Glossary

Basic activities essential for daily living, including walking, getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and self-administering medications. ADLs are widely used to assess functional status.

Short-term medical care aimed at treating or curing disease or injury, usually within a period of less than three months, often involving physician and hospital services.

An agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services that focuses on older persons and their concerns at the federal level.

Centers providing companionship and supervision to older adults during the day, offering a break to full-time caregivers.

Legal documents, such as living wills and medical powers of attorney, that allow a person to give instructions about future medical care if they become unable to make decisions due to serious illness or incapacity.

Speaking or writing to support or defend an interest or cause, often advocating for a loved one’s wishes, dignity, and comfort in caregiving.

A progressive, irreversible form of dementia, the most common type, affecting memory and rational thinking, usually leading to total disability over time.

The act of moving about or walking.

Able to walk about.

Able to move about with the aid of a cane, crutch, brace, wheelchair, or walker.

Medication, often available without prescription, used to treat pain, including stronger prescription medications.

Local government agencies that provide services for older persons through grants or contracts with public and private organizations.

Housing that combines personal services and health care for individuals needing help with ADLs, provided in a professionally managed group living environment.

Products that improve a person’s ability to live independently, ranging from low-tech devices like canes to high-tech items like electric wheelchairs and hearing aids.

A pan used for urination and defecation while in bed.

A person unable to walk or get out of bed without assistance.

The period of mourning after a loss.

Physical and/or mental exhaustion caused by long-term stress.

A medical doctor specializing in heart disorders.

A tube passed through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine, also known as Foley or In-Dwelling Catheter.

A certified caregiver who can provide assistance to those with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or who are aging.

Unable to get out of a chair without assistance.

A condition lasting one year or more, requiring ongoing medical attention or limiting daily activities like bathing, dressing, or walking.

A disposable pad, soft on one side and waterproof on the other, used under incontinent persons or draining areas.

A planned community with single-family homes, townhouses, or rental units clustered around shared amenities like a community kitchen, dining room, and common areas.

A portable toilet used in a patient’s room.

The presence of more than one disorder in the same person.

The legal ability to understand information, make a choice based on that information, and communicate that decision understandably.

A court-appointed person who handles someone’s affairs when that person cannot do so, usually focusing on finances.

A Medicaid program allowing chronically ill and disabled people to choose, train, and supervise their own caregivers.

Able to control the passage of urine and feces. The opposite is incontinent.

Housing offering various living options and services to meet a person’s changing needs.

A fixed amount paid for a health care service covered by insurance after the deductible.

Non-medical care that helps individuals with daily activities like bathing and dressing.

A sore caused by lack of blood circulation to an area of the body, also known as bedsores or pressure sores.

Lack of adequate fluid in the body.

Short-term confusion and disrupted attention, often accompanied by disordered speech and hallucinations.

A decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, with Alzheimer’s being the most common cause.

A medical doctor specializing in skin disorders.

A condition caused by the pancreas’s failure to secrete insulin.

A professional trained in planning menus and special diets.

A professional assisting patients and families in developing post-hospital or nursing home care plans.

Loss of one’s bearings or familiarity with surroundings.

Drugs helping the body eliminate excess fluid.

A written order instructing not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in case of cardiac or respiratory arrest.

A plastic bag collecting urine from a catheter.

A sheet placed under a patient to facilitate movement.

A Power of Attorney unaffected by the individual’s subsequent disability.

Fluid collection in tissues causing swelling.

Services or products impacting the lives of the older adult population.

A professional assisting older adults and families by assessing needs and identifying appropriate services.

A condition where the lungs become distended or ruptured.

A medical doctor specializing in hormonal and metabolic disorders.

An individual providing nonmedical comfort and support to a dying person and their family.

Carefully planned programs tested for benefits to specific populations.

Short-term or temporary care in a rehabilitation hospital or nursing home, aiming to return a patient home.

A federal law providing eligible employees with up to 12 weeks per year of unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical situations.

Any relative, partner, friend, or neighbor providing a broad range of assistance to an adult with a chronic or disabling condition.

Involving a fever.

Private insurance organizations contracted by the federal government to handle Medicare claims.

Paid care services provided by a service provider.

The list of medications covered by a particular health insurance plan.

Inability to perform daily activities like dressing, eating, or bathing without help.

A medical doctor specializing in digestive disorders.

A wheelchair that cannot be self-propelled.

Evaluations determining a patient’s strengths and problems.

A specialist creating a care plan to arrange services for an individual.

A medical doctor focusing on older adults.

Professionals specializing in the physical, social, and psychological aspects of aging.

Railings placed around tubs, showers, and toilets for stability.

Another name for Certified Residential Facility.

A court-sanctioned legal relationship giving someone authority over another person unable to make safe decisions.

Railings on walls to improve safety.

An organization providing a comprehensive range of health maintenance and treatment services for a prepaid fee.

A type of durable power of attorney appointing someone to make health care decisions if the person becomes unable to do so.

A medical doctor specializing in blood disorders.

A certified agency providing skilled nurses, homemakers, home health aides, and therapeutic services in a person’s home.

A trained and certified health care worker assisting with personal care and hygiene in the home.

Health services provided at home for the elderly, disabled, sick, or convalescent, including nursing care, social services, and various therapies.

Light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, shopping, and other tasks for those needing assistance at home.

Care for patients in the final stages of terminal illness, focusing on physical, psychological, spiritual, and existential needs.

High blood pressure or elevated pressure in the arteries.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, enhancing quality of life, including shopping, household chores, and meal preparation.

Inability to control bowel or bladder functions.

Age-restricted housing with few services, typically related to convenience.

Making medical care decisions based on open communication among the health care provider, patient, and family.

A professional providing personal care services in a client’s home.

Assistance with everyday tasks and ADLs, like meal preparation, housekeeping, toileting, bathing, dressing, and transportation to appointments.

Medical care and services requiring overnight or extended stays.

Medication given for constipation.

A nurse with vocational training and a state license to handle basic duties in hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities.

A document describing a person’s wishes regarding heroic life support measures.

Coverage helping policyholders pay for long-term care at home, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities.

An advocate for residents of nursing homes, residential care homes, and assisted living facilities.

A service delivering daily hot meals to the homes of elderly or disabled people.

Government-provided health care coverage for eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.

A healthcare professional with medical school training, hospital experience, a federal licensing exam, and a state license.

A document allowing an individual to appoint someone to make medical decisions if they are unable to communicate.

A federal health insurance program for people 65 and over and some under 65 who are disabled.

Private health plans offering all benefits covered by original Medicare, sometimes with additional benefits.

Private policies covering costs not paid by original Medicare.

A gathering place for individuals with dementia and their caregivers to socialize, support each other, and exchange information.

Facilities or specialized units focusing on helping people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

A tube passed through the nose to the stomach for liquid feeding.

A federal program providing grants for respite care, training, counseling, and other supports.

A medical doctor specializing in kidney disorders.

A medical doctor specializing in nervous system disorders.

A primary-care provider with advanced practice nursing training, able to order tests, write referrals, and prescribe medicines.

A residential facility providing long-term personal or medical care for chronically ill, disabled, and older people unable to care for themselves.

A representative protecting a person’s rights through advocacy, providing information, and encouraging respect for citizens’ rights.

A medical doctor specializing in cancer treatment.

A medical doctor specializing in eye disorders and surgery.

A medical doctor specializing in bone and connective tissue disorders.

A doctor with additional training in manual medicine and the musculoskeletal system.

A disorder causing a gradual decrease in bone strength.

A medical doctor specializing in ear, nose, and throat problems.

A written document that instructs emergency medical services (EMS) providers to withhold or withdraw CPR from a patient if they experience cardiac or respiratory arrest outside of a medical facility.

Health care procedures and treatment not requiring overnight hospitalization.

Specialized medical care focusing on relief from symptoms and stress of serious illness.

A professional resolving concerns about someone’s health care experience.

The amount a patient must pay for health care services after insurance.

Assistance with eating, dressing, walking, and other personal needs.

Help with personal hygiene and self-care provided by in-home personal care aides (PCAs).

An alarm system summoning help during a medical or personal emergency.

A professional helping retain or restore muscle function through movement, exercises, or treatments.

A health care professional working in collaboration with a medical doctor.

A doctor specializing in foot and ankle problems.

A legal document giving someone authority to act on another’s behalf, usually on financial matters.

The doctor seen first for checkups and health problems.

An abbreviation indicating medication or treatment is given only as needed.

A medical doctor specializing in emotional and mental disorders.

A specialist helping patients and families with emotional and personal matters and decision-making.

A medical doctor specializing in X-rays and related procedures.

A nurse with at least two years of education and a degree from an accredited school of nursing.

A facility providing therapy and training for restoring physical function or cognitive skills after injury or illness.

Telehealth services allowing patients to use mobile devices to gather health data.

Short-term care of a sick, disabled, or older person for a few hours, days, or weeks.

A device preventing a person from falling out of a chair or bed.

A medical doctor specializing in joint and musculoskeletal system pain and symptoms.

Drugs providing calm and quiet to those in a state of nervous excitement.

The ability to bathe, dress, toilet, and feed oneself.

A layman’s term for the mental deterioration that may occur with aging.

A physical location providing opportunities for older adults to get active, enjoy social activities, and improve their overall quality of life.

Nursing or rehabilitation services ordered by a doctor and provided by licensed health professionals like nurses and physical therapists.

A facility certified by Medicare and/or Medicaid to provide skilled care.

A national insurance program providing income to workers when they retire or are disabled, and to dependents when a worker dies.

Monthly benefits for people below retirement age with a significant illness or impairment preventing work for at least a year or expected to result in death.

A professional identifying social and emotional needs and providing necessary services.

Establishing Medicaid eligibility by reducing income through medical expenses until meeting Medicaid financial requirements.

Confusion occurring later in the afternoon and into the night, often in patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, including behaviors like confusion, anxiety, agitation, and sleeplessness.

A federal program paying monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or aged 65 or older.

An individual appointed to act in place of another.

A protein stabilizing other proteins supporting neuron structure and cellular transportation.

A condition that is incurable or fatal.

Payment for care made by someone other than the patient or their family, like Medicare or private insurance.

A transient ischemic attack, a brief stroke-like event requiring immediate medical attention and warning of a future stroke.

Abbreviation for the measurement of Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration.

An activity of daily living referring to getting in and out of a chair, bed, or sitting up in bed.

Home care for those transitioning home after a hospital stay, injury, procedure, or rehabilitation facility, including transportation, medication reminders, exercise or diet support, and other in-home care services.

An infection in the urinary tract, common in patients with catheters.

A medical doctor specializing in the urinary tract and male reproductive system.

Veterans Administration.

A sensation of dizziness or light-headedness.

Measurements like Temperature, Pulse, Respiration, and Blood Pressure, showing how well a person’s body is functioning.

A lightweight frame used to provide stability while walking, offering more stability than a cane.

A chair fitted with wheels for use as a means of transport by a person who is unable to walk as a result of illness, injury, aging, or disability.