Glossary

Activities of daily living refer to an individual's daily habits. ADLs are often used to help determine an individual's ability to function at home or another less-restricted environment of care. Examples of ADLs include bathing, dressing, eating, moving around, using the bathroom and walking.

Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes. The two most common advance directives for health care are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care.

Facilities that provide care for older adults who need supervision during the day.

Residential housing option that also provides assistance with ADLs such as cooking, housework and bathing but does not provide skilled nursing care.

A colostomy is a surgically created opening in the colon onto the surface of the abdomen. This procedure is done to bypass some diseased or damaged portion of the intestine.

DME is medical equipment that is ordered by a doctor for home use. The items are reusable, such as walkers, wheelchairs, or hospital beds.

A legal document that names someone else to make health care decisions for you. This document is helpful should you become unable to make your own decisions.

Family members who provide personal care for a loved one, such as adult children of a senior. Although an older adult may have multiple family caregivers, one family member may be designated as the primary family caregiver, who serves as the first point of contact for their loved one's medical, financial, and personal care needs.

Being homebound refers to the state of when a person's physical health prevents them from leaving the home for more than short periods of time. To be eligible for home healthcare services through Medicare the patient must be homebound or deemed in a homebound status.

Home health refers to short-term nursing, rehabilitative, therapeutic and assistive home healthcare services. These services are provided to adults and seniors who are recovering after a hospital or facility stay or need additional support to remain safely at home and avoid unnecessary hospitalization. Through the Medicare Home Health benefit, a limited amount of up-to-one-hour visits are provided by registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, home health aides, and medical social workers.

A HHA is a nurse aide who has been tested and proven competent in home health skills. HHA services are generally covered by insurance with an MD order.

The in-home administration of essential nutrients, fluids, electrolytes, or medication directly to the blood stream. This includes, but is not limited to, specific therapies such as antibiotics, diuretics, hydration pain control medications, or chemotherapy.

Hospice is a comprehensive end-of-life medical, social, emotional, and spiritual care that provides comfort and support to patients and their family members when a life-expectancy prognosis of six months or less has been determined. These services can be provided by nurses, physicians, therapists, social workers, home health aides, other professionals, and/or volunteers.

An inability to control urination and/or bowel movements.‍

Also called "home care", "companion care" or "non-medical care", in-home personal care assists with everyday tasks and ADLs, such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, toileting, bathing, dressing, and transportation to appointments. In-home care often enables older adults to remain in their homes safely and can be an alternative to a facility placement.

An arrangement in which one or more people manage or take care of property for someone else's benefit. A living trust is a trust that is created during your lifetime. In other words, while you are still alive, you transfer title to your property from your name to that of the trustee of the living trust. You can use the trust to gather your property under one document, so that the property is distributed efficiently after your death.

Insurance that is purchased by an individual to cover care provided in a nursing home or assisted living facility (ALF); home healthcare or personal care services for activities of daily living (ADLs); or dementia care via home health, respite care, hospice care, and adult daycare. Long-term care insurance plans are generally set up to reimburse the client.

Any form of health benefits plan that actively monitors health care services received by covered individuals for effectiveness, cost efficiency, or quality. Typically, managed care plans provide a higher level of benefits for a selected network of contracted providers and may require preauthorization of certain services.

Essential items that the home health team uses to conduct home visits or carry out services the physician has ordered to treat or diagnose a patient's illness or injury.

Services or supplies that are needed for the diagnosis or treatment of a medical condition and meet accepted standards of medical practice.

The largest payer of home health care services, this federally mandated program sets the standards for many other insurers. Medicare provides health care coverage for persons age 65 and older, persons who are defined for social security purposes as "disabled" for at least two years, and certain other special cases. Some individuals who are age 65 or older may not be covered if they have not contributed to Social Security for a minimum of quarters. Medicare part "A" (hospital insurance) coverage is provided to eligible individuals at no cost, and covers hospitalization, some inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility, home health and hospice care. Medicare part "B" (medical insurance) coverage is optional, a premium is charged to beneficiaries who desire it, and it covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, durable medical equipment and a number of other supplies and services not covered by Medicare part "A".

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that involves the use of assessment, intervention, consultation, and coaching to develop, recover, or maintain meaningful occupations of individuals, groups, or communities.

Any treatment or medical care focused on reducing symptoms of a disease, rather than curing the disease itself. The goal is to improve quality of life for those with serious, complex illnesses.

The person or entity responsible for paying for home health care services rendered is a payor. Examples include insurance companies, Medicare, managed care, private insurance, etc.

PT is needed if a patient has suffered an injury or illness, which has affected motor skills or function. This may consist of evaluation, therapeutic exercises, gait training, and adaptive equipment recommendations. Their service is geared toward helping the patient or client attain their maximum functional motor potential. Typically the service is considered skilled care.

Written doctor's orders for home health services and treatments based on the patient's condition. The plan of care is developed by the doctor, the home health team and the patient. The home health team keeps the doctor up-to-date on the patient's condition and updates the plan of care as needed. The doctor authorizes what services are needed and for how long.

Paying for home health care services out of pocket or without assistance from an insurance company or other payor source.

A written order from a person's primary care doctor for home health services

Health care services that help a person keep, re-attain or improve skills and functioning for daily living that has been lost or impaired because of injury or illness. These services may include physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and psychiatric rehabilitation services in a variety of inpatient and/or outpatient settings.

Short-term or temporary care that provides a break for the primary family caregiver.

A facility that provides social opportunities and other services designed to improve the well-being of older adults.

Medical care provided at home or in a facility by a registered nurse or licensed vocational nurse.

A facility that provides long-term care for seniors with considerable assistance needs. These services include medical, nursing, personal and social care as well as assistance with activities of daily living.

A form of therapy used to evaluate and treat cognition, communication and issues with swallowing.