R

R

Real Estate Services
Real Estate Services include all things related to buying or selling a home. Realtors with Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES(r)) designation specialize in serving older adults.

Reasonable and Necessary Care
Reasonable and Necessary Care is the amount and type of health services generally accepted by the health community as being required for the treatment of a specific disease or illness.

Recreation, Social & Travel
Recreation, Social & Travel on this website lists personal interest activities by topic including bingo halls along with online bingo, continuing education, dating and relationships, Elderhostel opportunities, RVs, camping, dance lessons, travel in the United States and worldwide and much more.

Recreational Therapist
Recreational Therapist use recreational and social interaction to provide therapy. They help residents enjoy activities, and might offer special tools, such as large-print songsheets, to encourage participation. Some facilities may have an Activity Director, but this position may not be a licensed Recreational Therapist.

Referral Agency or Housing Specialist
Referral Agency or Housing Specialist provide information and assistance to individuals or their caregivers about current housing availability or services available in their area. In addition to providing information, these service providers can assess the problems and capacities of individuals, link them to available opportunities and services, and conduct follow-up to ensure that the individual received the services. The methods for providing this information and assistance vary widely from distributing pre-printed lists of providers to conducting searches for a wide-range of services that account for an individual's personal constraints, be they financial, physical, social or geographic. This service may be paid by the client or by a referral fee from the provider.

Regional Home Health Intermediary
Regional Home Health Intermediary is a private company that contracts with Medicare to pay home health and hospice bills and check on the quality of home health care.

Registered Nurse (RN)
Register Nurse is a nurse who has both passed a state board examination and is licensed by a state agency to practice nursing. A minimum of two years of college is required in addition to passage of the state exams. The RN plans for resident care by assessing resident needs, developing and monitoring care plans in conjunction with physicians, as well as executing highly technical skilled nursing treatments. See also (Nurse)

Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is treatment for an injury, illness, or pain with the goal of restoring function. Rehab is ordered by a physician and services are provided by nurses and physical, occupational, and speech therapists. Examples include working with a physical therapist to help you walk and with an occupational therapist to help you get dressed.

Rehabilitation Facilities
Rehabilitation Facilities provide acute or sub-acute care to assist individuals recovering from illness or accidents, including nursing and therapy services. Depending on the severity of the condition the rehabilitation may be inpatient or outpatient.

Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is therapeutic care for persons requiring intensive physical, occupational or speech therapy in order to restore to the patient to a former capacity. Treatments for individuals who have suffered a stroke, brain or spinal cord injury, or pain that cannot be controlled by medication alone. This also includes return-to-work programs or occupational rehabilitation, which help individuals regain skills they need.

Relocation & Downsizing Specialist
Relocation & Downsizing Specialist assist with moves from a larger home to an apartment or community and often handle personal details of a move. Relocation & Downsizing Specialist have a background in assisting older adults with relocation and downsizing from a larger home to an apartment or senior housing community. Services can include packing, estate sale, coordinating the move and unpacking and setting up the new household.

Rent
Rent is money paid for use of leased property usually paid on a monthly basis with a fixed due date.

Repair & Set Up
Repair & Set Up of computer system service can come from retail stores, consultants and even from web based companies.

Representative Payee Services
Representative Payee Services are financial management service for someone who is unable to manage their funds and federal government benefits by reason of physical or mental capacity. A representative payee is appointed by a government entity to receive those funds and benefits on the other individual's behalf. Representative Payee acts as a surrogate on behalf of an individual who is not capable of making cognitive decisions. Handles the individual's cash benefit checks such as Social Security or Supplemental Security Income. A representative payee can be a public agency, nonprofit organization, bank or an individual.

Research & Statistics
Research & Statistics on this website includes resources highlighting the aging of America.

Resident Assistant (RA)
Resident Assistant (RA) provide personal assistance in senior communities and provide direct personal care services to residents but they may not be certified CNAs. Depending on the state, this position is also available in some nursing facilities.

Resident Care Plan
Resident Care Plan is a written plan of care for nursing facility residents developed by an interdisciplinary team that specifies measurable objectives and timetables for services to be provided to meet a resident's medical, nursing, mental and psychosocial needs.

Resident Council
Resident Council is a group of residents who meet to discuss concerns and support the staff in efforts to improve care and to make life in the facility or community the best it can be. Staff members may or may not be involved in family councils. Under the law, families of nursing home and assisted living residents have the right to meet independently as a group; these facilities may have a family council, comprised of family members or friends to address the same needs. Resident Council is independently led by a group of residents who discuss concerns and arrange for activities. In nursing homes, staff members provide support to resident councils.

Resident
Resident is someone who lives in a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home or assisted living community.

Residential Care Facilities
Residential Care Facilities refer to group living arrangements that are designed to meet the needs of people who cannot live independently but do not require nursing facility services. These homes offer a wider range of services than independent living options. Most provide help with some of the activities of daily living. In some cases, private long-term care insurance and medical assistance programs will help pay for this type of service. Residential homes or facilities that offer personal care and individual attention for older adults, people with disabilities and others whose limitations prevent them from living alone. Adult residential care homes generally provide a room, meals and supervision; and may specialize in specific needs such as Alzheimer's disease or developmental disabilities. Depending on the State, these homes may be unlicensed. See also Assisted Living)

Resource & Support
Resources & Support for Caregiving on this website contains links to organizations that provide resources, support groups and networks to help individuals better manage physical and mental stress of caregiving. This topic also contains links to government and non-profit agencies that provide financial assistance, advocacy and support for family caregivers.

Respiratory Therapy
Respiratory Therapy consists of exercises and/or treatments that are designed to help patients regain lung function. Assists patients with breathing difficulties to reduce fatigue and increase tolerance in performing daily activities.

Respite Care
Respite Care is short term relief for family caregivers to take a break from the caregiving responsibilities, including: housing, home care, or financial assistance. Respite services can be provided daily through an Adult Day Program, in-home assistance, a short nursing home stay or for a longer period that allows the family caregiver to go on vacation or a business trip. Longer duration respite care is generally found at select senior housing communities although some Companion services may provide this service in the home. Respite care is also used while transitioning persons from in-patient hospital stay to home.

Restaurant-Style Dining
Restaurant-style dining is a dining service with resident selections available from a menu of choices, often seating times are not pre-determined.

Restorative Therapy
Restorative Therapy services that are performed with a reasonable expectation that the individual's function will improve significantly in a reasonable and predictable period of time, based upon an assessment of the individual's restoration potential made by a physician or mid-level practitioner in consultation with the licensed therapist. Therapy services are not restorative therapy if the individual's expected restoration potential would be insignificant in relation to the extent and duration of services required. Therapy services are no longer restorative therapy if at any time after commencement of treatment, it is determined that the reasonable expectation of significant improvement in function will not materialize.

Retirement Communities
Retirement Communities provide shelter and support services to older adults who are nearly or totally independent. The level of services may include housekeeping, meal preparation, recreational and social activities, and transportation. Communities are in apartment, town house, or condominium settings. Provides minimal or no assistance with health care, and does not increase care as needs arise. May require a buy-in or entrance fee.

Retiring Abroad
Retiring Abroad includes housing options in foreign countries that cater to retirees who desire low maintenance; some developments may provide hospitality services or amenities.

Reverse Mortgage
A type of loan where an individual borrows against the value of their home and does not have to pay back the principal until he/she sells the home or leaves the home permanently.

Reverse Mortgages
Reverse Mortgages are for older adults who are 62 and over and they wish to remain in their own home but access the equity in the home. With the Reverse Mortgage the older adult can have monthly income or a lump sum payment and remain in the home and retain ownership. Repayment is not due until the borrower sells, moves, or dies.

Roth IRA
Roth IRA is a nondeductible individual retirement account, similar, yet with several significant differences, to the traditional IRA. These include eligibility and distribution differences.

RVs & Camping
RVs and Camping include locations to rent or purchase campers or equipment, and resources to help research, plan, and reserve your next destination.