Glossary

Types of Care

1. Collaborative Caregiving: A caregiving approach that encourages mental, emotional, and physical engagement to promote overall well-being, often used in home care settings. At WISE Collaborative Caregiving plans are our hallmark approach - thoughtfully tailored to reflect each client’s  personality, unique interests, health, and abilities.
   This plan includes activities such as:
   * Preparing a meal.
   *Visiting a local senior center.
   *Working together on household chores.
2. Companion Care
   Non-medical support provided to older adults or individuals with disabilities who may be feeling isolated or lonely at home. Companions form meaningful friendships, through social interaction, fun activities, engaging conversation and emotional support.
   Socialization: Discussing current events, personal interests or reminiscing while viewing photo albums
   Activities: Puzzles, games or cards
   Hobbies: Gardening, DIY projects and crafts
   Entertainment: Movies, TV and music
   Physical activity: Walking, exercise and movement
3. End-of-Life Care
   Special care for people in the final months or weeks of life. It focuses on comfort, dignity, and emotional support rather than curing illness.
   National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
4. Home Care (or In-Home Care)
   Non-medical care provided at home, including assistance with daily tasks, bathing, cooking, light housekeeping such as dusting, vacuuming, taking out the trash, and laundry, and companionship.
   Home Care Association of America (HCAOA)
5. Home Health
   Medical care delivered at home by licensed professionals, such as nurses or therapists, usually under a doctor’s orders.
   Medicare – Home Health Services 
6. Home Health Aide
   A trained worker who helps with personal care and basic health services at home, like bathing, dressing, and monitoring vital signs.
   Bureau of Labor Statistics – Home Health Aides
7. Hospice Care
   Compassionate care for people with terminal illness, focusing on comfort, pain relief, and emotional support for both patient and family.
   Hospice Foundation of America
8. Informal Caregiver
   A family member, friend, or neighbor who provides unpaid care and support to someone with health or daily living needs.
   Family Caregiver Alliance
9. Live-in Care
   Around-the-clock caregiving provided in a person’s home, typically by a caregiver who stays on-site for 24-hour support.
10. Memory Care
    Specialized care for individuals with memory loss, such as Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, often provided in a secure, structured environment.
    Alzheimer’s Association – Caregiver support
11. Palliative Care
    Medical care that focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life for people with serious illness—can be provided alongside curative treatments.
    GetPalliativeCare.org
12. Personal Care
    Assistance with daily hygiene and grooming tasks such as bathing, dressing, oral hygiene, toileting, medication reminders and more.
13. Private Duty Nursing
    Skilled nursing care provided in the home by licensed nurses (RNs or LPNs), often for individuals with complex medical needs or long-term conditions.
    National Association for Home Care & Hospice – Private Duty
14. Respite Care
    Short-term relief for primary caregivers, giving them a break while someone else provides care at home or in a facility.
    ARCH National Respite Network
15. Transitional Care
    Support that helps patients move safely and smoothly from one care setting to another, such as from hospital to home, reducing risks and readmissions.
    The Transitional Care Model

Common Terms

1. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
   Basic self-care tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, and moving around.
   National Institute on Aging – ADLs
2. Health-Related Social Needs (HRSNs)
   Factors like housing, food, transportation, and social support that impact a person's health and well-being.
   Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – HRSN
3. In-Home Safety Technologies
   Devices and systems that help older adults stay safe at home, such as fall detectors, medication reminders, and emergency alert systems.
   AARP – Technology for Aging in Place
4. Informal Caregiver
   A family member, friend, or neighbor who provides unpaid care and support to someone with health or daily living needs.
   Family Caregiver Alliance
5. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
   Tasks that support independent living, such as managing money, shopping, cooking, and using transportation.
6. Mobility Assistance
   Help with walking, moving, or transferring from one place to another (e.g., from bed to chair), often using devices like walkers or wheelchairs.
   Mobility Basics Resource
7. Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
   Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect overall health—like income, education, housing, and access to care.
   CDC – SDOH

Age Related Chronic Conditions:

1. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
   Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia—a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms worsen over time and interfere with daily life.
   Alzheimer’s Association
2. Arthritis
   A condition that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types.
   Arthritis Foundation
3. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
   A long-term lung condition that makes it hard to breathe, usually caused by smoking or air pollutants.
   COPD Foundation
4. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
   A gradual loss of kidney function over time, which can lead to waste buildup in the body and other serious health problems.
   National Kidney Foundation
5. Depression
   A common but serious mood disorder that affects how people feel, think, and handle daily life. It's especially important to recognize in older adults.
   National Institute of Mental Health – Depression
6. Diabetes
   A chronic condition where the body can’t properly use or produce insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels.
   American Diabetes Association
7. Heart Failure
   A condition where the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, causing fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling.
   American Heart Association – Heart Failure
8. High Cholesterol
   When there is too much cholesterol (a fatty substance) in the blood, which can build up in arteries and lead to heart problems.
   CDC – Cholesterol
9. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
   A condition where the force of blood against artery walls is too high, increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke.
   American Heart Association – High Blood Pressure
10. Incontinence
    The loss of bladder or bowel control, which can be occasional or ongoing, and affects quality of life.
    Continence Foundation of America 
11. Ischemic Heart Disease (Coronary Heart Disease)
    A condition where the heart’s blood supply is reduced due to narrowed arteries, often leading to chest pain or heart attacks.
    American Heart Association
12. Obesity
    A condition where excess body fat negatively affects health, increasing the risk for diabetes, heart disease, and mobility issues.
    CDC – Obesity
13. Post-Hospital Syndrome
    A temporary period of increased health risks and vulnerability following a hospital stay, even after the original illness improves.
    National Institutes of Health – Understanding Post-Hospital Risks
14. Sundowning Syndrome (Sundowning)
    A pattern of confusion and agitation that worsens in the late afternoon or evening, often affecting people with dementia.
    Alzheimer’s Association – Sundowning