Agitation (aj-uh-TAY-shun). Restlessness and worry that some people with AD feel. Agitation may cause pacing, sleeplessness, or aggression.
Aggression (uh-GRESH-un). When a person lashes out verbally or tries to hit or hurt someone.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) (ALlz-high-merz duh-ZEEZ). Disease that causes large numbers of nerve cells in the brain to die. People with AD lose the ability to remember, think, and make good judgments. At some point, they will need full-time care.
ADEAR Center. Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center. The ADEAR Center is an information clearinghouse on AD sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, one of the National Institutes of Health. To contact the ADEAR Center, call 1-800-438-4380 or go to www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers on the Internet.
Anti-anxiety (an-tye-ang-ZYE-eh-tee) drugs. Drugs used to treat agitation and extreme worry. Some can cause sleepiness, falls, and confusion. These drugs should be taken with caution.
Anticholinergic drugs (an-tye-KOL-in-er-gik). Drugs used to treat stomach cramps, incontinence, asthma, motion sickness and muscle spasms. These drugs should not be given to people with AD.
Anticonvulsants (an-tye-kon-VUL-sunts). Drugs sometimes used to treat severe aggression.
Antidepressants (an-tye-dee-PRESS-unts). Drugs used to reduce depression and worry.
Antipsychotics (an-tye-sye-KOT-iks). Drugs used to treat paranoia, hallucinations, sleeplessness, agitation, aggression, and other personality and behavior disorders. These drugs should be taken with caution.
Assisted living facility. Type of living facility that provides rooms or apartments for people who can handle most of their own care, but may need some help.
BenefitsCheckUp. Service of the National Council on Aging that can help caregivers or families find Federal programs that may help pay for medical and other costs of care.
Caregiver. Anyone who takes care of a person with AD.
Clinical trial. Research study to find out whether new medicines or other treatments are both safe and effective.
Constipation (kon-sti-PAY-shun). Trouble having a bowel movement.
Continuing care retirement community. Community of homes, apartments, and rooms that offer different levels of care for people with AD.
Deductible (dee-DUK-ti-bul). The amount of medical expenses that a person must pay per year before the insurance company will cover medical costs.
Dehydration (dee-hye-DRAY-shun). Condition caused by lack of fluids in the body.
Delusions (duh-LOO-zhuhns). False beliefs that someone with AD believes are real.
Diarrhea (dye-uh-REE-uh). Loose bowel movements.
Do Not Resuscitate Form. Document that tells health care staff how the person with AD wants end-of-life health care managed.
Durable Power of Attorney for Finances. Legal permission for someone to make legal and financial decisions for the person with AD, after he or she no longer can.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Legal permission for someone to make health care decisions for the person with AD, after he or she no longer can.
Eldercare Locator Service. Federal website (www.eldercare.gov) and toll-free phone number (1-800-677-1116) that can help you find local community services for older adults.
Hallucinations (huh-loo-suh-NAY-shuns). One possible effect of AD, in which the person sees, hears, smells, tastes, and/or feels something that isn't there.
Home health care. Service that provides daily care and/or companionship in the home for the person with AD.
Hospice services. Services that provide care for a person who is near the end of life and support for families during this time.
Hypersexuality (hi-pur-sek-shoo-AL-uh-tee). Condition in which people with AD become overly interested in sex.
Incontinence (in-KON-ti-nunts). Trouble controlling bladder and/or bowels.
Inpatient facility. Hospital or other medical facility where people stay in the facility.
Intimacy. Special bond between people who love and respect each other.
Living trust. Legal document that tells a person called a trustee how to distribute a person's property and money.
Living will. Legal document that states a person's wishes for end-of-life health care.
Meals on Wheels. Community organization that delivers healthy meals to older people and people with disabilities.
Medicaid. Combined Federal and State Government health care program for low-income people and families.
Medicare. Federal Government health insurance program that pays some health care costs for people age 65 and older.
Multivitamin (mull-tee-VYE-tuh-min). A tablet, capsule, powder, liquid, or injection that adds vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements to the diet.
Myoclonus (mye-o-KLO-nuss). Condition that sometimes happens with AD, in which a person's arms, legs, or whole body may jerk. It can look like a seizure, but the person doesn't pass out.
National Adult Day Services Association. Organization of groups that provide structure, support, and healthy activity for people with AD in an adult day care facility.
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. Organization of specialists trained to help older people. They will visit the home and help the caregiver get needed services.
National Institute on Aging. The National Institute on Aging is part of the National Institutes of Health, which is part of the Federal Government. Scientists at the NIA help to improve the health of older Americans through research. The NIA provides the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center. The Center offers many free booklets, including this Guide.
National Poison Control Hotline. Phone number (1-800-222-1222) for information about poisons, such as which houseplants may be poisonous.
National Respite Locator Service. Service that provides short stays in a nursing home or other place for the person with AD so that caregivers and/or families can get a break.
National Transit Hotline. Service of the Federal Government to help older people and those with disabilities find local transportation options.
Nursing home. Home for people who can't care for themselves anymore. Some have special AD care units.
PACE. Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. A program that combines Medicare and Medicaid benefits and works to help older people keep on living at home.
Paranoia (pare-uh-NOY-uh). Type of delusion in which a person believes—without good reason—that others are being unfair, unfriendly, or dishonest. Paranoia may cause suspicion, fear, or jealousy in a person with AD.
Safe Return Program. Program offered by the Alzheimer's Association to help people with AD who wander away from home get back home safely.
Sexuality. Important way that people express their feelings physically and emotionally for one another.
SHIP. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free counseling and advice about coverage and benefits to people with Medicare and their families.
Social Security Disability Income. Federal Government payment for workers younger than age 65 who are disabled according to the Social Security Administration's definition.
Spirituality (SPEAR-uh-choo-al-ity). Belief in a higher power or in larger forces at work in the world. Going to church, temple, or mosque helps some people meet their spiritual needs. For others, simply having a sense that larger forces are at work in the world helps meet their spiritual needs.
Sundowning. Restlessness in a person with AD that usually starts around dinnertime or in the evening and may make it hard to get the person to go to bed and stay there.
Urinary tract infection (YUR-in-air-ee tract in-FEK-shun). An illness, usually in the bladder or kidneys, caused by bacteria in the urine.
Veterans Administration. Shortened name for the Department of Veterans Affairs. May provide long-term care for some veterans.
Will. Legal document that tells how a person's money and property will be divided after his or her death.
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