Common Terms

• Area Agency on Aging (AAA) A local agency that administers government funded programs for older adults.
• AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) A nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for those aged 50 and older. AARP provides information, benefits, advocacy and services for its members.
• Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Basic self-care functions including bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, eating, and transferring in and out of beds and chairs.
• Activities of Daily Living Assessment An assessment of an individual's physical and cognitive functions to determine if he or she can still complete activities of daily living. Assessments are performed by geriatric case managers, social workers or other similar types of professionals.
• Acute care Any treatment to diagnose, prevent, or cure an illness or to provide primary care. Treatments can be provided in an outpatient or inpatient setting.
• Adaptive/Assistive Equipment An appliance or device which assists an individual in caring for themselves or performing work or leisure activities.
• Administration on Aging (AoA) The federal agency that administers the Older Americans Act. It provides resources and education to older Americans and their caregivers.
• Adult Day Health Care A type of adult day service that offers comprehensive health services in addition to social and support services. Typical facilities will provide on-site nurses, therapists, social workers and other health professionals.
• Adult Day Services Also known as adult day care or respite care, adult day services are community-based group programs designed to meet the needs of functionally and/or cognitively impaired adults. These facilities offer programs that provide a mixture of health, socia...
• Advance Directive A legal document, also referred to as a medical directive, that documents an individual's preferences regarding the manner in which they would like to receive health care, in the event they can no longer communicate such wishes directly. Living Wills...
• Age Restricted Communities A housing area or development, often gated, that restricts ownership and residency to individuals who are over a set age. These communities are set up to accommodate older adults.
• Aging in Place A concept that advocates for allowing an individual to remain in his/her home and the community regardless of cognitive or functional impairments.
• Alzheimer's Disease A progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys mental functions such as memory and learning. Individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior.
• Alzheimer's Facilities Licensed facilities or special care units within a larger facility that provide intermediate nursing care, medical, nursing and rehabilitation care for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias in a safe and controlled environment.
• Ambulatory The ability to walk freely and independently.
• Ambulatory Aids Devices that help individuals move safely and independently. These include walkers, crutches, canes, scooters and wheelchairs.
• Ambulatory Care Health services that are provided in an outpatient setting and do not require an overnight hospital stay.
• Arthritis Ailments that involve sore or swollen joints. Symptoms may also include redness, joint pain, stiffness and restricted motion. Various types of Arthritis include Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid and Gout.
• Assisted Living Facilities Residential housing that maximizes an individual's ability to live independently and provides a lower level of assistance than that at a skilled nursing facility. Services include 24-hour on-call assistance and help with personal and home care such a...
• Board and Care Home A smaller, residentially-oriented assisted living facility that offers a lighter level of care than a skilled nursing facility in a home-like setting for 2-10 residents. They may also be referred to as residential care homes.
• Care Manager A professional who coordinates appropriate social and medical services for those that are not able to fully care for themselves due to a disability or functional limitation. May also be referred to as a Case Manager. Often a nurse or social worker.
• Caregiver A broad term used to refer to an individual who provides care to another individual who cannot care for him or herself due to a disability or functional limitation. This individual could provide nonmedical care such as help with bathing or eating or ...
• Caregiving Refers to services provided to individuals who are unable to fully care for themselves due to a disability or functional limitation. These services can be provided informally by a family member or friend or more formally by a paid professional such a...
• 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 exercisi...
• Chronic disease A disease or condition that lasts over a long period of time and typically cannot be cured, often associated with a disability.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) A group of chronic disorders that restrict flow of air into and out of the lungs. Disorder examples include asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) A condition caused by the inability of the heart to maintain adequate circulation of blood due to lack of strength or other factors.
• Conservator An individual or public or private agency appointed by a court to provide legal representation for an individual who can no longer manage his or her own affairs.
• Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRCs) A residential community that offers a continuum of care from private apartments to skilled nursing care at the same location. It is designed to meet changing needs while allowing residents to avoid relocating.
• Convalescent Home Better known as skilled nursing facilities (SNF) or nursing homes, these State-licensed facilities provide a therapeutic environment for individuals who require rehabilitative care or cannot live independently or in an assisted living enviroment due ...
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) A form of heart disease that is characterized by narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle preventing an adequate flow of blood and interrupting the supply of oxygen and other nutrients the heart requires.
• Custodial Care Personal care services that do not include a skilled nursing care component. Commonly associated with assistance of activities of daily living (ADL).
• Delirium Delirium resembles depression and dementia, but it comes on suddenly but is a temporary condition lasting for hours or linger for days.
• Dementia Dementia is a syndrome of progressive decline that causes memory problems and disorientation. Alzheimer's disease is the majority of all cases of irreversable dementia.
• Depression Depression is a biological illness which may include sadness without any apparent cause, lack of interest, change in appetite and fatigue. Because depression is an illness, a person can't just "snap out of it."
• Diabetes A disorder in which the pancreas produces too little insulin with the result that the body is unable to adequately metabolize sugar.
• Dialysis Equipment used to clean individual's blood when one or both kidneys are defective or absent, and to remove excess accumulation of drugs or chemicals in the blood.
• Disability Insurance A type of insurance coverage that compensates some percentage of a worker's total wages should they become sick and/or injured and therefore unable to work.
• Discharge Planner A social worker or nurse who assists a patient with health care arrangements following a hospital stay.
• Durable Medical Equipment Medical equipment prescribed by a doctor for use by a patient at home. These reusable items include such things as hospital beds, lifts, wheelchairs, and oxygen equipment.
• Elder Abuse The situation where an older adult has been abused, neglected or exploited.
• Elder Law The area of law pertaining to the rights and legal matters concerning older adults. This includes such subjects as estate planning, wills, guardianship, powers of attorney, Medicare & Medicaid.
• Emphysema A chronic lung condition in which the air sacs in the lungs become overstretched, causing a breakdown of their walls and resulting in decreased resiratory function.
• Estate Planning Refers to the process of planning for what will happen to an individual's assets in the event of his/her death. This generally requires an attorney's involvement.
• Executor An individual appointed to administer the terms of a will.
• Foley Catheter A tube inserted into the bladder in order to drain urine.
• Geriatric Care Manager Also known as a Case or Care Manager. A professional who provides an assessment of an older adult's capabilities to create a care plan to address housing, medical, social and other needs.
• Geriatrician A medical specialist who treats older adults. These are generally internal medicine or family practice physicians who have completed additional training and certification.
• Group Homes Also known as Board and Care or Residential Care Homes that offer personal care and individual attention for older adults, people with disabilities and others whose limitations prevent them from living alone. These homes generally provide a room (whi...
• Home Health Agency Health, personal and social care provided in the home to individuals who are functionally or cognitively impaired.
• Hospice A program providing support services such as pain and symptom management, social services, and emotional support for the terminally ill and their families. Care can be provided at home, assisted living or nursing homes.
• Incontinence Total or partial loss of bowel or bladder control or functions.
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) A professional trained and certified to provide health services including technical nursing services, administration of medication, and changing of dressings.
• Living Will A legal document that describes individuals' wishes and preferences about lifesaving medical treatments should they not be able to communicate their wishes directly.
• Long Term Care Insurance A type of insurance coverage for long term care expenses. Most policies are sold to individuals through insurance agents but employers can also offer long term care insurance at a group discount. With an employer group policy, the insurance company i...
• Long Term Care (LTC) Health, personal and social care provided over a sustained period of time to individuals who are functionally or cognitively impaired. This may include in-home care, assisted living or skilled nursing facility.
• Macular Degeneration The break down of the area of the eye for seeing fine details. A blind or fuzzy spot appear in the center of vision.
• Meals on Wheels A volunteer organization that provides routine nutritious meal delivery for homebound older adults unable to provide meals for themselves. Also known as mobile meals.
• Medicaid A state program that is financed at both the state and federal level that provides medical and long-term care benefits for low-income people. The “Medicaid” term may vary in various states.
• Medical Alert & Call Systems Also known as Emergency Response Systems. An electronic system or device that connects an individual to assistance in an emergency.
• Medicare A federal health insurance program for individuals 65 and over, disabled individuals under the age of 65, and those needing kidney transplants or renal dialysis. Consumers contribute to the costs of Medicare through premiums, deductibles and co-payme...
• Medicare Part D Also known as the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Medicare owners can elect this higher coverage to receive discounts on certain prescription drugs.
• Medication Management Identification and counseling regarding the medication regime that individuals are using including prescription and over the counter medications, vitamins and home remedies.
• Nursing Homes State-licensed facilities that provide a safe, therapeutic environment for individuals who require rehabilitative care or can no longer live independently or in assisted living due to medical requirements. Also known as skilled nursing facilities (SN...
• Occupational Therapy Therapy that trains individuals to manage everyday tasks in order to promote independence in the home.
• Ombudsman A professional who investigates and resolves complaints on behalf of residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
• Osteoporosis A bone and joint condition where bones become extremely brittle. Symptoms include, stooped posture, decrease in height and broken bones.
• Palliative Care Pain management services to provide comfort to those with life-threatening illness.
• Parkinson's Disease The degeneration or damage of nerve cells located at the top of the brain stem. Slight tremors of a hand, arm or leg are common and extreme muscle stiffness may occur where it becomes difficult to perform tasks such as buttoning clothes, walk or spe...
• Physical Therapy Physician-prescribed services to improve movement, muscle control, flexibility and range of motion and reduce or prevent physical disability.
• Pneumonia An infection and inflammation of lungs caused by bacteria, fungus or virus.
• Post-acute Care Care provided to an individual after a hospital stay and is often related to that stay.
• Power of Attorney A legal document granting someone the right to make decisions for another. In the case of an elder, the document may relate to both financial and health care decisions.
• Registered Nurse (RN) A state-licensed individual who has completed training and passed a specific examination in order to perform nursing services.
• Rehabilitation Treatments for individuals who have suffered a stroke, brain or spinal cord injury, or pain that cannot be controlled by medication alone. This also includes return-to-work programs or occupational rehabilitation, which help individuals regain skills...
• Residential Care Homes Residential homes that offer personal care and individual attention for older adults, people with disabilities and others whose limitations prevent them from living alone. Adult residential care homes generally provide a room, meals and supervision; ...
• Respite Care Temporary or intermittent care for individuals with functional or cognitive impairments that provides relief to caregivers from the demands of ongoing care. This care can be provided in the home, in the assisted living community or residential care h...
• Retirement Communities Communities that provide accommodations and support services to older adults who are nearly or totally independent. The level of services may include housekeeping, meal preparation, recreational and social activities and transportation.
• Reverse Mortgage A type of loan where an individual borrows against the value of their home and does not have to pay back the principal until the individual sells the home or leaves the home permanently.
• Senior Apartments Residential facilities, apartments and/or planned communities exclusively for older adults that are available at market rates and designed to enable older adults to have a form of independent living in a secure environment while sharing common intere...
• Senior Centers Community or residential centers with activities and non-medical services designed for independent older adults to promote well-being, activity, social interaction and meals.
• Senior scams Illegitimate offers or opportunities that take advantage of seniors and attempt to steal assets.
• 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.
• Social Security A federally-administered program that provides monthly benefits to eligible workers who are either disabled or age 62 and over, and certain family members.
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) An extension of Medicare coverage that provides cash disability benefits for those who qualify.
• Speech Therapy Individual or group therapy sessions that help an individual overcome communication conditions such as aphasia, swallowing difficulties, and voice disorders.
• Spend Down A requirement that an individual use up most of his or her own income to meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
• Stroke A sudden loss of consciousness followed by paralysis which is caused by hemorrhage into the brain, formulation of a blood clot or mass of undissolved matter in the blood.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) A federal government program that pays benefits to low-income individuals. In order to qualify, individuals must be age 65 or older, blind or disabled.
• Transfer Devices Lifts, seat lift chairs, transfer boards and other devices which help individuals who have physical disabilities move into and out of their vehicles, wheelchairs and other mobility systems.
• Transferring The ability to move in or out of a chair, bed or wheelchair. This is one of the activities of daily living.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) A UTI is an infection anywhere in the urinary tract which can cause confusion with the elderly and those with dementia. If the person has a sudden and unexplained change in behavior such as increased confusion, agitation, or withdrawal, this may be s...
• Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits for veterans and surviving spouses who require assistance of another person with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, medication monitoring or other various activities of daily living. This benefit is available to individuals who reside in a...