The Elder Care Glossary: 34 Terms You Should Know

If you’re acting as a family caregiver for a loved one or close friend, here are 34 senior care-related terms that you should know about:

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Basic tasks of everyday life that include, but are not limited to, dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting.

Adult Day Services: Structured, comprehensive programs, including a variety of health, social and related support services during any part of the day but for less than 24 hours, provided at local centers for adults who need some supervision and/or support.

Adult Protective Services: A public agency that investigates reports of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults, usually works with law enforcement. Immediate dangerous situations should be directed to 911 or the local police.

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC): An agency designated by the state with the responsibility for planning and coordinating services for older people or for older people and adults with disabilities within a specific geographical area. Both agencies provide information, resources, assistance, and links to community services.

Assisted Living Residences: Housing for those who may need help living independently, but do not need skilled nursing care. The level of assistance varies among residences and may include help with bathing, dressing, meals, and housekeeping.

Community Meal Program: Balanced nutritious meals served at community locations for those ages 60 and over and their younger age spouses.

Conservator: A person appointed by a court to handle someone’s affairs when that person cannot handle them him or herself. A conservator usually handles only financial affairs.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities: Housing that offers a variety of living options and services including independent living, assisted living, and skilled care, often all on the same campus, designed to meet a person’s changing needs.

Discharge Planner: A professional who assists individuals and their families in developing a plan of care for an individual following a hospital or nursing home stay.

Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR): An order written by a doctor to fulfill an individual’s expressed medical care wishes during a medical emergency.

Durable Power of Attorney for Finances: The durable power of attorney for finances is a legal document that allows you to give authority to another trusted person to make financial decisions on your behalf. The designation durable means that it will stay in effect if you become unable to manage your own financial affairs.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): An employee benefit program offered by many employers. EAPs are intended to help employees deal with personal issues that impact their job performance, health, and wellbeing. EAPs generally include short-term counseling and referral services for employees and their household members.

Family and Medical Leave Act: A law that requires some employers to let you take unpaid time off work (up to 12 weeks) for illness, having/adopting a baby, or caring for an ill family member. Your job or equivalent is guaranteed when you return. If you work for a small employer or are a new employee, you may not be able to get the leave.

Family Caregiver: Anyone who provides unpaid assistance to another person who is ill, disabled, or needs help with daily activities.

Guardian: A person appointed by the court who is responsible for the care and management of another person who has been determined to be no longer capable of making decisions for him/herself.

Health Care Power of Attorney (Health Care Proxy): A special kind of durable power of attorney called a Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPA) in which you appoint another person to make health care decisions should you become unable to do so.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): A federal law that gives you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information. It also permits the release of personal health information needed for patient care.

Home Health Agency: An agency often certified by Medicare to provide health-related services in the home such as nursing, occupational, speech, or physical therapy, social work, and/or personal care.

Home Health Aide: An individual who helps with bathing, dressing, grooming, assistance with meals, and light housekeeping.

Homemaker Services: A service that provides assistance with general household activities such as meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, and shopping.

Hospice Care: Professionally coordinated support services, including pain and symptom management, social services, and emotional and spiritual support for terminally ill people and their families. The care is provided at home and in other settings.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL): Basic tasks of everyday life that include, but are not limited to: managing money, shopping, telephone use, travel in the community, housekeeping, preparing meals, and taking medications correctly.

Living Will (Part of a Health Care Directive): A legal document that communicates a person’s wishes about lifesaving medical treatments should he or she have a terminal condition and not be able to communicate their health care wishes.

Long-Term Care Insurance: Insurance that can pay part of the cost of care received in the home, assisted living residences, nursing home, and other designated services depending on the policy purchased.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman: A person who investigates and resolves complaints on behalf of residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Medicare: A federal health insurance program for people age 65 and over, and for some younger persons with disabilities. Medicare covers hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription drugs and other health care related needs. Medicare does not cover long-term care.

Medicare Savings Program: An assistance program for people with Medicare who need help with paying their Medicare expenses, such as premiums and possibly co-pays and deductibles for Medicare Parts A & B.

Medicaid: The federal/state funded health and long-term care program for people with limited income and assets. It is administered by the states within federal guidelines so eligibility and coverage may differ from state to state. For long-term care services, states have additional eligibility rules.

Nursing Homes: A nursing facility that provides immediate care—assistance with personal care and activities of daily living—and/or skilled care 24-hour medical, nursing, and rehabilitation care, often a transition from hospital to home. The latter may be called a skilled nursing facility.

Palliative Care: Professionally coordinated services that focus on physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of those with life-threatening illness and their families. It seeks to maintain the highest level of comfort.

Personal Emergency Response System (PERS): A portable electronic device with a call button that a person can use to summon help in an emergency.

Respite Care: A temporary break from providing care for a loved one. Respite care can be provided by either family and/or friends through services such as attending an adult day services center. You can also have a paid home-care worker come to the home.

Social Security: A benefit earned by eligible workers that provides guaranteed inflation-adjusted monthly income for life. A person with the required number of quarters in Social Security is eligible at age 62 or if disabled. Certain family members may be eligible for benefits as well.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI provides a monthly benefit to people who are 65 years of age and older, disabled or blind, and who have limited income and assets.

Whether you’re just starting your care journey, or have been at it for some time now, the following articles will help guide you through each step of the process:

“Prepare to Care Guide,” courtesy of AARP and republished on Care.com with permission.