Definitions: G
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General Physician - (GP) is sometimes called a family physician, is a doctor that treats the whole body. Usually a GP is seen for various common illnesses such as the flu, colds, cuts and so on. If the illness is not so generalized, he/she may refer you to a specialist to treat a specific part of the body.
Gait Belt - is a device used to transfer a person from one position to another or from one thing to another. For example you would use a gait belt to move a patient from a standing position to a wheelchair. The gait belt is customarily made out of cotton webbing and a durable metal buckle on one end. It is worn around a patient's waist. The purpose of this device is to put less strain on the back of the caregiver and to provide support for the patient.
Gastrointestinal - (GI) refers to the stomach and the intestines.
Genetic - refers to reproduction or to birth or origin.
Gerontology - is the study of the aging process.
Geriatrics - is the branch of medicine that focuses on health care of the elderly. It aims to promote health and to prevent and treat diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician. Rather, this is determined by a profile of the typical problems that geriatrics focuses on. This includes the so-called 'geriatric giants' of immobility, instability, incontinence and impaired intellect/memory. Health issues in older adults may also include eldercare, delirium, use of multiple medications, impaired vision and hearing. The term geriatrics differs from gerontology.
Geriatric Care Manager - (GCM) usually has a background in health and human services - often times, a GCM can also be a gerontologist, nurse, social worker, or psychologist with a specialized focus on issues related to senior care and aging. In essence, a GCM is a professional advocate who helps guide you through the ins and outs of the oftentimes confusing process of locating appropriate long-term care and all of its associated issues. By evaluating an individual's level of functioning, along with their health, emotional, financial and legal needs, a GCM helps to identify problems and needs, and offer practical solutions. GCMs help ease the stress of searching for long-term care by intervening in crises, counseling and supporting you and your loved one and educating and advocating on your behalf. Based on your specific needs, they personalize your plan of services. GCMs can be hired to help you in times of crisis, should you need respite or as the full-time point of contact for all senior care services.
Geriatric Home Care - is a concept that is gaining new popularity with seniors and family caregivers. New senior home care agencies are springing up all over the nation, offering a wide variety of healthcare and personal care service agencies. Home care agencies typically provide personal services, helping with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and transportation. However, some home care agencies also provide healthcare services as well and they come in all shapes and sizes. The availability and kind of home care and home health care services can vary from one provider to the next. So if you haven't found what you need, there are probably many other service providers in your area.
Geriatrician - doctor of geriatrics.
Germ - a tiny living thing, especially one that causes disease.
Gland - an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones.
Glucagon - is released when the glucose level in the blood is low (hypoglycemia), causing the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream.
Glucose - a sugar in the blood that serves as the major energy source of the body; it occurs in most plant and animal tissue. Also called blood sugar.
Gluten - is the protein of wheat and other grains that gives to the dough its tough elastic character.
Glycogen - is made primarily by the liver and muscles and functions as a short term energy reserve that can be quickly mobilized to meet a sudden need for glucose.
Goiter - refers to any visible enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Gout - is a form of acute arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints.
Granulation - the formation in wounds of small, rounded masses of tissue during healing.
Granulomatosis - are multiple growths appearing like nodules, consisting essentially of granulation tissue and occurring as a result of localized inflammation.
Graves' Disease - is a multisystem autoimmune disorder characterized by pronounced hyperthyroidism, usually associated with an enlarged thyroid gland and exophthalmos (abnormal protrusion of the eyeball). The origin is unknown, but the disease is genetic. The disease, which is five times more common in women than in men, occurs most frequently when the individual is between 30 and 60 years of age and can arise after an infection or physical or emotional stress. Typical signs, which are related to hyperthyroidism, are nervousness, a tremor of the hands, weight loss, fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, increased heat intolerance, increased metabolic rate, and GI motility.
Group Home - a small supervised residential facility for those in need of care in which residents typically participate in daily tasks and are often free to come and go voluntarily.
Guardian - an individual or organization appointed by the court to make some or most decisions about the personal affairs of an incapacitated person, including decisions about the medical, mental health, rehabilitative care of the person, and where the person lives.
Guardianship - is when a person is deemed incompetent in a court of law, their funds and property are then turned over to another person. This process is called guardianship - or in some states conservatorship. Guardianship is often granted to relatives of an elder with dementia; however, any person can ask the court for guardianship over another person.
Gut - (see large intestine)
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/
