Glossary
Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Daily activities such as personal grooming, cooking, eating, toileting, dressing, doing laundry, etc.
Advance directives. Legal documents expressing a person’s wishes should he/she become unable to make medical, legal, or personal decisions.
Adverse drug reaction. A harmful or unpleasant reaction from a medication or the result of two or more drugs reacting negatively with each other.
Aging in place. The ability of an individual to remain in one’s own home or current residence as long as possible.
Alzheimer’s disease. A form of dementia; an irreversible, degenerative brain disorder that causes progressive loss of memory and cognitive function.
Assessment. An evaluation of an individual’s physical, psychological, emotional, social, and environmental needs, usually performed by a registered nurse or social worker.
Apnea. A temporary suspension of breathing. (Sleep apnea is a disorder where breathing can slow down or stop during sleep.)
Assisted devices. Any type of equipment that aids an individual, such as a walker, wheelchair, reachers, hand rails, etc.
Bedsore. A pressure-induced ulceration of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by poor circulation and prolonged pressure on body parts, esp. bony protuberances, often occurs in bedridden or immobile patients. Also called decubitus ulcer, pressure sore. (Check the body frequently for signs of breakdown of the skin.)
Caregiver. Any individual who provides personal, emotional, financial, or supportive care for another person. A caregiver can be a paid professional or a volunteer.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN). A person who earns a state license or certification by completing specific homecare and patient training
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Any of a variety of lung diseases leading to poor pulmonary aeration (supply the blood with oxygen), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Cognitive impairment. A decline in one’s ability to perform tasks, think clearly, or make decisions. (This is one of the first signs that something is wrong or has changed and you need to pay attention to it.)
Compliance. The ability to respond appropriately to another person’s directions. For example: complying with a physician’s orders or complying with dietary restrictions.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). A condition in which the heart fails to pump adequate amounts of blood to the tissues, resulting in an accumulation of blood returning to the heart from the veins. This is often accompanied by distension of the ventricles, edema, and/or shortness of breath.
Decubitus ulcer. See bedsore.
Dementia. Severe impairment or loss of intellectual capacity resulting in memory loss, personality changes, language problems, mood swings, and an inability to learn or retain information.
Diabetes. Disease caused by any or all of several metabolic disorders and often marked by excessive discharge of urine. Some of the signs in the elderly are persistent thirst and open sores that will not heal.
Do Not Resusitate (DNR). Part of an advanced medical directive, a legal document order to not resuscitate an individual whose heart or breathing stops. Specifics vary by state.
Edema. An excessive amount of watery fluid accumulating in cells, tissues, or body cavities. Edema can be mild and benign – often occurs after prolonged standing in the elderly; or a serious sign of pulmonary, heart, liver, or kidney failure, or other diseases.
Heart attack. Damage to a heart muscle due to loss of blood supply, often caused by blockage of a coronary artery, symptoms vary widely and can include chest discomfort or pain, upper body pain, stomach pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, lightheadedness, sweating, and nausea/vomiting. (Women and the elderly often have atypical or more subtle symptoms.)
Heart disease. An abnormality of the heart, or of the blood vessels supplying the heart, that impairs normal function.
High Blood Pressure (HBP). Elevation of the arterial blood pressure or a condition resulting from it; hypertension. Chronic high blood pressure is dangerous and should be monitored regularly.
Hospice care. A concept of care, not a place. Hospice care is a team approach to caregiving, and involves nurses, social workers, home health aides, and even chaplains, to administer care to patients and their families. When an individual has a life-limiting illness (usually no more than six months to live) they are often referred to hospice.
Incontinence. Inability to restrain natural discharges or evacuations of urine or feces. (Many elderly persons are placed in a nursing home when this happens. Use undergarments.)
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). A licensed practical nurse authorized by license to practice in California or Texas.
Low Blood Pressure (LBP). Decreased or lowered blood pressure. (also called hypotension.) Chronic low blood pressure is dangerous and should be monitored regularly.
Medicaid. A federal program mandated by individual states to provide coverage for certain medical care costs. The program assists individuals with a limited income. Covers some care at home and/or in a nursing home.
Medicare. A federal program for individuals age sixty-five and older. Benefit areas are divided into three parts: Part A – hospital benefits; Part B – medical benefits; Part C – Medicare + Choice.
Medigap. Private supplemental insurance plan designed to cover some of the costs not covered by Medicare or only partially covered by Medicare.
Palliative care. A specialized care focused on the pain, symptoms, and stress of serious illness. (If possible, find a hospital or medical center in your area that has a palliative care program. Palliative care is not the same as hospice care.)
Patient advocate. Usually a registered nurse, social worker, or volunteer who acts on behalf of the patient as an intermediary between the patient and the medical team or hospital.
Personal care attendant (PCA).A person who assists an individual with a disability or other health care needs in activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, housecleaning, meal preparation, feeding, etc.
Podatrist. A doctor specialized in the care of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Chronic foot problems occur in the elderly for a variety of reasons. Reduced flexibility makes toenail and foot care difficult. Toenails need attention. Schedule a regular appointment with a podiatrist for proper foot care. Watch for small open cuts on feet that do not heal (a possible sign of diabetes). Trim nails regularly and keep feet clean and moisturized. Be on the alert for purplish-colored feet as this is a sign of poor circulation.
PRN. Direction of schedule for taking of prescription medications as needed.
Registered nurse (RN). A graduate trained nurse who has been licensed by a state authority after passing qualifying examinations for registration.
Respite care or respite services. Care provided on a temporary basis to relieve the ongoing duties and stress of a caregiver.
Stroke. A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the brain. It is often characterized by loss of muscular control, reduced level of or loss of sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, paralysis (often on the left side of the body) or other symptoms that vary with the extent and severity of the damage to the brain.
Urinary tract infection (UTI). A bacterial infection occurring anywhere in the urinary tract. (The elderly are extremely susceptible to UTIs usually due to poor bladder emptying and incontinence and their compromised immune system.)
