| TITLE |
DEFINITION |
| Activities of Daily Living |
Often called ADLs, Activities of Daily Living refer to daily personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and medication management. |
| Advance Directives |
Advance directives are legal documents stating your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment. Common advance directives include the Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. |
| Assisted Living |
Sometimes referred to as assisted care or catered care, assisted living is ideal for people who need minimal personal assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming or medication management. Staffed 24-hours per day, residents often enjoy the privacy of their own apartments with the security of knowing help is there, if needed. Meals, housekeeping, laundry, and transportation services are also available and may be included in the rental fees. |
| Durable Power of Attorney |
A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care enables you to appoint a person to make medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated and unable to make your wishes known. It covers situations that a Living Will does not allow for such as mental or physical incompetence. |
| Hospice Care |
Hospice is a special type of care designed to provide care, comfort, and support to patients and their families when a chronic illness no longer responds to treatment. It is designed to improve the quality of life for terminally ill patients by offering comfort and dignity. Hospice addresses all symptoms of a disease with special attention given to pain management, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Most hospice care is provided in the home or in nursing homes. |
| Independent Living |
A housing option for individuals who do not require personal assistance but desire the safety and security of knowing help is available, if needed. Accommodations often include a private room or apartment equipped with an emergency call system. Meals, housekeeping, personal laundry services, transportation, and social activities are often available and may by included in the rental fees. |
| Intermediate Care |
Also referred to as long-term care. Intermediate nursing care is for those patients who have chronic medical, physical or emotional problems that cannot be managed at home. Intermediate care patients often require substantial assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing or grooming. |
| Levels of Care |
Refers to the type of care provided in a nursing or assisted living center. Most centers provide at least two levels of care. Typical levels of care include skilled nursing care, intermediate nursing care, assisted living, and independent living. |
| Living Will |
This is a legal document designed to serve as evidence of your wishes regarding administration of life-sustaining medical treatment if you are unable to make informed treatment decisions. Under Ohio law a living will takes effect only when an individual is in a terminal condition or permanently unconscious state. It is important to note that a living will is different from a will for ones estate. A living will directs life-sustaining medical treatment while the other is a document that provides for distribution of an individuals property upon death. |
| Medicaid |
Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that pays for medical care and services for eligible low-income individuals. There are specific eligibility requirements with regard to income and assets that must be met before one can receive the benefits of Medicaid. For information about how to apply for benefits, please see Medicaid Information. |
