medical services by registered nurses and other professionals but not hospitalization.

Memory Care or Dementia Facilities
Memory Care or Dementia Facilities provide a secure setting that alerts staff if a resident has exited and a secure outdoor area; the staff receives training on Alzheimer's and related dementia. focus care on both personal care needs, as well as, cognitive support of individuals with varying degrees of memory loss from memory impairment diseases such as Alzheimer's. Typically, room and board, social activity, ongoing supervision are provided. Focus on retaining memory through regular stimulation activities is a standard. A secure environment equates to one that is locked to prevent wandering. Electronic surveillance or personal monitoring systems alone do not qualify as "secure environment". (Also known as Special Care)

Memory Loss
Memory Loss is unusual forgetfulness that can be caused by damage to the brain due to disease, injury or severe emotional trauma. The cause determines whether memory loss comes on slowly or suddenly and whether it is temporary or permanent. Normal aging may result in trouble learning new material or requiring a longer time to recall learned material. However, it does not lead to dramatic memory loss unless diseases are involved. Also known as impaired memory or amnesia

Mental Health Counseling
Mental Health Counseling is a collaborative effort between a counselor and a patient to: help patients identify goals and potential solutions to problems that cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health.

Mental Health Programs
Mental Health Programs provide preventive, diagnostic and treatment services to assist people with emotional health issues. Mental Health Services includes services such as inpatient and outpatient counseling, as well as, information, resources and education.

Mental Health Services
Mental Health Services on this site covers information mental health counseling both inpatient and outpatient and online resources.

Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a short test to measure a person's basic skills. These skills include short-term memory, long-term memory, writing and speaking.

Minimum Data Set (MDS)
Minimum Data Set (MDS) summarizes information on the abilities of individuals living in long-term care facilities. To keep their Medicare and Medicaid certification, long-term care facilities must submit their MDS data regularly.

Mobile Beauty Service
Mobile Beauty Service includes salons or individuals that offer their services to older adults and families in the home or to an older adult residing in a senior housing community.

Mobile Medical Services
Mobile Medical Services involves medical services that are mobile and can go to an individual's private residence or a senior housing community. The goal is to lessen the physical impact and stress on the individual. Mobile Medical Services can include portable x-ray, cardiac services and dental services to name a few.

Mobility Equipment
Mobility Equipment are products that individuals use to maintain their mobility and independence. Products include traditional wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, walkers and electric scooters. Many companies may bill Medicare or other insurance for products needed by the consumer.

Moving Services
Moving Services include personalized services, packing and unpacking, general moving, storage and specialty shipping of antiques and valuables.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a painless technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves without radiation to create clear cross-sectional pictures of the body.

Multi-Infarct Dementia
Multi-Infarct Dementia is also known as vascular dementia, and is a deterioration of mental capabilities caused by multiple strokes (infarcts) of the brain.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain, spinal cord and the optic nerves. Surrounding and protecting the nerve fibers of the CNS is a fatty tissue called myelin, which helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses. In MS, the fatty tissue is lost in multiple areas, leaving scar tissue called sclerosis. These damaged areas are also known as plaques or lesions or sometimes the nerve fiber itself is damaged or broken. Myelin protects nerve fibers and is necessary for function. When myelin or the nerve fiber is destroyed or damaged, the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain is disrupted, and this produces the various symptoms of MS.

Music Therapy
Music Therapy is the therapeutic use of music. Music can be used to aid in relaxation and to restore, maintain and improve emotional, physical, physiological and spiritual health and well being.