|
GLOSSARY & DEFINITIONS – CARING FOR THE ELDERLY
Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Basic self-care functions including bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, eating, and transferring in and out of beds and chairs.
Activities of Daily Living Assessment
An assessment of an individual's physical and cognitive functions to determine if he or she can still complete activities of daily living. Assessments are performed by geriatric case managers, social workers or other similar types of professionals.
Acute care
Any treatment to diagnose, prevent, or cure an illness or to provide primary care. Treatments can be provided in an outpatient or inpatient setting.
Adult Day Health Care
A type of adult day service that offers comprehensive health services in addition to social and support services. Typical facilities will provide on-site nurses, therapists, social workers and other health professionals. These facilities offer programs that provide a mixture of health, social and support service for older adults for periods less than 24 hours.
Advance Directive
A legal document also referred to as a medical directive that documents an individual's preferences regarding the manner in which they would like to receive health care, in the event they can no longer communicate such wishes directly. Living Wills, Health Care Powers of Attorney and Health Care Proxy are examples.
Aging in Place
A concept that advocates for allowing an individual to remain in his/her home and the community regardless of cognitive or functional impairments.
Alzheimer's Disease
A progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys mental functions such as memory and learning. Individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior.
Alzheimer's Facilities
Licensed facilities or special care units within a larger facility that provide intermediate nursing care, medical, nursing and rehabilitation care for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias in a safe and controlled environment.
Ambulatory Aids
Devices that help individuals move safely and independently. These include walkers, crutches, canes, scooters and wheelchairs.
Assisted Living Facilities
Residential housing that maximizes an individual's ability to live independently and provides a lower level of assistance than that at a skilled nursing facility. Services include 24-hour on-call assistance and help with personal and home care such as bathing, dressing, meals, and housekeeping. Some of these facilities do provide specific Alzheimer's Disease services. Medicare does not generally cover care in these facilities.
Board and Care Home
A residentially-oriented facility that offers a lighter level of care than a skilled nursing facility in a home-like setting for 2-10 residents. These facilities may not be licensed or certified and may also be referred to as residential care facilities.
Care Manager
A professional who plans, locates, monitors and coordinates appropriate social and medical services for those that are not able to fully care for themselves due to a disability or functional limitation. Also known as a case manager. Often a nurse or social worker.
Caregiver
A broad term used to refer to an individual who provides care to another individual who cannot care for him or herself due to a disability or functional limitation. This individual could provide non-medical care such as help with bathing or eating or he/she could provide medically necessary care such as changing dressings. The care may be provided informally by a relative, friend or neighbor or by a paid individual who may or may not be a licensed professional.
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
An assistant who is certified to provide general nursing care under the direction of a registered nurse or therapist. They help with every aspect of nursing care as well as provide daily personal care to patients such as bathing, eating, and exercising in a variety of settings. Also referred to as a nurse assistant.
Cognition
The mental processes of recognizing, learning, understanding, remembering and evaluating relevant information and speaking.
Companionship
Services that offer homebound visitation to older adults for conversation, reading and light errands for the purpose of relieving loneliness and providing social contact.
Conservator
An individual or public or private agency appointed by a court to provide legal representation for an individual who can no longer manage his or her own affairs.
Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRCs)
A residential community that offers a continuum of care from private apartments to skilled nursing care at the same location. It is designed to meet changing needs while allowing residents to avoid relocating.
Convalescent Home
State-licensed facilities that provide a safe, therapeutic environment for individuals who require rehabilitative care or can no longer live independently due to functional or cognitive impairment. Also known as skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes.
Dementia
Deterioration of cognitive ability. Symptoms include disorientation and memory loss.
Discharge Planner
A social worker or nurse who assists a patient with health care arrangements following a hospital stay.
Durable Medical Equipment
Medical equipment prescribed by a doctor for use by a patient at home. These reusable items include such things as hospital beds, lifts, wheelchairs, and oxygen equipment.
Elder Abuse
The situation where an older adult has been abused, neglected or exploited.
Elder Law
The area of law pertaining to the rights and legal matters concerning older adults. This includes such subjects as estate planning, wills, guardianship, powers of attorney, Medicare & Medicaid.
Elder Rights & Assistance
Agencies and services that assist older adults who have been neglected, abused or exploited.
End of Life Care
Services to help the terminally ill and their families cope with the end stages of life.
Estate Planning
Refers to the process of planning for what will happen to an individual's assets in the event of his/her death. This generally requires an attorney's involvement.
Geriatric Care Manager
Also known as a Case or Care Manager. A professional who provides an assessment of an older adult's capabilities to create a care plan to address housing, medical, social and other needs.
Geriatrician
A medical specialist who treats older adults. These are generally internal medicine or family practice physicians who have completed additional training and certification.
Home Health Agency
A service that locates and manages health professionals who provide services in the home such as nursing, physical therapy, or personal care.
Home Health Aide (HHA)
A professional who is trained to provide assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, eating and cooking, and light housekeeping in order to assist the patient with living independently in a safe environment.
Home Health Care
Health, personal and social care provided in the home to individuals who are functionally or cognitively impaired.
Hospice
A program providing support services such as pain and symptom management, social services, and emotional support for the terminally ill and their families. Care can be provided at home or in facilities.
Incontinence
Total or partial loss of bowel or bladder control or functions.
Long Term Care Insurance
A type of insurance coverage for long term care expenses such as assistance with activities of daily living or medical care required to manage a chronic condition and will generally cover some of, if not all, the costs associated with skilled nursing facilities, residential care homes, assisted living or other types of similar facilities. In addition, the policy may cover home health care and other costs of care depending upon the terms of the policy.
Long Term Care Ombudsman
A professional who investigates and resolves complaints on behalf of residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Medical Alert & Call Systems
Also known as Emergency Response Systems. An electronic system or device that connects an individual to assistance in an emergency.
Medication Management
Identification and counseling regarding the medication regime that individuals are using including prescription and over the counter medications, vitamins and home remedies.
Palliative Care
Pain management services to provide comfort to those with life-threatening illness.
Rehabilitation
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.
Residential Care Facilities
A broad term used to describe group homes, assisted living facilities, board and care homes, specialized senior apartments, skilled nursing facilities or other facilities that provide services where individuals live.
Residential Care Homes
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. These homes are often unlicensed.
Respite Care
Temporary or intermittent care for individuals with functional or cognitive impairments that provides relief to caregivers from the demands of ongoing care. This care can be provided in the home, in the community or overnight at a facility.
Retirement Communities
Communities that 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.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
State-licensed facilities that provide a safe, therapeutic environment for individuals who require rehabilitative care or can no longer live independently due to functional or cognitive impairment. Also known as nursing homes or convalescent homes.
Transfer Devices
Lifts, seat lift chairs, transfer boards and other devices which help individuals who have physical disabilities move into and out of their vehicles, wheelchairs and other mobility systems.
* The articles contained in this section are for informational and editorial purposes ONLY. Always consult with your medical provider to assess your individual needs.
|
