Language and Terminology
Language and terminology can vary among healthcare disciplines. Terms used in these competencies are defined as follows:
- Advanced care plan: an individual’s stated goals and desired direction of medical care, particularly end-of-life care, in the event that he or she becomes unable to make his or her own decisions at some future time.
- Caregiver: an unpaid individual (a spouse, significant other, family member, friend, neighbor) involved in assisting older adults who are unable to perform certain activities on their own.
- Comprehensive geriatric assessment: an interdisciplinary evaluation to determine the physical, functional, mental, emotional, pharmacotherapeutic status, and socio-environmental situation of a frail elderly person, in order to develop a coordinated and integrated plan for treatment and follow-up.
- Direct-care worker: a paid individual – such as a nursing assistant or nursing aide, home health aide, or personal or home care aide – who provides assistance with activities of daily living to people with chronic disease or disability.
- Healthcare professional: an individual with a professional license who assists in the identification, prevention, and/or treatment of an illness or disability.
- Interdisciplinary team: any group of individuals – such as healthcare professionals, direct-care workers, unpaid caregivers – who work together to plan and provide coordinated physical or mental healthcare, social services, or other supports in and across a variety of care settings.
- Older adult: an older person (patient or client) requiring physical or mental healthcare, social support, or other services, often because of multiple chronic illnesses, disability, and/or sensory or cognitive impairment.
