Terminology - Rock Island Village

Activities Of Daily Living (ADLs)	Activities carried out on a daily basis normally performed for self-care such as personal hygiene, toilet functions, eating, dressing and undressing, and moving around.
Adaptive/Assistive Equipment	A device or modified appliance used to assist with daily living activities for self-care, work or leisure.
Administrator	A person responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of a health care or assisted living facility.
Adult Day Care	A non-residential service providing daily structured programs in a community setting. The programs usually consist of activities and health-related rehabilitation services for elderly persons in need a protective environment. These services are provided during the day, with the elderly person returning home in the evening.
Advanced Directives	Written instructions detailing an individual’s preferences and directions regarding health care in the event that they are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or incapacity.
Age-Associated Memory Impairment	Not to be confused with forms of dementia, Age-Associated Memory Impairment is a normal mild memory loss that increases with age.
Aging In Place	An idea that allows a senior to live in his or her home for as long as possible.
Alzheimer’s	An incurable, age-related, degenerative and terminal disease that impairs an individual’s cognitive ability. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is caused by neuron dysfunction and death in specific brain regions responsible for cognitive functions. Generally diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, symptoms may include forgetfulness, wandering, and inability to recognize others.
Alzheimer’s Care	An assisted living residence or nursing facility with special amenities, either separate units and/or a program, to accommodate residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairments. Programs usually feature specially designed secure environments with structured activities and greater staff-to-resident ratios.
Ambulatory	The ability to be mobile, walk around, not confined to a bed or hospital.
Assessment	The process of documenting, usually in measurable terms and performed by a physician, a person’s mental, emotional, and social capabilities.
Assignment Of Benefits	Long-term care insurance policy provision which allows the insured person (or his/her authorised agent) to assign payments of all or a share of their benefits directly to their health care provider(s).
Assisted Living	A living arrangement in which people with special needs, especially older people with disabilities, reside in a facility that provides help with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, and taking medication. Generally, these are state-licensed programs whose exact definition and coverage will vary from state to state.
Beneficiary	A person or entity named in a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan or other financial contract who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds. Persons who are covered by Medicare are also called beneficiaries
Benefit Period	The length of time, in years, during which a benefit will be paid by an insurance policy. Buyers usually have a choice when deciding on a benefit period from many long-term care insurance policies.
Benefit Trigger	An event or events that must occur before an insured person can receive benefits under a long-term care insurance policy.
Care Plan	Prepared or approved by a doctor, a care plan is a document that outlines the basic care and services a patient needs for his or her individual health problem.
Caregiver	A person or persons who provides every day direct care in an elderly living environment. Often times they are certified professionals who may assist with the activities of daily living.
Certificate Of Medical Necessity	A piece of paper certified by a doctor that substantiates a patient’s need of a piece of durable medical equipment, such as a wheelchair or walker.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)	Individuals who are trained and certified to assist patients with the activities of daily living under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
Chronically Ill Individual	A person who has been certified by a licensed health care practitioner, within the preceding 12-month period, as being unable to perform at least two activities of daily living due to a loss of functional capacity for a period of not less than ninety consecutive days or a person that requires substantial supervision due to severe cognitive impairment.
Cognitive Impairment	The decline of cerebral facility, such as forgetfulness, disorientation and the ability to complete simple tasks, to the degree in which an individual is in need of extensive supervision. Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia are examples of cognitive impairment.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)	Community for seniors that offers aging in place at all levels of care: independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing services.