Glossary of terms used within Assisted Living
Terms (G - L) used within Assisted Living
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Gait - The manner in which someone walks
Gait Belt - A belt placed around a patient's waist to allow the caregiver an easier means to be able to assist the person to transfer or to steady them while walking.
Gall stones - Crystalline bodies formed within the body from normal or abnormal bile components.
GERD - Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease - mucosal damage produced by the abnormal intrusion of gastric liquids into the esophagus
Geriatrician - A physician specializing in the elderly, especially those who are frail and have complex medical and social problems.
Geron-technology - Electronic and computerized gadgets which are intended to enhance the quality of life or reduce the amount of human interaction required to monitor and record an older person's safety and well-being. Such devices are cameras to monitor, automatic weighing scales on a bed to monitor weight gain or loss, sensors on commodes to record use of the toilet, automatic pill dispensers which not only dispense, but also alert and record
Gerontologist - A physician or ARNP specializing in the care of older adults
Geropsych (or Geropsychiatry) - An outpatient or inpatient hospital program which helps define and treat mental disorders and mental illness such as depression, anxiety, delusions, memory loss, episodic outbursts, etc. Having to do with the mental well-being of older adults
Gift tax - A transfer tax imposed on the value of certain gifts.
Gifting - The act of giving money to other individuals or to charity.
Glaucoma - A disease of the optic nerve which involves loss damage to the nerve and as a result, visual impairment. Can cause blindness
GM - General Manager
Guardian ad leitem - A short-term, court appointed person who oversees either the financial and medical or only one aspect of a frail or mentally incapacitated individual before a permanent Guardianship/Conservatorship can be initiated.
Guaranteed Income - Rare type of investment which is tied to the insurance industry, which gives specific and definable income to a person for their lifetime.
Guardianship - A legally appointed person who has authority to care for the personal and property interests of another individual (called a ward). This term is used interchangeably with the word "Conservatorship"
H & P - History & Physical
Hallucination - It's estimated that 10% of the population have such sensory experiences. Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching things that aren't in reality present. A hallucination can also affect balance.
Hands on assistance - Care that requires that a person touch another person
Health care directive (a.k.a. Advance Directives) - Term used to describe legal documents of a Living Will and Power of Attorney.
Hemoglobin - Relating to blood - a protein which makes up 97% of the red cell's dry content and 35% of the total content (including water). Hemoglobin transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body where it releases the oxygen load.
Hepatitis - Implies viral infection and likely injury to the liver - can be self limiting, healing on its own or progressive. Acute hepatitis is when it lasts less than 6 months, chronic hepatitis is when it persists longer.
- A = infectious jaundice contracted through contaminated food, treatable
- B = not common in elderly unless they are getting blood transfusions
- C = contracted through contact with blood, serious precautions taken when caring for someone with HepC - particularly if receiving insulin. Not yet treatable, but science is close to resolving
- Drug-induced and alcohol induced hepatitis is becoming more prevalent in the elderly
HIPAA or HIPPA - Health Insurance Portability Act, enacted in 1996. Requires that a person give written approval before private or health care information may be shared with other people or other agencies.
History & Physical - An annual or time-specific check-up of major organ functions, health status and review of wellness, illness or disease. This check-up results in a written document outlining the status of a person's health and noting any specific areas of concern.
HMO - Health Maintenance Organization. An insurance company which accepts the risk of providing preventative and acute care in return for a monthly premium.
Hoarding - The act of collecting items, typically viewed as a mental disorder as a result of mental instability.
Home & Community Services - Part of the Aging and Disability Services Administration, an agency within the Department of Health and Social Services (DSHS). At the local level, HCS staff help adults who need care services but may need state funds Medicaid to help pay for them.
Home and community-based services - Services that are rendered to individuals living in their own homes, but can also describe services provided to individuals in a senior living situation, when such service is rendered by someone else other than the owner/operator of the senior living community
Homebound - Not able to leave the home, except for doctor or medical appointments
Homemaker Services (a.k.a. Chore Services) - Household services provided by another individual because you are unable to accomplish them; laundry, light cleaning, meal preparation, shopping and transportation assistance. Homemaker Service providers cannot provide personal or hands-on care in most states.
Home care - Services provided which are typically hands-on services. These services may be offered in a private home setting, or may be offered by an outside agency within a senior living setting. This service requires a license to provide.
Home health care - Services which typically include a higher level of care, monitoring and therapies. This license requires a higher level of documentation, procedures and policies and a higher level of regulation.
Homesharing - Allowing another individual to live in a home or apartment, regardless of whether money or services are exchanged.
Hospice - Care and services for someone (and their family) who is not expected to live for more than six months and who has an illness or disease which is viewed by medical professionals as "untreatable." Hospice services can be offered in any living setting. There is one resident hospice on the Eastside, which specializes is pain management and supportive living for individuals who are in the dying process. Hospice services can be deleted at any time or can be extended for another six month period of time, contingent on the physician's diagnosis and orders.
Hotline - Referring to the DSHS phone line for Mandatory Reporters
Hoyer lift - This is actually the brand name of a type of lift - there are actually many types of lifts. Proper name is mechanical lift. Device that allows one person to transfer another person, even if the resident is quite heavy.
Hydrophobic - Fearful of water or taking a shower or bath
Hypoglycemia - A situation created by a lower than normal amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood stream. Patient reaction varies from feeling queasy to coma or even permanent brain damage. Seem frequently in people with diabetes. Can be readily treated by ingesting glucose or foods digestible to become glucose.
Hypotension - Low blood pressure. Older adults frequently pass out and can fall if they stand up and experience a sudden drop in blood pressure.
IBS - Irritable bowel syndrome (affects 22% of the population) - gas, bloating, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, passage of mucous in the stool, cramping-abdominal pain
ICF - Intermediate Care Facility
ICU or ICCU - Intensive Care Unit
IL - Independent living; senior housing type that typically denotes that the resident requires no personal care services.
Ileostomy - A stoma (opening) constructed by bringing the end of the small intestine (the ileum) out onto the surface of the skin, where waste passes out and in collected in an external bag.
Illusions - a distorted sensory perception which is an interpretation of the brain. Not considered mental illness, but rather an incorrect assumption.
Impacted - Stool that is stuck in the bower as a result of severe constipation.
Incompetency - The incapacity of an individual to participate in legal proceedings.
Incontinence - Lack of control over bladder or bowel, or lack of recognition of the urge or need to urinate or defecate; or unawareness that urine has flowed out of the body or that a bowel movement has occurred.
Indemnity model - A type of long-term care insurance
Information release - A written document stating whether a person or legal entity has given permission for medical or financial information to be shared with other medical or housing & care professionals.
Insomnia - Inability to sleep
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) - Tasks in addition to activities of daily living, that you are required to be able to perform in order to live independently (that is, without assistance or substantial supervision from another person); bill paying, grocery shopping, laundry, light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication management, using the telephone. Most long-term care insurance policies will not pay benefits for the loss of ability to perform IADLs
Intestate - Dying without a legal will.
Intravenous therapy - Placing liquid substances directly into a vein. Treatments can be intermittent or constant. If constant, then the term intravenous drip applies.
Irrevocable Trust - A legal document that once established will not come to an end until the terms of the trust have been fulfilled .
Ischemia - Inadequate flow of blood to part of the body caused by constriction or blockage of the blood vessels. This word is also used to describe a lack of oxygen to the tissue.
IV = Intravenous - Can be for hydration, pain meds, wound treatment, antibiotics or other medications. (Not readily accepted in ALZ communities - residents pull them out too easily. SNFs not enthusiastic about admitting medicare or Medicaid residents requiring IV treatment as it is costly to the organization.
Kidney stones - Aggregations of dissolved calcium oxalate crystals in the urine which form inside the kidneys or ureters.
Kitchenette - Refers to a small area which is typically part of another living space, such as a living or dining area. Likely does not have a stove, but may have burners, a microwave, sink and cupboards.
Lactose intolerant - Inability to fully digest milk products, causing digestive and elimination discomfort and irritation in the person who has the intolerance. Caused by the body's inability to product the enzyme lactase
Layering - Behavior of some AD patients, placing clothing on top of clothing or placing undergarments on top of regular clothing; or wearing multiple watches or jewelry
Level of Care - Every community views levels of care differently. Belief that people fit somewhat into categories of care ranging from being independent to full (also called "heavy care" or "full care")
Lewy Body Dementia - 10-15% of dementias are of this type (60-75% are from Alzheimer's or vascular dementia). This is an overlapping of Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Disease
Licensure - Term used to define the type of application and approval required to operate a service or business.
Lien - A recorded document which gives public notification that an individual or business has placed a "hold" on assets which may currently not be liquid or available to cover the debt or payment due.
Life care - Term used to describe two different things. One use of the term is based on the concept that a person can obtain
Life support - Mechanical and electric devices intended to keep body functions, nutrition and hydration continuing.
Live-in - Typically relates to an on-site resident manager or care giver that actually lives in the home.
Living Will - Legal document that outlines medical and treatment preferences
Locked facility - Typically an ALZ community that has barriers in place to deter people from leaving the building. (There is NO such thing as a purely locked facility due to fire codes)
Long distance care giving - The act of being of support to an older adult when living in a different city, state or country. Assistance is most often offered by phone or via the Internet, but may include the help of a hired case or care manager, other family members or friends of the older adult
Long Term Care - Services rendered over an extended period of time to someone needing assistance with normal activities of daily living; types of services are rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and palliative care (hands-on care), inclusive of supervision and a wide array of personal care and social services. Training may also be included to help older people adjust to or overcome many of the limitations that often come with aging. Long-term care can be provided at home, in a community, or in various types of facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Regardless of where it is provided, most long-term care is custodial care, the type of care that is not paid for by Medicare.
Long Term Care Insurance - An insurance policy that helps pay for a portion of long-term medical and non-medical care, like help with ADLs. Generally, Medicare will not pay for long-term care. This type of insurance may help with long-term care that may be needed at some point in the future.
Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs - Federally-funded programs that are nationwide and run independently of care communities, which provide problem resolution between residents and assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other residential care facilities.
Low income - Income which is determined by the state to be at a specific level which does not allow the person to live at a specific standard of living (not to be confused with poverty level, as a person with low income may be able to live without financial assistance).
Lower income - An income determined by the state to allow perhaps some financial assistance or inclusion in one or more free or low-cost benefits, but not at a level of requiring full financial support. May be considered to be at a level of being self-sufficient unless care needs are involved; in which case the state may offer assistance / entitlements.
LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse (in some states = LVN)
LTC - Long term care
LTC Insurance - A policy an individual purchases to cover the cost of care in a care setting, or to cover perhaps in-home care, in the event that assistance with a defined number of Activities of Daily Living or mental impairment exists.
Copyright 2007 © All rights reserved, CHOICE Advisory Services, Inc.
Last update: 2007-12-06 18:44
Author: Support
Revision: 1.2
