Caregiving can be a complex and deeply personal journey, filled with important decisions, services, and terminology that can often feel overwhelming. To help navigate this world, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of caregiving definitions, offering clear explanations of key terms that caregivers, seniors, and families may encounter. Whether you’re coordinating care for a loved one, planning for the future, or seeking to understand the intricacies of elder care, this guide will provide you with essential knowledge to make informed choices and ensure the best outcomes for those you care for.
Caregiving Definitions List
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Basic tasks of daily life that individuals must perform to live independently, such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and mobility.
Advanced Directives
Legal documents that outline a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment if they become unable to make decisions. Examples include living wills and healthcare proxies.
Aging in Place
The ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.
Assisted Living
A type of residential care for older adults who need help with some activities of daily living but do not require the intensive medical care provided in a nursing home.
Caregiver Burnout
A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can occur when caregivers do not get the help they need or try to do more than they can handle.
Care Plan
A detailed plan of action created by healthcare professionals to meet the specific care needs of a client. It outlines the necessary care services, goals, and schedules.
Care Management
A service that involves coordinating and overseeing all aspects of a person’s healthcare, including medical appointments, medications, and home care services.
Cognitive Decline
A noticeable and measurable decline in cognitive abilities, including memory and thinking skills. It may occur as part of aging or be related to conditions like dementia.
Companion Care
Non-medical services that provide emotional support, socialization, and assistance with daily activities, but not medical or personal care services like bathing or medication management.
Dementia
A group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities that interfere with daily functioning. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.
Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA)
A legal document that gives someone the authority to make decisions on behalf of another person if they become incapacitated. It can cover financial and healthcare decisions.
Fall Prevention
Measures taken to reduce the risk of falls in older adults, such as home modifications, use of mobility aids, and exercises that improve balance and strength.
Geriatric Care Manager (GCM)
A professional who specializes in assisting older adults and their families in managing aging-related issues, including health, safety, and care services.
Home Care
Personalized care services provided in the home, typically to assist with daily activities, personal care, and companionship. It can be either skilled (medical) or non-skilled (non-medical).
Hospice Care
End-of-life care focusing on the comfort and quality of life for individuals with terminal illnesses. Hospice care can take place in the home, hospitals, or specialized facilities.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
More complex daily tasks necessary for independent living, such as managing finances, shopping, preparing meals, and handling medications.
Long-Term Care Insurance
A type of insurance designed to cover long-term services and support, including personal and custodial care in a variety of settings, such as the home, community, or assisted living facilities.
Medication Management
The process of overseeing and coordinating the medications prescribed to a patient to ensure they are taken correctly and safely, and to avoid adverse interactions.
Memory Care
A specialized form of care for individuals with memory problems, typically those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Memory care units often provide secure environments and staff trained in dementia care.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Therapy focused on helping individuals regain or maintain the ability to perform daily activities, often used after an injury or illness to improve function and independence.
Palliative Care
Specialized medical care for people living with serious illness, focused on providing relief from symptoms and stress, with the goal of improving quality of life.
Personal Care
Non-medical assistance with personal tasks, such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and using the restroom. Personal care is often provided by home health aides or caregivers.
Power of Attorney (POA)
A legal document that allows an individual to appoint someone else to manage their affairs if they become unable to do so. It can cover financial, legal, and health decisions.
Respite Care
Temporary relief for primary caregivers, providing a short-term break while someone else takes over the caregiving duties. This can occur in the home, at a care facility, or through an adult daycare program.
Senior Advocate
A professional who supports and promotes the rights and well-being of older adults, ensuring they have access to services, proper care, and legal protections.
Skilled Nursing Care
Medical care provided by licensed nurses or therapists, often involving treatments like wound care, intravenous therapy, or physical rehabilitation.
Social Isolation
A state where individuals lack social connections or interaction, which can lead to loneliness and adverse health effects, especially in older adults.
Telehealth
The use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access healthcare services remotely and manage health care.
Transitional Care
Services provided to ensure continuity of care as a patient moves between different care settings, such as from a hospital to home care, to avoid complications and hospital readmissions.
