Glossary - Home Health, Hospice, and Elder Care[return to top] Anticipatory grief - the deep emotional distress that occurs when someone has a prolonged illness and death is expected often by the patient as well as the family. Anticipatory grief can be just as painful and stressful as the actual death of the person. Assisted living facility (ALF) - an out-of-home care option for elderly persons who continue to lead relatively active, healthy, and independent lives. Most ALFs feature apartment-style living and many services for the elderly. [return to top] Bereavement - to be in a sad or lonely state due to a loss or death. [return to top] Caregiver - someone who provides assistance, generally in the home environment, to an aging parent, spouse, other relative, or unrelated person, or to an ill or disabled person of any age. A caregiver can be a family member, friend, volunteer, or paid professional. [return to top] [return to top] Elder care - a growing area of health care concerned with providing medical and other services for the rapidly growing, aging population (most often people 65 and older). [return to top] [return to top] [return to top] Hospice - literal meaning "a place of shelter." Hospice is care for the terminally ill that focuses on pain and symptom control as well as emotional support for the patient and family; priority is on the quality, not the length of life. [return to top] Infusion therapy (Also called intravenous therapy.) - the introduction of fluid other than blood into a vein. [return to top] [return to top] [return to top] [return to top] Medicaid - Federally and state-funded health care program for low-income individuals. Medicare - Federally funded health care program for individuals over age 65. [return to top] [return to top] Ostomy - an artificial opening into the urinary or gastrointestinal tract or the trachea (windpipe). [return to top] [return to top] [return to top] Residential care facility (RCF) - an out-of-home care option for elderly persons who are no longer able to live alone and independently, but do not require skilled nursing care. RCFs typically provide assistance with personal hygiene, grooming, and other activities of daily living, as well as recreational and social services. [return to top] Skilled nursing facility (SNF) - an out-of-home care option for elderly persons who require continuous nursing care. SNFs can provide extensive care services, such as intravenous feedings, blood pressure monitoring, medication injections, and care for patients on ventilators. [return to top] TRICARE - the health care program that serves the uniformed service members, retirees and their families around the world. [return to top] [return to top] [return to top] [return to top] X-rays - electromagnetic energy used to produce images of bones and organs onto film. [return to top] [return to top] |