Glossary of Care Services

A
24-Hour Care: Continuous, around-the-clock in-home support provided over a full day to ensure safety, comfort, and well-being.
ADLs (Activities of Daily Living): Basic self-care tasks needed for everyday functioning, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, mobility, and toileting.
Aging in Place: The practice of older adults choosing to live independently in their own homes as they age rather than moving to a senior community.
Alzheimer’s Disease: A progressive brain disorder that impairs memory, thinking, behavior, and communication abilities.
Arthritis: A broad term for conditions that cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is the most common form.
C
Care Plan (or Plan of Care): A customized document outlining the services, goals, and care schedule designed to meet a client’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. Alliance Home Care Service creates individualized, confidential care plans for each client.
Care Team: A collaborative group dedicated to supporting an individual’s well-being. Members may include caregivers, medical professionals, family, friends, social workers, or spiritual advisors.
Caregiver: Alliance Home Care Service caregivers offer personal and companion care, including assistance with daily activities, safety monitoring, meal preparation, housekeeping, transportation, and companionship to enhance engagement and quality of life.
Change in Condition Monitoring: The process of observing and documenting any noticeable physical, mental, or emotional changes in a client’s condition and reporting them promptly.
Companion Care: Non-medical support that provides emotional companionship, social engagement, and assistance with daily living tasks such as light housekeeping, errands, meals, and hygiene reminders. Alliance Home Care Service caregivers also provide medication reminders and communication updates to loved ones.
E
End-of-Life Care: Support provided to individuals nearing the end of life, typically in coordination with hospice or medical providers. Services include assistance with personal care, household tasks, and emotional support for the client and family.
H
Home Care (In-Home Care): Non-medical assistance provided in the home, including companionship, personal care, and homemaking services.
Home Health: Professional, skilled medical care provided at home, which may include nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy.
Home Health Aide: A professional caregiver who assists with personal care, mobility, meals, light housekeeping, transportation, and activities that encourage social and emotional well-being.
Hospice Care: Specialized care that focuses on comfort and quality of life for individuals with serious illnesses when curative treatment is no longer pursued.
I
IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living): Everyday tasks that support independent living, such as managing finances, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and handling household responsibilities.
Incontinence: The loss of bladder or bowel control, resulting in unintentional leakage.
Ischemia: A cardiovascular condition caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, leading to decreased oxygen supply.
L
Live-In Care: A home care arrangement where the caregiver resides in the client’s home to provide continuous support and companionship.
M
Memory Care: A specialized long-term care program designed to assist individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other memory-related conditions.
Mobility Assistance: Help provided to clients who have difficulty moving safely and independently, including walking support, transfers, and positioning.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS): A chronic condition affecting the central nervous system in which the immune system damages the protective covering of nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and body.
Myocardial Infarction: Commonly known as a heart attack, this occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching heart tissue.
P
Palliative Care: A holistic approach to caring for individuals with serious illnesses, focusing on pain relief, symptom management, and emotional or spiritual support while still pursuing treatment options.
Parkinson’s Disease: A neurological disorder that affects movement and coordination, often beginning with tremors and progressing to stiffness and balance difficulties.
Personal Care: Assistance with personal hygiene and daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility. Alliance Home Care Service provides support ranging from minimal assistance to full personal care, including help for clients with memory issues or limited mobility.
Pneumonia: An infection that causes inflammation in the lungs, leading to symptoms such as cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.
Private Duty Nursing: One-on-one skilled medical care delivered by a licensed nurse (RN or LPN) at home, in a hospital, or in a nursing facility.
R
Respite Care: Temporary relief for primary caregivers, allowing them time to rest or attend to personal needs while another caregiver assumes caregiving duties.
S
Social Determinants of Health: External factors such as living conditions, income, education, social support, and access to healthcare that influence overall health and quality of life.
Sundowning Syndrome: A condition commonly linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia, characterized by confusion, agitation, or restlessness that worsens in the late afternoon or evening.
T
TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack): A brief, stroke-like episode caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain. It serves as a warning sign for potential future strokes.
Transitional Care: Short-term in-home support for individuals recovering from hospitalization, surgery, or rehabilitation. Services include transportation, medication reminders, and assistance with doctor-prescribed care routines.