Glossary of Terms

Sample
Advance Directives -
Documents that state your wishes about what health care you want or don't want if you can't speak for yourself. A living will and medical power of attorney are forms of advance directives.
Bereavement -
Grieving a death. Hospice of the Valley offers grief support groups, individual counseling and a quarterly newsletter to the bereaved for 13 months following a death.
Caregivers -
Family members, friends or paid staff who provide care to a person who is ill.
COPD -
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) makes it hard to breathe. The two main types are bronchitis and emphysema. The obstruction of air flow generally is permanent and worsens over time. People often feel short of breath, especially with activity. Smoking is often the cause of COPD.
Dementia -
A general term for diseases that result in impairment of language, memory, personality, behavior and judgment. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Others include Lewy Body dementia and vascular dementia.
Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order -
A DNR is written by a doctor instructing other healthcare providers in health care institutions not to try to revive a patient whose heart stops beating or who stops breathing. The order typically is written after a discussion with the patient and/or family.
End-of-Life or Hospice Care -
A team of health care professionals working together to meet the medical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The focus is on comfort, not curative treatment. Most patients are cared for in their own homes.
Home Health -
An insurance benefit that covers skilled care for seriously ill, homebound patients who may later choose hospice services. A physician order is required for patients who need intermittent skilled nursing services in their home. Services may include catheter or feeding tube care, wound care, intravenous fluids or antibiotics.
Hospice Team -
Consists of the patient and family, physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, nurses' aides and volunteers. Other participants may include massage therapists, musicians, pet therapists, aromatherapists and bereavement counselors.
Integrative Therapies -
Soothe the spirit with massage, music, art and aromatherapy.
Not-for-Profit -
An organization that channels any funds remaining after paying operating expenses back into programs and services rather than sharing profits with owners, shareholders and executives.
Palliative Care -
Also known as comfort care, supportive care and symptom management. The goal of palliative care is to prevent or treat as early as possible the symptoms of the disease, side effects caused by treatment of the disease, and psychological, social and spiritual problems related to the disease or its treatment.
Palliative Care Unit or Inpatient Hospice Home -
A homelike place for patients who need round-the-clock nursing care or a place to go while their family caregiver is taking a break.
Prehospital Medical Care Directive -
An "orange form" printed on orange paper that directs paramedics not to attempt resuscitation measures in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. The directive is only in effect when the individual is not in a hospital. The form must be signed by the individual, witnessed, and signed by a licensed health care professional.
Respite Care -
A benefit provided by Medicare that allows the patient to go to an inpatient hospice home for up to five days so the family caregivers can take a break.