:: Caregivers

The following ElderCare Glossary is not intended to be authoritative, but to help the reader understand some of the language used in talking with professionals in health care.

Many of the terms are used in the classification of facilities and services available - hence it will be useful to read the section carefully before carrying out any searches.

Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)	Activities essential for independent living. They include: Bathing; Dressing; Preparing meals; Feeding; Exercising; Grooming; Self medication; Toileting.
Adult Day Care	A place where a senior can spend the day in a safe and secure environment.
Alzheimer's Care Facilities	A place providing care for patients with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease (See also Dementia)	Alzheimer's disease (often abbreviated AD) is a specific kind of dementia. AD slowly develops over the course of many years. At first, the victim might have difficulty remembering simple things. They may use coping strategies such as making lists to get by so that others do not notice these changes. As the disease slowly progresses, the victim's memory problems become worse. They can no longer remember how to use common home appliances, or they do not remember that they made a list. People with AD often experience personality changes, disturbances in their sleep-wake cycle, display inappropriate behavior, or wander aimlessly.
Assisted Living Facility	An assisted living facility is for people who need help with the Activities of Daily Living(ADL’s), can no longer live independently, but who do not have such serious health problems that they require nursing home care.
Care Givers	All persons who administer care to seniors. Friends and Families make up 80% of Caregivers it is for this group that Alliance4Aging was formed. The remaining 20% of Caregivers are health care professionals.
Case Manager (Care Manager)	A professional (usually based in hospital, residential home, etc) that helps patients that need support.
Contracts	We all sign contracts regularly but if you are asked to sign a contract written by a service provider or supplier it is always wise to have these reviewed by an attorney. (e.g. early cancellation fees may be challenged; some contracts have allowed the seller to increase interest rates, or exclude consumer rights.)
Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)	The Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) model is the latest effort made to provide a flexible and attractive option for combining housing, services, and nursing care to the elderly.
Day Care	A service in the home or community setting for seniors that gives the caregiver a few hours break from their duties.
Dementia (See also Alzheimer's disease)	Dementia is a loose term used to describe someone with severe memory loss and impairment in cognitive function. Dementia means that the forgetfulness or impairments are severe enough to interfere with normal daily life or social interactions. If someone no longer knew his own name, or did not recognized his children, or could no longer read as he used to read, he might have dementia.
Durable Medical Equipment	A broad category of health related support services equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, prostheses, and other medical equipment.
Emergency Response Systems	Devises that automatically give 24 hour monitoring and response to medical or other emergencies. Some states place strict requirements upon the supplier for the repair and replacement of faulty “Emergency” equipment. It is a good idea to check contracts with an attorney and with State codes.
Employee Assistance Provider (EAP)	Company sponsored Programs that provide specific help to employees. These may include having a travel agent on-site, providing insurance or, helping the employee find Eldercare services for their elderly parents. Many EAP services are provided free of charge to the company AND to the employee, companies offer these services to help there employees and, ultimately, to same money.
Extended Care Facility	A residential home that takes care of residents recovering from illness, injury or other chronic condition
Home Care	Health Care Professional(s) who provide(s) help in the home.
Home Health Aide	A non-professional who provides personal care: including bathing, dressing and grooming, and some household services.
Home Health Care and Services	Licensed Health Care Professional(s) who provide(s) medical and nursing services.
Homemaker Service	Housekeeping, home management, meal preparation, and/or escort tasks provided by trained and supervised homemakers when assistance is needed.
Hospice	Hospice is a special concept of care that provides comfort and support to patients and their families. Hospice care neither prolongs life nor hastens death. Hospice staff and volunteers offer a specialized knowledge of medical care, including pain management. The goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of a patient's last days by offering comfort and dignity. Hospice deals with the emotional, social and spiritual impact of the disease on the patient and the patient's family and friends. Hospice offers a variety of bereavement and counseling services that allow the patient and their families to come to terms with the imminent future.
Identity Theft	Obtaining Social Security, Birthday, Mother’s Maiden Name, Credit Card and other personal information, by deception, and using the ‘Stolen Identity’ to register for goods, services and other legally binding contracts. Identity theft is the ‘new crime’, 10 Million people were victims of Identity Theft in the US last year the cost to individuals was, on average, $5,000 each. Because the victim, thief, and the place where the transactions take place can be in different States local enforcement offices cannot identify jurisdiction and few cases are prosecuted. From the villain’s perspective this is a ‘safe’ crime to commit, hence its rising popularity, particularly against seniors. It is largely up to the individual to seek protection (insurance) before hand.
Independent Living	Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement for people with disabilities who work for self-determination, equal opportunities, and self-respect. Independent Living provides the same choices and control in every-day living that the ‘non-disabled’ take for granted - like using the same bus as our neighbors, going out on our own, and not asking for permission.
Intermediate Care Facility (ICF)	A state licensed health care facility that generally provides a level of care between assisted living and skilled nursing. Individuals are usually disabled, elderly, or non-acutely ill, usually needing less intensive care than that offered at a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)	LPNs are State licensed. They are trained to administer technical nursing procedures as well as provide a range of health care services, such as administration of medication and changing of dressings
Long-Term Care (LTC)	A wide range of medical and non-medical services ranging from custodial help with activities of daily living (see ADL's) to occasional nursing care to skilled nursing services provided to people who are physically or mentally unable to provide independent care for themselves. Usually used to describe care for the elderly (although younger disabled persons also utilize long-term care services). Care may be needed while recovering from an accident or illness, during an extended period of disability, or simply because of the normal aging process. Home Healthcare, adult day care, respite care, and nursing home stays fall into the category of long-term care.
Personal Assistant/Personal Care Attendant	A health care worker (usually non-medical) who helps people complete activities of daily living (see ADL’s).
Rehabilitation Therapy	Physical or other assistance that help the patient return (usually from trauma) to routine living.
Residential Care Facilities	Referring to smaller-sized complexes catering to both independent older adults and those requiring some level of health services care.
Respite Care	A service in the home, in a community setting or in a care facility designed to give the caregiver a break of a few hours or a holiday from caregiver duties (hours to several weeks).
Retirement Communities	Referring to larger complexes with self-contained living units for older independent adults.
Senior Apartment	Age-restricted building with self-contained living units for older adults who are able to care for themselves and live independently. Usually no additional services such as meals or transportation are provided.
Senior Center	A center facility whose primary focus is the delivery of services (including meals) to participants, but does not remain open a set number of hours a day.
Skilled Nursing Facility	A state licensed health care facility that provides skilled nursing.