Caregiver Glossary: Definitions for the Most Confusing Acronyms and Terms

• Discharge planner. A professional who assists patients and their families in developing a method of care for a patient following a hospital or nursing home stay.

• Do not resuscitate (DNR) order. A type of advance directive in which a person states that health care providers should not attempt to restart the heart through cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the heart or breathing stops.

• Durable power of attorney. A legal document that gives someone you choose the authority to act financially, legally and medically in your place if you become incapacitated and unable to handle matters on your own. It remains in effect until the person who grants it either cancels it or dies.

• End-of-life doula, also known as a death doula. An individual who provides nonmedical comfort and support to a dying person and their family. This may include education and guidance as well as emotional, spiritual or practical care.

• Endocrinologist. A medical doctor who specializes in hormonal and metabolic disorders, including diabetes.

• Extended care. Short-term or temporary care in a rehabilitation hospital or nursing home with the goal of returning a patient home.

• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). A federal labor law that provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks per year of unpaid, job-protected leave to accommodate some family and medical situations. The law also requires that employees' group health benefits be maintained during the leave.

• Family or informal caregiver. Any relative, partner, friend or neighbor who has a significant personal relationship with and provides a broad range of assistance for an adult with a chronic or disabling condition.

• Gastroenterologist. A medical doctor who specializes in digestive disorders.

• Geriatric care manager, also called an aging life care professional. A specialist who assesses a person's mental, physical, environmental and financial conditions to create a care plan to assist in arranging housing, medical, social and other services.

• Geriatrician. A medical doctor who has completed a residency in either family medicine or internal medicine and focuses on older adults.

• Guardianship. A court-sanctioned legal relationship in which a person is given legal authority over another when that other person is unable to make safe and sound decisions regarding his or her person or property.

• Health care proxy. A type of durable power of attorney in which people appoint another person to make health care decisions for them if they become unable to do so.

• Hematologist. A medical doctor who specializes in blood disorders.

• Home health agency. A company or nonprofit, often certified by Medicare, that provides health-related services such as nursing, personal care, social work, or occupational, physical or speech therapy in a client's home.

• Home health aide (HHA). A trained and certified health care worker who assists a patient in the home. Duties typically include help with hygiene and exercise, light household work such as meal preparation, and monitoring the patient's condition.

• Homemaker services. Light housekeeping, meal preparation, washing clothes, shopping and other tasks workers from state-certified agencies perform for people who need assistance in their homes. Medicare does not cover these services, but some states’ Medicaid programs help qualified low-income adults pay for them.

• Hospice care. A treatment regime for people who have an advanced, life-limiting, often incurable illnesses. Considered a type of palliative care, hospice focuses on the patient's psychological well-being and on managing symptoms of a disease rather than the disease itself, so they can spend their last days with dignity and quality, surrounded by loved ones.

• Incontinence. Inability of a person's body to control bowel or bladder functions.

• Independent living. An age-restricted option for a house, condominium or apartment — sometimes offered as part of a continuing care retirement community — that has few services as part of the basic rate. Those that are included are more often related to convenience, such as grass cutting or a clubhouse.

• Informed consent. The process of making decisions about medical care or medical experimentation based on open and honest communication among the health care provider, the patient and the patient's family.

• Licensed practical nurse (LPN). A person who has completed nursing or vocational training and obtained a state license that authorizes the person to take care of basic duties in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

• Living will. A legal document in which the signer requests to be allowed to die rather than be kept alive by artificial means if disabled beyond a reasonable expectation of recovery.

• Long-term care insurance. Coverage that helps policyholders pay for long-term care in their home or at a nursing home or assisted living facility, or for other designated services, depending on the policy.

• Long-term care ombudsman. An advocate for residents of nursing homes, residential care homes and assisted living facilities. Ombudsmen are trained to resolve problems; they provide information on how to find a facility and what to do to get high-quality care.

• Meals on Wheels. A service that delivers daily hot meals to the homes of elderly or disabled people.

• Medicaid. Government-provided health care coverage for eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. States and the U.S. government share the cost of Medicaid, with states administering the program according to federal requirements. As of May 2021, nearly 76 million people were covered in Medicaid, and enrollment has grown by more than 18 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Medical doctor (M.D.). A health care professional who has graduated from an approved medical school, received additional training in a hospital, passed a federal medical licensing exam and qualified for a state license. Specialists must complete an additional three to nine years of postgraduate work in their practice area.

• Medicare. A federal government program that provides medical insurance if you are 65 or older, under 65 and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, or under 65 and diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Medicare Part A is hospital insurance, and Medicare Part B covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies and preventive services. In 2020, 62.6 million people were enrolled in Medicare, 54.1 million of them on the basis of age.

• Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C. Private health plans that offer all benefits covered by "original" Medicare (parts A and B) but may also provide non-Medicare-covered benefits such as prescription drug coverage, dental and vision coverage, and even gym memberships, usually for an additional premium.

• Medicare Savings Program (MSP). A federally funded, state-administered program that helps people with limited income and resources pay some or all of their Medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. Four types of MSP are available:

1. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) for people also enrolled in Medicaid.
2. Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), which helps pay for Part B premiums only.
3. Qualifying Individual programs (QI and QI-1), which have slightly higher income limits but still help pay for Part B only,
4. Qualified Disabled & Working Individuals (QDWI), which helps pay for Part A premiums.

• Medicare telehealth services. Medicare-covered visits with health care professionals conducted via phone or video chat. Initially offered on a limited basis to people in rural areas, these services have expanded considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic, with telehealth now available to all Medicare enrollees and for a greater variety of visits and services at least until the end of the federally declared public health emergency.

• Medigap, also called Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Private policies designed to pay costs not covered using original Medicare. For example, Medigap plans might cover your Medicare copayments, coinsurance and deductibles, or services original Medicare doesn't cover, such as care when you travel outside the United States.

• 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.