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The terminology surrounding health care and senior care in particular at times, can cause you to feel confused and overwhelmed.  Always Best Care has created a  list of common terms to help you through this process.  However, understanding what type of care is right for your loved one can be a daunting task.  For over a decade Always Best Care has been helping our seniors through this process.  Let Always Best Care guide you through the health care maze.  Our Care Coordinators are local and ready to assist you.  Call Always Best Care today for your free no obligation consultation or visit us at www.alwaysbestcare.com to find the office nearest you.

 

Use this glossary of terms to help understand some of the terms relating to senior care giving and services.

 

Abuse
Abuse is any situation that creates potential harm to an individual – emotional or physical. Also, see Adult Protective Services in this Glossary. Advantage List: List of health service providers that agree to give particular insurance company policyholders a preset discount.

Accreditation:
A seal of approval given by a governing body to a housing and/or service provider.  To become accredited, the community or provider must meet specific requirements set by the accreditation entity and is then generally required to undergo a thorough review process by a team of evaluators to ensure certain standards of quality.  The accrediting organizations are not government agencies or regulatory bodies.  Examples of some accreditation bodies for the senior housing and care industry include CCAC (Continuing Care Accreditation Commission), CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations).

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs):
Everyday activities such as bathing, grooming, eating, toileting, and dressing.

Acute Illness:
A serious illness such as a heart attack or stroke that develops rapidly with pronounced symptoms. The illness can be of short duration such as influenza.

Adaptive Devices:
A variety of devices that are used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals, providing the assistance needed to stay at home. These devices may help with vision, hearing, mobility, communication or other needs, and include wheelchairs, walkers, touch-sensitive light switches, phone amplifiers, stair lifts, chairs with lifts and computers. May also be known as Assistive Technology.

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act):
Law passed by Congress in 1980, establishing a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability.

Administrator:
Generally, a licensed professional who manages the day-to-day operation of a care facility such as a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Adult Day Care:
Daily structured programs in a community setting with activities and health-related and rehabilitation services to elderly who are physically or emotionally disabled and need a protective environment.  This care is provided for during the day, the individual returning home for the evening.

Adult Day Health Services:
A program that provides medically necessary services in an ambulatory care setting to persons who are nonresidents of the facility, and who, due to their physical and/or cognitive impairment, require such services supportive to their community living that cannot be provided elsewhere. The facility must be licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services and clients must meet eligibility criteria established by the Department.

Adult Protective Services (APS):
Adult Protective Services includes the 24-hour, 365 days a year access to assistance and/or referral with reports of physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect by caretaker, self-neglect, exploitation and abandonment.

Alzheimer’s Care Center:
A treatment center that specializes in providing care for those with Alzheimer’s disease with more of the care geared towards supervision of the patient in a safe and controlled environment. (from LTCInsurance)

Aging in Place:
Concept which advocates allowing a resident to choose to remain in his/her living environment despite the physical and or mental decline that may occur with the aging process of aging.

Alzheimer’s:
Degenerative age-related disease that impairs an individual’s cognitive ability. Symptoms may include forgetfulness, wandering, and inability to recognize others. The disease is caused by neuron dysfunction and death in specific brain regions responsible for cognitive functions. Both genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s. Click here to learn more.

Ambulatory:
Describes ability to ambulate, walk around, not bedridden or hospitalized.

Assisted Living: In general, state-licensed program offered at a residential community with services that include meals, laundry, housekeeping, medication reminders, and assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). The exact definition will vary from state to state, and a few states do not license assisted living facilities. Generally regarded as one to two steps below skilled nursing in level of care. Approximately 90 percent of the country’s assisted living services are paid for with private funds, although some states have adopted Medicaid waiver programs. Might also be referred to as Personal Care, Board and Care, Residential Care, Boarding Home, etc., although some states differentiate between their definition of “Assisted Living” and these other terms (e.g., Washington state recognizes and licenses “Assisted Living” facilities as well as “Boarding Homes”; Although licensed by the State of Washington, a Boarding Home does not meet the higher physical plant and service requirements necessary to be considered an Assisted Living facility) . Click here to learn more.

Assessment:
A process used by care managers to gather information about an individual to determine his or her functional needs and/or eligibility for services. Information collected may include health status, financial status, ability to perform activities of daily living, mental status, etc.

Attorney-in-fact:
In legal terms, the person who is granted power-of-attorney. See-Power-of Attorney for more detail.

Beneficiary:
The recipient of benefits, as funds or property, from an insurance policy/program or will.

Caregiver:
The primary person in charge of caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease, usually a family member or a designated health care professional.

Care Plan:
The detailed formulation of a program of action that addresses a consumer’s needs.

Case management:
A term used to describe formal services planned by care professionals.

Charge Nurse:
An RN or LPN who is responsible for the supervision of a unit within a nursing facility. The charge nurse schedules and supervises nursing staff and provides care to facility residents.

Children of Aging Parents (CAPS):
Children of Aging Parents is a nonprofit, charitable organization whose mission is to assist the nation’s caregivers of the elderly or chronically ill with reliable information, referrals and support. CAPS strives to heighten public awareness that the health of the family caregivers is essential to ensure quality care of the nation’s growing elderly population.

Chore Service:
Chore services are semi-skilled home repairs and maintenance tasks performed to enhance the health and safety of the individual in the home. These services are provided through the local Area Agency on Aging, volunteer programs, or youth groups to help older people live safely and comfortably in their own homes.

Congregate Housing:
See Independent Living (may be also referred to as Supportive Housing).
Congregate Meals
Nutritious meals provided at least five days a week in local Senior Citizen Centers throughout the State. Meals are usually served around noon, and in some areas meals may be available at other times of the day. Besides providing nutrition, congregate meals provide needed socialization for older adults.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC):
Housing planned and operated to provide a continuum of accommodations and services for seniors including, but not limited to, independent living, congregate housing, assisted living, and skilled nursing care. A CCRC resident contract often involves either an entry fee or buy-in fee in addition to the monthly service charges, which may change according to the medical services required. Entry fees may be partially or fully refundable. The fee is used primarily as a method of privately financing the development of the project and for payment for future healthcare. CCRCs are typically licensed by the state. See also Life Care Community.

Continuum of Care:
Full spectrum of care available at Continuing Care Retirement Communities which may include Independent Living, Assisted Living, Nursing Care, Home Health, Home

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