When you find yourself in the role of having to care for your aging parent it can be a very stressful situation. Hopefully, this glossary of terms can be a resource for you as you start this new journey.
24/7 Care
24/7 Care refers to the level of care an individual needs. It involves caregivers around the clock actively providing care for tasks such as toileting, ambulation, medication reminders, etc. This is different from Live-in care in that at no time should the individual have a sleeping caregiver.
Accelerated Death Benefits
Accelerated Death Benefits provisions in some life insurance policies allow some portion of a death benefit to be used for care before the individual passing. An Accelerated Death Benefit might be a way to help pay for an individual’s caregiving needs.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are a series of tasks that an individual requires to care for themselves and remain independent. These tasks include: Bathing, Dressing, Transferring, Toileting, & Feeding. (For More Infomation Follow This Link to the NIH website.)
Acute Care
Acute Care refers to conditions that come on rapidly, have symptoms that require urgent or short-term care, and get better once they are treated.
Adult Day Health (Adult Daycare or Adult Day Services)
Adult Day Health provides a supervised environment where seniors can come during the day for social engagement, meals, and possibly various physical or occupational therapy.
Advance Directives
Advance Directives are written statements of a person’s wishes if they can not communicate with their doctor. Examples of Advance Directives would be a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare.
Aid & Attendance
Aid & Attendance refers to a benefit offered by the Veterans Administration for qualified veterans and their survivors who need assistance with their Activities of Daily Living. More information can be found on the VA website at https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. This disease affects the brain with symptoms progressing from mild memory loss to a total lack of physical control.
Ambulation
Ambulation is the ability to walk independently without the assistance of another person. Assisted devices could be used in ambulation.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed into law that persons with disabilities must have equal access to all benefits and privileges of employment that are available to all similar employees without disabilities. For more information visit https://www.ada.gov/
Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
Area Agencies on Aging are formed to address the needs and concerns of all older Americans at the local level. In most areas, the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is the gateway to all the services that an individual might qualify for that participates in Federal, State, or local funding programs. The Area Agency on Aging was created through Federal Law to operate at the State level and serve local populations.
Assisted Living Facility (ALF)
Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) is a type of long-term care facility that provides housing, meals, and personal & companionship support to its residents. Broadly speaking Assisted Living Facilities fall between Skilled Nursing Homes that require 24/7 medical supervision and Independent Living facilities that only provide housing and no personal support services to their residents. Some states narrowed the traditional definition of Assisted Living facilities to separate them from Group Homes or some other designation.
Assisted Technology Devices
Assisted Technology Devices are any adaptive tools that can be used by someone with a disability or impairment to remain independent and a productive member of society. Some examples of Assisted Technology Devices are magnifiers or screen reading software for blind individuals or phones with captioning or doorbells with flashing light alerts for hearing-impaired individuals.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a medical procedure involving repeated compression of a patient’s chest, performed in an attempt to restore the blood circulation and breathing of a person who has suffered cardiac arrest. CPR training is usually required of all medical and caregiving professionals.
Care Coordinator
A Care Coordinator is a healthcare provider who helps to manage a patient’s conditions and oversee their treatment plan. This person may conduct intake assessments and reassessments as well as make referrals to other services that a patient might need.
Care Management
Case Management encompasses the entire rehabilitating and recovery process. It deals with every aspect of the process and creates one clear path to better health.
Caregiver Support Groups
Caregiver Support Groups are usually designed to provide support and education for the family members that are caring for a loved one. These caregiver support groups usually focus on conditions such as Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, heart disease, stroke, etc. Sometimes these groups are led by a trained facilitator and other times they are peer-led.
Cash Surrender Value
Cash Surrender Value refers to the actual amount of money one would receive if one terminated a permanent life insurance policy before maturity. This figure could play a role in qualifying for certain income-based programs and can also be used as a way to pay privately out of pocket for caregiving needs.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a government agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which is tasked with providing health coverage to millions of people through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplace (Obamacare).
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Certified Nursing Assistants are trained to provide many hands-on Personal Care tasks for individuals such as changing briefs, bathing, grooming, feeding, etc. CNAs work under the direction of a Registered Nurse or other higher-level medical provider.
Chronic Disease
Chronic Disease refers to a condition that usually lasts for 3 or more months and may get worse over time. Many times chronic disease can be controlled but not cured. Some common forms of chronic diseases are heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis.
Client
A client is a term for an individual receiving care in a provider’s office or home. The reason for using the term Client in this setting is to avoid the connotation of being sick or ill which could be associated with the word patient.
Comorbidity
Comorbidity refers to the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or conditions in a patient.
Companionship Care
Companionship Care about Home Care refers to the non-hands-on tasks that a caregiver might perform. Some examples might include light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation, emotional support, socialization, etc.
Conservator
A Conservator is a guardian or protector appointed by the court to handle an incapacitated person’s affairs. Conservators have many responsibilities, and in addition to carrying out any specific Court orders, are responsible for managing, preserving, and administering assets owned by and for the benefit of a Protected Person.
Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program
A Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program is a way that Medicaid provides an alternative way of receiving home care services in which consumers can directly hire and manage their caregiver without having to go through a home care agency. For more information visit https://oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/workplan/summary/wp-summary-0000225.asp#:~:text=Medicaid%20Consumer%2DDirected%20Personal%20Assistance,and%20how%20it%20is%20provided.
Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) are designed to provide a continuum of care as a resident ages. This means that a resident could start out living independently in an apartment complex and later transition to an onsite Assisted Living followed by a Nursing Home and even Hospice care without ever having to leave the community.
Copayment
A Copayment is a fixed amount that you pay to your medical services provider at the time of the visit that is set by your insurance company.
Cueing
Cueing as it relates to dementia patients refers to providing reminders meant to trigger a memory. An example of a visual cue might be laying out their clothes for the next day which helps them to dress appropriately for the weather, etc.
Delirium
Delirium is an altered mental state in which one is confused, disoriented, and/or unable to think or remember clearly. These symptoms of delirium can begin suddenly and are often temporary and treatable.
Dementia
Dementia is a general term for the impaired ability to think, remember, or make decisions that interfere with everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common types of dementia.
Discharge Planner
A Discharge Planner is usually a Registered Nurse or Social Worker that is in charge of coordinating the discharge of a patient from a medical facility.
Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)
A Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR) is a medical order written by a doctor that instructs providers not to perform CPR if a person’s heart or breathing stops. A DNR is created before an emergency occurs with the full consent of the patient, the patient’s proxy, or the patient’s family.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) includes equipment and supplies ordered by a healthcare provider for everyday or extended use. Some examples of DME would be oxygen equipment, wheelchairs, crutches, or blood testing strips for diabetics.
Durable Power of Attorney
A Durable Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives one person (such as a relative, lawyer, or friend) the authority to make legal, medical, or financial decisions for another person. A durable power of attorney remains in effect until the person who grants it dies or cancels it.
Elder Abuse
Elder Abuse is the intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a service risk of harm to an older adult. Types of elder abuse include: physical abuse, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, neglect and abandonment, and sexual abuse
Elder Care
Elder Care refers to the care of people who are elderly or informed that is usually provided by residential institutions by paid daily help in the home or by family members.
Elimination Period
Elimination Period is an insurance term that refers to the time between the start of care and when benefits kick in. For instance, a long-term care insurance policy might have a 30-day elimination period where they will not begin paying for care until day 31.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) refers to ambulance or paramedic services provided in emergencies in a pre-hospital setting.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) helps employees with personal problems that affect their job performance.
End-of-life Planning
End-of-life Planning refers to the part of your estate plans that formalizes and makes your wishes known about what you want to happen in the last phases of your life. This planning can include wills, trusts, Power of Attorneys, Organ Donation, end-of-life housing, and funeral and burial arrangements.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a labor law requiring employers of a certain size to provide employees with unpaid time off for serious family health issues or situations.
Family or Informal Caregiver
A family or informal caregiver refers to someone who cares for a person without any compensation. This could be a family member, neighbor, or friend.
Geriatric Care Management (GCM)
Geriatric care management (GCM) assists clients and their families in finding resources, making decisions, and managing stress. Many times GCM provides a single point of contact for facilitating your or your loved one’s care.
Geriatrician
Geriatricians are primary care doctors who have additional specialized training in treating older patients. They can practice in outpatient settings, nursing facilities, or hospitals.
Group Home
A senior Group Home is a communal living environment that provides a level of care between nursing homes and independent living arrangements for seniors. Senior Group Homes can help provide activities of daily living.
Health Care Power of Attorney
A Health Care Power of Attorney is a legal document giving someone else the power to make medical decisions on behalf of another person if they are unable to make those decisions themselves
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Home and Community-Based Services is a broad term that covers any services provided in a home or community-based living arrangement that helps individuals to live independently.
Home Health Aide (HHA)
A Home Health Aide (HHA) is a trained professional that assists with personal care and companionship care tasks in the home.
Home Health Care
Home Health Care usually refers to skilled medical services provided in a person’s home (as opposed to Home Care which refers to non-medical services provided in a person’s home.) Examples would include physical therapy, RN pill box setup, medical services performed by an RN, etc.)
Home Infusion
Home Infusion refers to the administration of medications, fluids, or other treatments via intravenous methods at home.
Homebound
Homebound refers to a person with a medical condition that prevents them from leaving home without significant difficulty or assistance.
Home Care
Home Care usually refers to non-medical services provided in a person’s home (as opposed to Home Health Care which refers to medical services provided in a person’s home.) Examples would include someone that helps with light housekeeping, laundry, toileting, dressing, etc.
Home Maker Service
Home Maker Service refers to assistance with household chores and activities such as light housekeeping and meal preparation, etc.
Hospice Care
Hospice Care refers to the palliative care provided to an individual near the end of their life. Usually, to qualify for Hospice Care a person needs to have a medical diagnosis that if left untreated could result in death within 6 months. In hospice care the focus is no longer on treating the disease but rather on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness and improving the quality of life for the patient and their family.
Incontinence
Incontinence refers to the inability of a person to control their bladder and/or bowel function.
Independent Living
Independent Living refers to a living situation where seniors can live on their own but do have access to some limited assistance and support services if needed. For instance, an Independent Living community might have meals served but one of the requirements might be that the individual would need to be able to get to the dining hall on their own and be able to feed themselves independently.
Informed Consent
Informed Consent refers to providing all of the necessary information about a medical treatment before a person agreed to participate in the medical treatment.
Licensure
Licensure refers to licenses provided by the state for healthcare providers to practice or operate. Usually, these licenses require providers to operate under certain guidelines to ensure patient safety.
Limitations
Limitations refer to restrictions on the types of services or treatments that a healthcare provider or facility can offer. These are usually in place because of licensing regulations or insurance standards.
Live-in Home Care
Live-in Home Care refers to a situation where one or more caregivers live in the house with a client along with providing care for the individual. Several steps are required by the Department of Labor for someone to qualify as a live-in caregiver including such things as they need to have their room, and they must get a certain amount of uninterrupted sleep time among other items.
Living Trust
A Living Trust is a legal arrangement in which a person’s assets are managed by a trustee for their benefit during their lifetime and distributed to beneficiaries upon their death.
Living Will
A Living Will is a legal document describing treatments for medical preferences if they are unable to communicate or make decisions on their medical treatments in the future.
Long Distance Caregiving
Long Distance Caregiving refers to the situation where a person helps to coordinate care from a distance for someone else. An example would be an adult child trying to coordinate their parent’s care while living in a different state.
Long-term Care
Long-term Care is a term that refers to ongoing assistance with activities of daily living and personal care for individuals with chronic health conditions or disabilities.
Long-term Care Insurance (LTC)
Long-term Care Insurance refers to insurance policies that are designed to help cover the expenses related to the cost of long-term care services. These can stand along policies or be structured as riders on life insurance policies that allow for the benefits to be paid out during an insurer’s lifetime rather than after death.
Look Back Penalty
Look Back Penalty refers to a period of ineligibility for Medicaid benefits due to the transfer of assets. To qualify for Medicaid there are certain income and asset levels that an individual must be under to qualify for coverage. If someone moves funds around within the look-back period there can be a look-back penalty so the state can recoup some of those funds.
Medically Frail or Fragile
Medically Frail or Fragile describes individuals with chronic health conditions or disabilities that require ongoing care and assistance.
Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for individuals that are 65 years old or older and those with certain disabilities.
Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A refers to hospital insurance that covers inpatient care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.
Medicare Part C – Medicare Advantage Plan
Medicare Part C or Medicare Advantage Plans are private health insurance plans that provide Medicare benefits, including hospital and medical coverage, and sometimes prescription drug coverage.
Money Follows The Person (MFP)
Money Follows The Person (MFP) refers to a federal program that helps people move from institutional care settings to community-based care settings such as their homes.
Non-ambulatory
Non-ambulatory refers to the inability to walk or move independently.
Nursing Home
A Nursing Home is a residential facility that provides 24-hour skilled nursing care and assistance with daily activities.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Occupational Therapy (OT) refers to a type of therapy that helps individuals regain or maintain independence in their daily activities and improve their ability to perform tasks.
Ombudsman
Ombudsman is an advocate who investigates and resolves complaints made by or on behalf of individuals receiving long-term care services.
Outcomes
Outcomes refer to the results or consequences of a particular treatment or intervention.
Palliative Care
Palliative Care is a type of care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, aiming to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. Hospice Care is a type of palliative care.
Para-transit Services
Para-transit Services refer to transportation services for individuals with disabilities that can’t use regular public transit.
Patient
A Patient is an individual receiving care in a hospital setting.
Patient Advocate
A Patient Advocate is a professional who assists patients in navigating the healthcare system, helping to ensure they receive appropriate care and understand their rights.
Payor
A Payor is an entity responsible for paying healthcare costs, such as an insurance company, government program, or individual.
Personal Care Services (PCS)
Personal Care Service (PCS) refers to non-medical services that require hands-on care. Some examples would be bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, etc.
Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
A Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) is a medical alert system that allows individuals to call for help in the case of an emergency through the use of a wearable pendant or wristband. A classic commercial for a personal emergency response system is the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercial.
Physical Therapy (PT)
Physical Therapy (PT) is a form of therapy that uses physical exercises and techniques to help patients regain or maintain mobility and function. This can be done in a hospital setting, in an inpatient rehab setting, at outpatient clinics, or from skilled home health providers.
Plan of Care
A Plan of Care is a comprehensive strategy for meeting a person’s physical, emotional, and social needs, often developed by a healthcare professional.
Power of Attorney (POA)
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows a person to appoint someone else to make decisions on their behalf, including financial and legal matters.
Pressure Sore
A Pressure Sore is a localized injury to the skin and underlying tissue, usually due to prolonged pressure, often found in individuals with limited mobility.
Primary Care Physician (PCP)
A Primary Care Physician (PCP) refers to an individual’s primary physician. This is usually a family medicine doctor or an internal medicine physician. This person serves as the first point of contact for patients, managing their overall care and referring them to specialists when necessary.
Private Pay
Private Pay refers to payment for healthcare or home care services that are paid directly from the client or their family rather than any government programs or insurance.
Professional Caregiver
A Professional Caregiver is a trained individual who provides care and support services to those in need, such as seniors or people with disabilities.
Provider
Provider refers to a healthcare professional or organization that delivers medical care or services.
Proxy Caregiver
A Proxy Caregiver is a term used to describe an unlicensed person who provides healthcare-related services to individuals with disabilities or elderly persons in their homes or community-based settings. Proxy caregivers are not licensed healthcare professionals but are allowed to perform specific health maintenance activities under certain circumstances as determined by state law.
Range of Motion (ROM) Exercises
Range of Motion Exercises (ROM) are exercises designed to maintain or improve joint flexibility and function.
Readmission Rate
Readmission Rate refers to the percentage of patients who are readmitted to a hospital or other healthcare facility within a specified period after being discharged. Medicare reimbursement rates are based on this rate so it incentives providers not to send patients home from the hospital if there is a high likelihood of being readmitted.
Referral
A referral is a term used for directing a patient to another healthcare provider or specialist usually during the discharge process.
Rehabilitative Services
Rehabilitative Services are healthcare services aimed at helping individuals regain or maintain function, often after an injury or illness.
Resident
The resident is the term used to describe an individual in a residential setting such as a nursing home or assisted living.
Respite Care
Respite Care refers to temporary care provided to individuals with special needs, allowing their caregivers to take a break from their caregiving responsibilities.
Reverse Mortgage
Reverse Mortgage is a type of home loan that allows seniors to convert a portion of their home equity into cash, typically used to help fund living expenses or long-term care.
Senior Center
Senior Center is a community facility that offers social, recreational, and educational activities for older adults.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
A skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) is a healthcare facility that provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, and assistance with daily activities for seniors who need a higher level of care.
Social Security
Social Security is a federal program that provides financial support to retired individuals, disabled individuals, and their dependents or survivors.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that provides financial support to individuals who are unable to work due to a qualifying disability, based on their previous work history and contributions to Social Security.
Sundown Syndrome
Sundown Syndrome is a term used to describe increased confusion, agitation, or behavioral changes in individuals with dementia or other cognitive impairments, which tend to worsen during the late afternoon or early evening.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that provides financial assistance to low-income individuals who are elderly, blind, or have disabilities and who have limited income and resources.
Surrogate
A surrogate is a person appointed to make decisions on behalf of another person, typically regarding medical care, when that person is unable to make those decisions for themselves.
Veteran’s Affairs (VA)
Veteran’s Affairs (VA) is a federal agency responsible for providing healthcare, benefits, and services to eligible veterans and their families.
Wartime Veterans
Wartime Veterans are Veterans who served in the military during specific periods of conflict, as defined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These veterans may be eligible for certain benefits and services not available to all veterans. This applies to WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations in the War on Terrorism.
Worker’s Compensation
Worker’s Compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides financial benefits and medical care to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.