Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
An assistant who is certified to provide general nursing care under the direction of a registered nurse or therapist. They help with every aspect of nursing care as well as provide daily personal care to patients such as bathing, eating, and exercising in a variety of settings. Also referred to as a nurse assistant.
More Common Terms
- Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) State-licensed facilities that provide a safe, therapeutic environment for individuals who require rehabilitative care or can no longer live independently due to medical requirements. Also known as nursing homes or convalescent homes.
- Custodial Care Personal care services that do not include a skilled nursing care component. Commonly associated with assistance of activities of daily living (ADL).
- Area Agency on Aging (AAA) A local agency that administers government funded programs for older adults.