Care Coordinator
Sometimes referred to as a “patient care coordinator” is a trained health professional that helps to manage a patient’s care, for example, the elderly or disabled. They monitor and coordinate patients’ treatment plans, educate them about their condition, connect them with health care providers, and evaluate their progress.
Caregiver
A caregiver can be a spouse, family member, partner, friend, or neighbor who helps care for an elder or person with a disability who needs assistance. Caregivers can also be people employed by the older adult, a family member, agencies, or care settings to provide assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).
Caregiver Agency
A caregiver agency employs or contracts with caregivers and arranges them to visit a client to provide care services. Some care agencies also provide nursing care to people in their own homes.
Case Manager
A nurse, social worker, or other healthcare professionals who plan and coordinate services for an individual’s care. This person usually works for an agency or care setting.
Cataracts
An opaqueness that develops in the lens of the eye or in its envelope, causing myopia (distant objects appear blurred). It can cause a person not to be able to see blue colors and can lead to blindness if not treated.
Catheter
A catheter is a medical tube device inserted into the body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters allow drainage of fluids or infection but may also provide access for surgical instruments into the body.
Certified Home Health Agencies
Provides part-time, intermittent health care and support services to individuals who need immediate and skilled health care.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
A CNA, working under the direction of a registered or a practical nurse, fulfills many basic needs regarding direct patient care, including, among other things, feeding, dressing, assisting with matters of hygiene, taking vital signs, collecting specimens, accompanying to and from appointments or while taking exercise and often providing emotional support.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
A disease in which the air pathways in the lungs arrow and limit the ability to get air to the lungs. The disease progresses over time and can result in death.
Cognition
The process of knowing; of being aware of thoughts. The ability to reason and understand.
Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive impairment refers to a diminished mental capacity, such as difficulty with short-term memory or problems that affect how clearly a person thinks, learns new tasks, and remembers events that just happened or happened a long time ago.
Companion Care
Companion care is a form of non-medical home care for older adults or people with disabilities. Companion care differs from personal care in that personal care aides (also known as home health aides) may provide the same service as companion care, but also helps with tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication management, depending on specific state regulations.
Continence
The voluntary control of excretory functions and/or the ability to perform personal hygiene such as caring for a catheter or colostomy bag. This is normally identified as an activity of daily living.
Continuing Care Retirement Community
Assisted living housing communities that provide care at different levels. Care options can range from independent living apartments to skilled nursing and are based on the needs of the residents. The CCRC charges monthly fees, and usually requires an endowment (a significant payment) prior to admission.
Custodial Care (Personal Care)
Care for individuals who need assistance with non-medical activities of daily living. Professional training is not required to administer this type of care. Custodial care is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid coverage is extremely small.
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