Definitions: A
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24 Hour Care - is provided when the care receiver is in need of continuous monitoring by a caregiver. The care receiver or care coordinator may elect a live-in caregiver, or employ caregivers to work 2, 12-hour shifts or 3, 8-hour shifts. Of course, there are many other combinations, but these are the most common. Typically, more shifts means more attentive care and usually at a greater cost.
Abdomen - (also called belly) part of the body that lies between the chest and the pelvis and encloses the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, and pancreas.
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).
Acetaminophen - (brand name Tylenol) is used to treat mild to moderate pain (e.g., headaches, cold/flu aches and pains) and to reduce fever.
See also: Acetaminophen on WebMD
Acid - a compound able to form hydrogen dissolved in various solutions.
Activation - (also known as "subscribing")when CAREjourney.comSM "turns on" your CAREaccountSM so you have access to all the features of the site.
See also: CAREjourney.com FAQ
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) - everyday activities such as bathing, grooming, eating, toileting, and dressing.
Acute - a rapid onset or a short course (as opposed to a chronic course). The term acute may often be confused by the general public to mean 'severe'. This however, is a different characteristic and something can be acute but not severe. Acute hospitals are those intended for short-term medical and/or surgical treatment and care.
Acute Care - medical care designed to treat or cure disease or injury, usually within a limited time period. Acute care usually refers to physician and/or hospital services of less than three months' duration.
ADA - (Americans with Disabilities Act) is a law passed by Congress in 1980, establishing a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability.
Administer - to apply a substance by injection, inhalation, ingestion or by other means, to the body
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.
Adrenal Cortex - the outer, firm layer comprising the larger part of the adrenal gland; it secretes many steroid hormones
Adrenal Gland - located above each kidney consisting of an outer wall (cortex) that produces steroid hormones and an inner section (medulla) that produces other important hormones, such as adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) and noradrenaline (also known as norepinephrine).
Adrenaline - also called epinephrine, a secretion of the adrenal glands (along with noradrenaline, also known as norepinephrine) that helps the liver release glucose and limits the release of insulin. Noradrenaline is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter, a substance that transmits nerve signals.
Adult Day Care - daily structured programs in a community setting with activities and health-related, rehabilitation, social and support services to elderly who are physically or emotionally disabled and need a protective environment. This care is provided during the day, with the individual returning home for the evening. This service provides a protective setting for individuals who are functionally impaired.
Advance Directives - written instructions, such as a living will or a durable power of attorney for health care, which guides provision of care and treatment when an individual is terminally ill and/or incapacitated and unable to communicate his or her wishes.
Agency - (see home care agency or home health agency) CAREjourney.comSM uses this term for one of it's membership types. You might see this abbreviated as simply "A".
Agency Representative - for CAREjourney.com'sSM purposes, this is the primary contact person within an Agency.
Agent - something capable of producing an effect.
Aging in Place - aging in place refers to the concept of seniors staying in their own homes rather than moving out when their health needs change. This same idea also applies to residents of long-term care facilities, as long as they don't have to move (even to another area of the facility) when their needs change. Aging in place is gaining in popularity as a means to ensure that seniors can stay in environments that are comfortable to them.
Agitation - is an emotional state of excitement or restlessness.
Airway - part of the respiratory system through which air flows.
Albuterol - (also called salbutamol) is used to prevent and treat wheezing and shortness of breath caused by breathing problems (e.g., asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It is also used to prevent asthma brought on by exercise. Albuterol belongs to a class of drugs known as bronchodilators. It works in the airways by opening breathing passages and relaxing muscles.
See also: Albuterol on WebMD
Allergens - dust mite excretion, pollen and pet dander are all common allergens, but it is possible to be allergic to anything from chlorine to perfume. Food allergies are not as common as food sensitivity, but some foods such as nuts, seafood and shellfish are the cause of serious allergies in many people.
Allergy - is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur to environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are acquired, predictable and rapid.
Alprazolam - (brand name Xanax) is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body.
See also: Alprazolam on WebMD
Alternative Medicine - a variety of therapeutic or preventive health care practices that are not typically taught or practiced in traditional medical communities and offer treatments that differ from standard medical practice.
Alveoli - and are the primary sites of gas exchange in the lungs with the blood.
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.
Alzheimer's Association - this national, non-profit, charitable organization that is dedicated to research, support and education for Alzheimer's patients, families and the community. It offers information, support groups, advocacy, training, newsletters and a safe return wanderer's alert program.
See also: Alzheimer's Association website.
Ambien - (see zolpidem)
Ambulatory - describes the ability to ambulate, walk around; not bedridden or hospitalized.
Ameliorate - to make or become better; improve.
American College of Physicians - (ACP) a national professional organization of physicians.
American College of Surgeons - a national professional organization of physicians who specialize in surgery.
American Dental Association - (ADA) a nonprofit professional association whose membership is dental professionals in the United States. Its purpose is to assist its members in providing the highest professional and ethical care to the citizens of the United States and to serve as an advocate for the advancement of the profession.
American Hospital Association - (AHA) a national organization that represents and serves individuals, institutions, and organizations that work to improve health services for all people. The AHA publishes several journals and newsletters.
American Medical Association - (AMA) a professional association whose membership is made up of the largest group of physicians and medical students in the United States, including practitioners in all recognized medical specialties, as well as general primary care physicians.
Amino Acid - small molecules that are used as building blocks for all proteins.
Amnesia - is a memory condition in which memory is disturbed. In simple terms it is the loss of memory.
Anemia - a condition in which there is an abnormally low number of red blood cells in the bloodstream. Major symptoms are paleness, shortness of breath, unusually fast or strong heart beats, and tiredness.
Antibiotic - a substance that combats bacterial infection by killing bacteria or stopping bacterial growth.
Antibody - any of a large variety of proteins normally present in the body or produced in response to an antigen, which it is capable of combining with and destroying, thus producing an immune reaction.
Anticonvulsant - are a diverse group of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also increasingly being used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, since many seem to act as mood stabilizers. The goal of an anticonvulsant is to suppress the rapid and excessive firing of neurons that start a seizure. Because of this, anticonvulsants also have proven effective in treating many kinds of dysfunctional anxiety. Failing this, an effective anticonvulsant would prevent the spread of the seizure within the brain and offer protection against effects that may result in brain damage. However, anticonvulsants themselves have been linked to lowered IQ in children. Anticonvulsants are often called antiepileptic drugs (abbreviated "AEDs") or antiseizure drugs (abbreviated "ASDs").
Antiepileptic Drug - (AED) see anticonvulsant.
Antigen - any of various substances, including toxins, bacteria, and the cells of transplanted organs, that when introduced into the body stimulate the production of antibodies.
Antiseizure Drug - (ASD) see anticonvulsant.
Anus - the opening of the rectum on the body surface at the end of the large intestines.
Anxiolytic - is a drug prescribed for the treatment of symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiety - is a generalized mood condition that occurs without an identifiable trigger. As such, it is distinguished from fear, which occurs in the presence of an observed threat. Another view is that anxiety is "a future-oriented mood state in which one is ready or prepared to attempt to cope with upcoming negative events" suggesting that it is a distinction between future vs. present dangers that divides anxiety and fear. Anxiety is considered to be a normal reaction to stress. It may help a person to deal with a difficult situation, for example at work or at school, by prompting one to cope with it. When anxiety becomes excessive, it may fall under the classification of an anxiety disorder.
Apathy - lack of interest, concern, or emotion; indifference.
Aricept - (see donepezil)
Artery - a vessel in which blood flows away from the heart, in the systemic circulation carrying oxygenated blood.
Arthritis - is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. There are different forms of arthritis and each has a different cause. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis that are autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint, causing inflammation.
Assessment - a detailed series of questions asked with the goal of making a care plan. For CAREjourney.comSM purposes, an assessment is a series of questions that make up the CAREprofileSM which is used to match Care Receivers and CareGivers.
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 requirements necessary to be considered an Assisted Living facility) .
Assisted Living Facilities - are for those who need some help with daily living but who want to live on their own as much as possible. Such facilities are a step between living completely on your own and living in a nursing home. If assisted living is chosen when one is still pretty healthy, a nursing home may be avoided much longer.
Assistive Technology - refers to devices that help a person perform activities which he or she could not previously do independently, or could only do with difficulty. Assistive technology often promotes aging in place.
Asthma - is a chronic condition involving the respiratory system in which the airways occasionally constrict, become inflamed, and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant such as an allergen, environmental tobacco smoke, cold or warm air, perfume, pet dander, moist air, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.
Ativan - (see lorazepam)
Atopy - is an allergic hypersensitivity affecting parts of the body not in direct contact with the allergen.
Attorney - a person legally appointed to act for another.
Autism - is a brain development disorder that is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old.
Autoimmune - (often autoimmune disease) is the failure of the human body to recognize its parts as its own, which allows the immune system to react against its own cells and tissues. Prominent examples include Coeliac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjorgren's syndrome (SS), Churg-Strauss Syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
These definitions are from sources deemed reliable but you should independently verify their accuracy.
If you click a link, you can go back by clicking your browser's back button or by pressing Alt, left arrow.
See a correction? Want us to add a definition? Tell us here.
Sources:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
http://www.webmd.com/
