For most new caregivers, CCRCs, HHAs and PERS spell confusion.
Take notes, too.
Acute care.Medical care given for a short time to treat a specific illness or condition.
This can include doctor visits, short hospital stays or surgery.
Adult care home,also called an adult family-care home (AFCH) orgroup home.
Adult day care.Centers that provide companionship and help to older adults who need supervision during the day.
The programs can help give a break to a round-the-clock caregiver.
Advance directives.Written statements that communicate individuals medical preferences if they become unable to make their own health care decisions.
The level of assistance varies among residences and may include help with bathing, dressing, meals and housekeeping.
Assistive technology devices.Products that improve a person’s ability to live and function independently.
Low-tech assistive devices include canes and pill organizers; high-tech items include electric wheelchairs, hearing aids and smartphones.
Cardiologist.A medical doctor who specializes in heart disorders.
Community Care Providers.VA provides care to veterans through community providers when VA cannot provide the care needed.
Comorbidity.The presence, or coexistence, of more than one disorder in the same person.
They can occur at the same time or one after the other.
Interactions between the illnesses can worsen the course of both.
Conservator.A person whom a court appoints to handle someone’s affairs when that person cannot do the job.
Usually, a conservator handles only finances.
Some relatives and friends of participants can qualify to be paid through this program.
Continence.The ability to control bowel and bladder function.
Copayment,sometimes called copays.
Let’s say your health plan’s allowable cost for a doctor’s office visit is $100.
If you haven’t yet met your deductible for the year, you’ll pay the full $100.
DD-214.Certificate of release or discharge from active duty.
It documents an individuals service in the military.
DEERS.Defense Enrollment Eligibility Registration Service.
You must register in DEERS to get TRICARE benefits, call 1-800-538-9552.
Delirium.Short-term confused thinking and disrupted attention usually accompanied by disordered speech and hallucinations.
Dementia.A general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.
Memory loss is an example.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but not all dementia comes from Alzheimer’s.
Dermatologist.A medical doctor who specializes in skin disorders.
Disability ratings help determine eligibility for and level of benefits, such as VA health care.
