Select from our A to Z list to terms in the glossary of terms below.
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Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Basic actions performed by an independently functioning person on a daily basis: (a) bathing; (b) dressing; (c) toileting; (d) transferring (moving to and from a bed or a chair); (e) eating; and (f) caring for incontinence. The need for assistance with ADLs or inability to perform ADLs is used to determine eligibility for many public programs such as Medicaid reimbursed long-term care services. Also, many long-term care insurance policies use the inability to do a certain number of ADLs (such as two of six) as criteria for paying benefits.

Adult Day Services
Services provided during the day at a community-based center. Programs are designed to meet the needs of functionally and/or cognitively impaired adults through an individual plan of care. These structured, comprehensive programs provide a variety of social and support services in a protective setting during any part of a day, but less than 24-hour care. Many adult day service programs include health-related services. In Georgia, adult day care facilities are not licensed or regulated. However, if they receive public funds, minimum standards must be met.


Caregiver
A caregiver is a family member, partner, friend or neighbor who helps care for an elderly individual or person with a disability who lives at home. The typical caregiver is a 46-year-old woman who is married and employed, and is caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her. Thirteen percent of caregivers caring for older adults are themselves aged 65 or over. Half of all caregivers provide assistance with at least one activity of daily living; 26 percent perform three or more of these activities, and 80 percent provide assistance with activities like shopping, meal preparation and housework.

Community Living Arrangement
A residence that provides daily personal services, support, care, or treatment exclusively for two or more adults who are not related to the owner or administrator by blood or marriage and whose residential services are financially supported, in whole or in part, by funds designated through the Department of Human Resources, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases

Custodial Care (Personal Care)
Custodial Care (also called personal care) is non-skilled service or care, such as help with bathing, dressing, eating, getting in and out of bed or chair, moving around and using the bathroom. May also include care that most people do themselves, such as using eye drops.


Dialysis Center
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is the stage of renal impairment that appears irreversible and permanent, and requires a regular course of dialysis or kidney transplant to maintain life. A dialysis center furnishes at least one specific ESRD service (i.e. transplantation services, dialysis services, and self-dialysis and home dialysis training).


Home Health Care
Home Health Care can be given in your own home by family members, friends, volunteers and/or paid professionals. Home health care covers a number of services and therapies, including skilled nursing care; speech, physical, and occupational therapy; medical social services and home health aide assistance. Some short-term, skilled home care (provided by a nurse or therapist) is covered by Medicare and is called "home health care."

Hospice Care
Hospice facilities offer health and personal care services to patients who are terminally ill. Hospice care can be provided in freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, personal home, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Hospice programs usually include nursing; physical and occupational therapy; speech language therapy; medical social services; home health aids; medical supplies and appliances; drugs; physician services; short-term inpatient care; and psychological, spiritual and nutritional counseling.


Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded
An institution which specializes in providing an intermediate level of care to mentally retarded clients residing in the facility.


Long-Term Care
Variety of support services designed to meet health or personal care needs over an extended period of time.

Long-Term Care Facility
Licensed facility that provides general nursing care to those who are chronically ill or unable to take care of daily living needs (also called a Nursing Home or Convalescent Care Facility.)

Long-Term Care Insurance
Specific type of insurance policy designed to offer financial support to pay for necessary long-term care services.


Medicaid
Joint federal and state public assistance program for financing health care for the poor. It pays for health care services for those with low incomes or very high medical bills relative to income and assets. It is the largest public payer of long-term care services.

Medicare
Federal program organized under the Health Insurance for the Aged Act, Title XVIII of the Social Security Amendments of 1965. It provides hospital and medical expense benefits for those individuals over age 65, or those meeting specific disability standards. Benefits for nursing home and home health services are limited.

Medicare Supplement Insurance
Private insurance policy that covers gaps in Medicare coverage (also called Medigap coverage.)


Nursing Home
Nursing homes provide care to people who cannot be cared for in their home or in the community. They generally provide skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, meals, activities, help with daily living and supervision. Many nursing homes also offer what is known as respite care. Respite care is temporary or periodic care used instead of hospital care, after hospital care, or to give family or friend caregivers some time off.


Personal Care Home (Assisted Living Facilities)
Any dwelling that provides or arranges for the provision of housing, food service, and one or more personal services for two or more adults who are not related to the owner or administrator by blood or marriage. Personal services include but are not limited to individual assistance with and supervision of self-administered medications and essential activities or daily living such as eating, bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting.

Private Home Care Provider
Provides private home care services at a patient's residence that involves direct care to that patient and includes nursing services, personal care tasks, and companion or sitter tasks. Private home care service is a self paid service.


Respite Care
Temporary care given by a nursing home, adult day service center, or private party for a person receiving long-term care services, which is intended to provide time off for those informal caregivers who ordinarily care for that person on a regular basis. Respite care is usually short-term typically 14 to 21 days of care per year.


Skilled Care
Nursing care (such as help with medications, caring for wounds) and therapies (such as occupational, speech, respiratory and physical therapy). Skilled care usually requires the services of a licensed professional (such as a nurse, doctor or therapist).