Caregiver's glossary for commonly used caregiving terms

• MEMORY CAFE. A gathering place that provides a safe and supportive environment where individuals with dementia or other brain disorders and their caregivers can socialize, provide mutual

support and exchange information. • MEMORY CARE COMMUNITIES. Separate facilities or specialized units of an assisted living center that focus on helping people with Alzheimer's disease

and other forms of dementia, where the staff is specifically trained to deal with recall problems and other impairments. • NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM (NFCSP). A federal

program that provides grants to states and territories for efforts to provide respite care, training, counseling and other supports that help caregivers to care for loved ones at home for as

long as possible. • NEPHROLOGIST. A medical doctor who specializes in kidney disorders. • NEUROLOGIST. A medical doctor who specializes in nervous system disorders. • NURSE PRACTITIONER

(NP), also known as advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). A primary-care provider with graduate training in advanced practice nursing who has the authority to order tests, write

referrals and prescribe medicines. • NURSING HOME. A public or private residential facility providing a high level of long-term personal or medical care for chronically ill, disabled and

older people who are unable to care for themselves properly. • ONCOLOGIST. A medical doctor who specializes in cancer treatment. • OPHTHALMOLOGY. A medical doctor who specializes in eye

disorders and surgery. • ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON or orthopedist. A medical doctor who specializes in bone and connective tissue disorders. • OSTEOPATH (DO), also called a doctor of osteopathic

medicine. A doctor who has completed four years of medical school and has had 300 to 500 additional hours in the study of hands-on manual medicine and the body's musculoskeletal system.

These doctors are state licensed and may have completed a two- to six-year residency and passed state examinatins to become board certified. • OTOLARYNGOLOGIST or otorhinolaryngologist. A

medical doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat (ENT) problems. • OUTPATIENT CARE, also called ambulatory care. Health care procedures and treatment that do not require overnight

hospitalization. • PALLIATIVE CARE. Specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for

both the patient and the family. Unlike hospice care, which is typically given to people with terminal conditions who are nearing the end of life, palliative care can coincide with

treatments to arrest or cure a disease. • PATIENT ADVOCATE. A professional who can resolve concerns about someone's health care experience, particularly problems that cannot be taken

care of immediately. • PERSONAL CARE SERVICES (PCS). A broad term used to refer to help with personal hygiene and other self-care, such as bathing, dressing, eating, going to the bathroom,

maintaining personal appearance and walking, provided by in-home personal care aides (PCAs). Some PCAs also help with meal preparation, grocery shopping and money management. • PERSONAL

EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM (PERS), also known as a medical alert system. An alarm system that lets someone experiencing a medical or personal emergency such as a fall summon help. Traditional

systems are triggered by the user pressing a button on a wearable device like a bracelet, sending a radio signal to a console connected to a phone, which calls an emergency response center.

In recent years, some smartphones and other connected devices like smartwatches have incorporated medical alert functions. • PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA). A health care professional with a

master's degree who works in collaboration with a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathic medicine, often in a primary care setting. • PODIATRIST (DPM). A doctor with specialized

training in treating foot and ankle problems. • POWER OF ATTORNEY (POA). A legal document allowing someone (an agent) to act for another. In the case of a health care POA, it is used when

the principal cannot speak for themselves. • PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN (PCP). The doctor that you see first for checkups and health problems. Sometimes these health care professionals have

family practices for all ages; others specialize in internal medicine for adults or pediatrics for children. • PSYCHIATRIST. A medical doctor who specializes in emotional and mental

disorders. • PSYCHOLOGIST. A specialist, but not a medical doctor, who can talk with patients and their families about emotional and personal matters and can help them make decisions. • 

RADIOLOGIST. A medical doctor who specializes in X-rays and related procedures such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound tests. • REGISTERED

NURSE (RN). A health professional who has graduated from a nursing program, passed a state board examination and has a state license. • REHABILITATION HOSPITAL. A medical facility providing

therapy and training for the restoration of physical function or cognitive skills following a serious injury, illness or medical event (such as a stroke). • REMOTE PATIENT MONITORING (RPM). 

A subcategory of telehealth services that allows patients to use mobile medical devices and technology to gather patient-generated health data, such as weight, blood pressure and heart rate,

and send it to health care professionals. • REPRESENTATIVE. A person who is legally authorized to act for another or who may function on another’s behalf. • RESPITE CARE. Short-term or

temporary care of a sick, disabled or older person for a few hours, days or weeks, designed to provide relief to the regular caregiver. • REQUEST FOR AND AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE HEALTH

INFORMATION. VA Form 10-5345 requests the release of health information by a VA Medical Center. The veteran must provide signed, written authorization before the center can share these

records. • RHEUMATOLOGIST. A medical doctor who specializes in pain and other symptoms related to joints and other parts of the musculoskeletal system, such as bones, cartilage, ligaments,

muscles and tendons. • SENIOR CENTER. A physical location providing opportunities for older adults to get active, enjoy various social activities and improve their overall quality of life. •

 SKILLED CARE. Nursing or rehabilitation services that a doctor orders and that licensed health professionals such as nurses and physical therapists provide. • SOCIAL SECURITY. The U.S.

government's social insurance program, providing monthly benefit payments to retired workers age 62 and older; their spouses (or ex-spouses), children and survivors; and people with

disabilities that prevent them from working for an extended period. The system is funded by payroll tax contributions workers make throughout their careers, with monthly benefit amounts

determined primarily by their lifetime earnings history. • SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI). Monthly benefit payments to people below retirement age with a significant illness or

impairment that prevents them from working for at least a year or is expected to result in death. Eligibility is based on past work in which the person paid Social Security taxes and is

reviewed periodically to make sure the disability continues to restrict them from working. • SUNDOWN SYNDROME or sundowning. A state of confusion that occurs later in the afternoon and into

the night. It is most often found in patients who have dementia or Alzheimer's disease and includes a range of behaviors such as increased confusion, anxiety, agitation and

sleeplessness. • SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI). A program the Social Security Administration oversees that pays monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are

disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. • SURROGATE. An individual appointed to act in place of another. • TRICARE. The health care program managed by the Department of Defense for uniformed

service members, retirees and their families. It offers comprehensive health care coverage through several plan options, as well as pharmacy benefits, dental options and other special

programs for eligible individuals.  Generally, people who are in one of these categories are eligible for TRICARE:  * Active duty, retired uniformed service, and Guard/Reserve members.  *

Spouses and their children (generally, those who are dependents and registered in DEERS).  TRICARE For Life is a program for TRICARE beneficiaries who become Medicare eligible. It serves as

a supplement to Medicare, covering certain out-of-pocket Medicare expenses. Enrollment is automatic for anyone who qualifies for and receives Medicare parts A and B. You don’t pay any

enrollment fees for TRICARE for Life, but you must pay Medicare Part B monthly premiums. Your Medicare Part B premium is based on your income. • UROLOGIST. A medical doctor who specializes

in disorders of the male reproductive system as well as the male and female urinary tract. • VITAL SIGNS. Signs of life — specifically, a person's heart rate (pulse), breathing rate,

body temperature and blood pressure. They show doctors how well a person's body is functioning.