It is not as simple as ABC
Originally posted at allaboutestates.ca on November 28, 2014
In our fast paced society where we use emoticons :), acronyms (PSW) and short cuts (R U….), I thought I would share a list of useful terms commonly used in the caregiving world. This list is taken from the article, Caregiving- Terms to Know, which I prepared for RBC and their Seniors Finance and Caregiving Site.
Frequently Used Terms and Acronyms
Acronym Term Brief Description
*ADL: Activities of Daily Living Activities of daily living (ADLs) such as
Feeding
Toileting
Bathing
Eating
Advance Care Planning: Planning in advance for decisions that may have to be made prior to incapability or at the end of life. People may choose to do this planning formally, by means of advance directives, or informally, through discussions with family members, friends and health care and social service providers, or a combination of both methods. (www.who.int)
*Assisted Living: A type of residential living that provides supportive services, such as housekeeping, communal dining, and in some cases personal care assistance to seniors who require some help with daily living.
CA Capacity Assessment: Capacity Assessment is the formal assessment of a person’s mental capacity to make decisions about property and personal care. (www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/family/pgt/capacity.asp)
Caregiver Burden: The emotional, physical and financial demands and responsibility of an individual’s illness that are placed on family members, friends or other individuals involved with the individual outside the health care system. (www.who.int)
Caregiver Burnout: A severe reaction to the caregiving burden, requiring intervention to enable care to continue. (www.who.int)
*Community Support Services: Services provided in or through the community, such as transportation, shopping, house cleaning, and yard maintenance.
*Continuing Care: A general term used to encompass home care, assisted living, and long-term care facilities where the sectors are not clearly separated, but seen as part of a continuum.
Geriatrician: A physician who specializes in the care of older and aging adults. They have additional training and certification in addition to their medical training to help meet the special needs of older adults. Fellowships in geriatric medicine usually add about three years to their training.
Geriatricians become experts in dealing with and treating the multiple medical problems that many seniors suffer from. The ailments they treat range from Alzheimer’s disease to chronic pain and everything in-between. (seniorhealth.about.com)
Continue reading the full article here:
Caregiving is challenging in its own right; let’s be clear on the terms we use.
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