activities of daily living (ADLs) - Describes daily
activities including dressing, bathing, eating, toileting,
transferring out of a bed or chair, and walking. Inability
to perform one or more ADLs is often used as eligibility
criteria for long term care services.
adult day care - Community-based group programs
designed to meet the needs of functionally and/or cognitively
impaired adults. Adult day centers provide a caring,
home-like protected setting for individuals. They are
normally open five days a week during business hours
and include a mixture of health, social and support
services. Specialized programs for individuals with
Alzheimer's disease or related disorders also exist.
alzheimer's disease - A progressive neurological disease that affects brain functions, including short-term memory loss, inability to reason, and the deterioration of language and the ability to care for oneself. An estimated 3% of people between the ages of 65 and 74 have Alzheimer's, rising to about half those age 85 and over. Currently, Alzheimer's disease is incurable.
anticipatory grief - The deep emotional distress that occurs when someone
has a prolonged illness and death is expected often
by the patient as well as the family. Anticipatory grief
can be just as painful and stressful as the actual death
of the person.
area agency on aging (AAA) - Created by the federal Older Americans Act, AAAs represent a nationwide network of over 600 program sites. They are the focal point for aging concerns at the community level. Services include information and referral, nutrition, employment, in-home services, counseling, legal services, and day health care with an emphasis on ease of access.
assisted living facility (ALF) - An out-of-home
care option for elderly persons who continue to lead
relatively active, healthy, and independent lives. Most
ALFs feature apartment-style living and many services
for the elderly, and do not accept public financing
but rely on private pay from residents or their families.
bereavement - To be in a sad or lonely state due to a loss or death.
board and care home - A small to medium-sized group residence that provides residents with a private or shared room, meals, and includes some assistance with activities of daily living, but not skilled nursing.
caregiver - Someone who provides assistance,
generally in the home environment, to an aging parent,
spouse, other relative, or unrelated person, or to an
ill or disabled person of any age. A caregiver can be
a family member, friend, volunteer, or paid professional.
care manager - A professional who finds and coordinates appropriate social and medical services for elders or persons with a disability and their families. Sometimes referred to as a "case manager."
chronic care - Ongoing provision of medical, health, social, psychological, and spiritual care services that enable persons with serious and persistent conditions to optimize their functional independence and well-being.
cognitive impairment - A deficiency in a person's short or long term memory, orientation as to person, place and time, deductive or abstract reasoning, or judgment. Typically related to an illness or injury (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, stroke or traumatic brain injury).
companion caregiver services - Companions services
provide in-home non-medical care, which can include
cooking, light cleaning, medication reminders, bathing
assistance, conversation, and light errands. May also
be termed "senior home care, home care services, caregiver
services".
dementia - The medical term for a group of symptoms that describes a loss of intellectual ability, including loss of mental processes (e.g., vocabulary, abstract thinking, judgment, memory loss, physical coordination) that interfere with daily activities. The symptoms can be brought on by degenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases), vascular diseases or stroke, metabolic disorders (thyroid, liver kidney dysfunction or certain vitamin deficiencies), AIDS, drugs and alcohol, or psychiatric disorders. Some dementing disorders may respond to treatments, others do not.
depression - A reversible psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, difficulty sleeping, feelings of hopelessness, fatigue, the "blues," and guilt.
discharge planner - A nurse or social worker who assists patients and families in transitioning from the hospital to another setting. Services may include assistance in locating home care services, rehabilitation, or nursing home care.
elder abuse - Elder abuse can be defined in a variety of ways, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, neglect, abandonment, and self-neglect. Most often it is defined as an action taken by someone who is trusted by an elder that causes harm.
elder care - A relatively new and growing
area of health care concerned with providing medical
and other services for the rapidly growing, aging population
(most often persons 65 and older).
geriatrician - A geriatrician is a physician who specializes in the care of the elderly, primarily those who are frail and have complex medical and social problems.
home care - Provides a range of supportive services in the home from intensive medical support to assistance with activities of daily living to housekeeping. This type of care can include nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other rehabilitation services. This support allows many elders and people with disabilities to remain in their own homes.
home health aids - Individuals who provide care to older adults or people with disabilities at home. Training or certification may vary for home health aides, but typical services include assistance with activities of daily living, managing medications and some household tasks.
homemaker services - Services delivered at home which do not include hands-on care including shopping, laundry, light cleaning, meal preparation, and transportation assistance. Also referred to as home chore services.
hospice - Literal meaning "a place of shelter."
Today it refers to services and care at home (or in
a health facility) for terminally ill individuals and
their families. Hospice care primarily manages pain
and discomfort.
in-home care - Provides a range of supportive services in the home from intensive medical support to assistance with activities of daily living to housekeeping. This type of care can include nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other rehabilitation services. This support allows many elders and people with disabilities to remain in their own homes.
independent provider - A home care worker who is hired privately, outside of a home care agency.
infusion therapy (also called intravenous therapy) - The introduction of fluid other than blood into
a vein.
long term care (LTC) - Includes a wide range
of services at home, in the community and in residential
care facilities, including nursing homes. Long term
care includes companion care, health and social services,
rehabilitative, therapeutic, skilled nursing, and other
supportive, palliative care or supervision provided
over an extended period of time.
meals on wheels - A nationwide program of home-delivery of hot lunches. Usually operates Monday through Friday.
medicaid - A joint federal-state program which
covers health services for low-income individuals and
families. Coverage and eligibility requirements vary
from state to state. Medicaid is the primary payer of
nursing home care. In addition, many states offer some
level of home and community-based long-term care services
for eligible individuals. Such additional services are
at the option of the state and are not mandated by Federal
law.
medicare - The primary health insurance program
for people aged 65 and older and those with certain
disabilities. Medicare coverage provides for acute hospital
care, physician services, brief stays in skilled nursing
facilities, and short-term skilled home care related
to a medical problem. Medicare coverage is determined
by the nature of services required by the patient, not
the specific diagnosis. Coverage is restricted to medical
care, and does not include prescription drugs or custodial
care at home or in nursing homes.
occupational therapist - A rehabilitation professional
who assists individuals to compensate for functional
limitations as a result of an injury, illness or disability
by learning skills and techniques needed to perform
activities of daily living and optimize independence..
personal emergency response system (PERS) - An electronic device that enables the user to contact help in case of a fall or other medical emergency. A number of private companies offer PERS systems which link the user with designated contact persons and local emergency services on a 24-hour basis.
physical therapist - A rehabilitation professional who utilizes various therapies to assist individuals in maximizing mobility, and restoring strength and body movement following an illness, injury (e.g., stroke, fall, back injury, etc).
residential care facility (RCF)- an out-of-home care option for elderly persons who are no longer able to live alone and independently, but do not require skilled nursing care. RCFs typically provide assistance with personal hygiene, grooming, and other activities of daily living, as well as recreational and social services.
respite care - Temporary or intermittent care for individuals with disabilities, illnesses, dementia or other health concerns to give relief to caregivers from the demands of ongoing care. Respite care can be provided at home, adult day care centers or overnight in a facility.
senior center - Community-based programs that provide a variety of services, including social activities, nutrition, and educational and recreational opportunities for older adults.
skilled nursing facility (SNF) - An out-of-home
care option for elderly persons who require continuous
nursing care. SNFs can provide extensive care services,
such as intravenous feedings, blood pressure monitoring,
medication injections, and care for patients on ventilators.
sub-acute care - Specifies a level of maintenance care where there is no urgent or life-threatening condition which requires medical treatment. Hospitals typically do not provide sub-acute care on an ongoing basis. Sub-acute care may include long-term ventilator care or other procedures provided on a routine basis either at home or by trained staff at a skilled nursing facility.
substantial assistance - This describes a situation where hands-on, stand-by help is required to perform activities of daily living.
telephone reassurance - Friendly calls provided by agencies or volunteers that offer reassurance, contact, and socialization to an elderly person at a predetermined time each day.
