Glossary for Terms of Aging

Aging in Place: The concept of staying in one’s own home or community as one grows older, rather than moving to a senior care facility. It emphasizes maintaining independence and familiarity in familiar surroundings.
Assisted Living: A type of residential care where older adults receive help with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, and medication management, while still maintaining a level of independence. Assisted living facilities typically offer communal meals, social activities, and some health services.
Long-Term Care: A broad range of services and support systems provided to meet the medical and personal needs of people who are unable to care for themselves over an extended period. It includes care in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or in-home care.
Home Modifications: Changes made to a home to make it safer and more accessible for older adults, often to support aging in place. Common modifications include installing grab bars, adding ramps, and widening doorways.
Universal Design: An approach to designing products and environments that are accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability, or other factors. This can include features like no-step entrances, wide doorways, and lever-style door handles.
Caregiver: A person, often a family member or professional, who provides assistance to someone who is aging or disabled. Caregivers may help with daily activities like cooking, cleaning, personal care, or medical tasks.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Basic tasks that are essential for self-care, such as bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, and moving around. ADLs are often used to determine the level of care an individual requires.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs): More complex tasks necessary for independent living, including managing finances, handling medications, cooking, cleaning, and using transportation.
Palliative Care: Specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness, often used alongside other treatments to improve quality of life for people with chronic conditions or nearing the end of life.
Telemedicine: The use of telecommunications technology, such as video calls, to provide healthcare services remotely. It allows older adults to consult with healthcare professionals from home, supporting aging in place by reducing the need for physical travel to appointments.
Respite Care: Temporary care provided to give a break to primary caregivers. It can take place in-home or in a facility, and allows caregivers time to rest, attend to personal matters, or take a vacation.
Medicaid/Medicare: Government-funded health insurance programs in the United States that provide healthcare to certain groups, including the elderly. Medicare is primarily for those 65 and older, while Medicaid can assist with long-term care services for older adults with low income.
Aging-Friendly Communities: Cities or towns designed with the needs of older adults in mind, featuring accessible public spaces, housing, and transportation. These communities aim to help older adults remain active, engaged, and independent.
Cognitive Decline: A reduction in cognitive abilities, including memory, thinking, and reasoning skills, often associated with aging. It ranges from mild cognitive impairment to more severe conditions like dementia.
End-of-Life Planning: The process of preparing for the legal, financial, and medical decisions that need to be made toward the end of a person’s life. This includes creating advance directives, wills, and making decisions about preferred types of care.
Geriatrics: A branch of medicine focused on the health care of older adults. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older populations.
Dementia: A general term for a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, but there are other forms, including vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.
Alzheimer’s Disease: A progressive neurological disorder that causes memory loss, confusion, and a decline in cognitive abilities. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.
Senior Cohousing: A community living arrangement where a group of older adults live in private homes or apartments but share common spaces and responsibilities, fostering social interaction and mutual support.
Nursing Home: A residential facility that provides around-the-clock medical care and supervision for older adults who need significant assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and medical conditions.
Independent Living: A type of senior housing designed for older adults who are generally healthy and able to live independently, but want to be in a community with other seniors. These communities offer amenities like dining, social activities, and transportation.
Social Isolation: The condition of being separated from regular social contact, which can be common in older adults due to factors such as limited mobility, loss of loved ones, or retirement. Social isolation is linked to negative health outcomes, including depression and cognitive decline.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): A common eye condition in older adults that leads to vision loss in the center of the field of vision, affecting tasks such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces.
Fall Prevention: Strategies and modifications aimed at reducing the risk of falls in older adults, who are more susceptible to injury from falls. This includes home modifications, balance exercises, and proper footwear.
Polypharmacy: The simultaneous use of multiple medications by an individual, often common in older adults. Polypharmacy increases the risk of drug interactions and side effects.
Elder Abuse: Physical, emotional, financial, or sexual abuse, as well as neglect, inflicted on older adults. It can happen in institutional settings or within the home and is a serious issue that affects vulnerable seniors.
Hospice Care: Specialized care focused on providing comfort and quality of life for people who are nearing the end of life, rather than attempting to cure their illness. Hospice care often includes pain management, emotional support, and help for the family.
Life Expectancy: The average number of years a person can expect to live, which can be influenced by factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and access to healthcare. Life expectancy has generally increased due to medical advances and healthier living.
Senior Daycare: A service that provides older adults with supervision and activities during the day while allowing them to return to their homes in the evening. It offers social interaction and care, often giving caregivers a break during working hours.
Living Will: A legal document in which a person outlines their preferences for medical treatment if they are unable to communicate those decisions in the future. It is a key part of end-of-life planning.
Geriatric Care Manager: A professional who helps older adults and their families coordinate care, manage services, and navigate the challenges of aging. They may assist with finding resources, arranging care, and developing long-term care plans.
Sandwich Generation: A term used to describe adults who are simultaneously caring for their aging parents while also supporting their own children. This group often faces significant emotional, financial, and time pressures.
Longevity: Refers to the length of time that an individual lives, especially in good health. Advances in healthcare, nutrition, and lifestyle choices have contributed to longer lifespans.
Gerontechnology: Technology designed to support aging adults, making daily tasks easier and safer. Examples include wearable health monitors, fall detection systems, and smart home devices for seniors.
Aging Population: A demographic trend where the proportion of older individuals in the population increases due to lower birth rates and higher life expectancy. This shift presents challenges and opportunities for economies, healthcare systems, and social services.
Cognitive Aging: The natural decline in cognitive function, such as memory and problem-solving skills, that occurs as part of the aging process. While normal, it can be managed through mental stimulation, physical activity, and social engagement.
Ageism: Discrimination or prejudice against individuals based on their age, often targeting older adults. Ageism can affect access to employment, healthcare, and social services, and can perpetuate negative stereotypes about aging.
Pension: A retirement plan that provides a regular income to individuals after they have stopped working. Pensions are typically offered by governments or employers and are an important part of financial planning for older adults.
Silver Tsunami: A term used to describe the rapid increase in the number of older adults in the population, due to the aging of the baby boomer generation and increased life expectancy. It highlights the growing impact of an aging population on society and services.
Geriatric Syndromes: A group of conditions that are common in older adults but don’t fit neatly into specific disease categories. These syndromes include frailty, delirium, incontinence, and falls, often affecting multiple body systems.
Advance Directive: A legal document that outlines an individual's preferences for medical care if they become unable to make decisions for themselves. This can include decisions about life-sustaining treatments and resuscitation.
Caregiver Burnout: A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion experienced by caregivers, often due to the demands of caring for an aging or disabled loved one. Burnout can lead to stress, depression, and declining health.
Elder Law: A specialized area of law that focuses on the legal issues affecting older adults. It includes matters like estate planning, guardianship, elder abuse, Medicaid planning, and long-term care.
Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis): The gradual loss of hearing that occurs as people age, making it harder to hear high-pitched sounds and understand speech. It’s one of the most common age-related impairments.
Life Review: A therapeutic process in which older adults reflect on their lives, often recounting important memories, achievements, and lessons. Life review can provide emotional satisfaction and closure, and it’s often used in palliative care or counseling.
Assistive Devices: Tools and technologies designed to help individuals with disabilities or age-related limitations. Examples include walkers, hearing aids, grabbers, and specialized kitchen gadgets that promote independence.
Age-Friendly Housing: Residences designed with the needs of older adults in mind, featuring accessibility features like single-level layouts, wide doorways, and non-slip flooring. These homes allow for easier movement and reduce the risk of injury.
Gerontology: The study of aging and the challenges that older adults face, encompassing biological, psychological, and social aspects. Gerontologists work to understand and improve the quality of life for older individuals.
Caregiver Support Group: A community or group that offers emotional and practical support to individuals who care for older adults. These groups provide a space to share experiences, advice, and resources, helping to reduce isolation and stress for caregivers.
Elder Orphan: A term used to describe older adults who are aging without the support of close family or a caregiver. Elder orphans may face increased risks of isolation and difficulty accessing care and services.
Memory Care: A specialized type of long-term care that focuses on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other memory issues. Memory care units are designed to provide a safe environment with specialized support for cognitive impairments.
Blue Zones: Geographic regions where people live significantly longer, healthier lives compared to the global average. These areas are characterized by a high concentration of centenarians and low rates of chronic diseases. Examples include Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Ikaria (Greece), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), and Loma Linda (California, USA).
Centenarian: A person who has reached the age of 100 years or more. Blue Zones are known for having an unusually high number of centenarians, often living active, engaged lives even in old age.
Ikigai: A Japanese concept meaning "reason for being," often associated with having a sense of purpose in life. In Blue Zones like Okinawa, ikigai is believed to be one of the factors contributing to longevity and well-being.
Plant-Based Diet: A diet predominantly made up of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, and nuts, with minimal or no consumption of meat and processed foods. Blue Zones are known for their largely plant-based diets, which are thought to contribute to longevity.
Biopsychosocial Model
A holistic approach to healthcare that considers biological, psychological, and social factors as integral to health. In aging, it emphasizes that wellness is shaped by lifestyle, mental health, and social connections.
Chronological Age
The actual number of years a person has lived, often used as a basic measure of age. While straightforward, chronological age doesn’t always reflect an individual’s health or functional abilities.
Biological Age
A measure of age based on the body’s health and condition, influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and disease risk. Biological age can differ significantly from chronological age, reflecting a person’s “true” aging process.
Sarcopenia
The gradual loss of muscle mass and strength associated with aging. It impacts mobility, increases fall risk, and can be mitigated with resistance exercises and balanced nutrition.
Intergenerational Living
Housing arrangements where multiple generations live together, sharing resources and support. This setup can improve social connections and provide a support system for older adults.
Life Satisfaction
An individual’s subjective evaluation of their overall happiness and contentment with life, often influenced by relationships, health, and a sense of purpose. It’s a key measure of quality of life in aging.
Aging Workforce
A demographic trend highlighting the increasing number of older adults in the labor force. It brings challenges and benefits, including the need for age-friendly workplaces and opportunities for knowledge transfer.
Digital Literacy for Seniors
The skills and confidence needed to use digital technology safely and effectively. Enhancing digital literacy can improve access to healthcare, social connections, and information for older adults.
Functional Independence
The ability to perform daily tasks without assistance, an important indicator of aging well. Physical, cognitive, and social factors all play a role in maintaining functional independence.
Advance Care Planning
Preparing for future healthcare decisions by discussing and documenting one’s preferences for medical treatments and end-of-life care. This ensures that wishes are followed if the individual is unable to communicate them later.
Aging-Related Stigma
Social bias that marginalizes older adults by associating age with limitations. This stigma can impact healthcare, employment, and social interactions, reducing the perceived value of older individuals.
Elder Financial Abuse
The exploitation of older adults for financial gain, often by trusted individuals. It includes fraud, scams, and coercion, with devastating effects on the individual’s financial stability and mental health.
Loneliness Epidemic
The rising prevalence of loneliness, particularly among older adults who may have fewer social connections due to factors like loss of family, health issues, or mobility challenges. Loneliness can impact both physical and mental health.
Medication Management
The practice of organizing and administering medications safely, crucial for older adults who may take multiple prescriptions. It helps prevent adverse effects, interactions, and improves overall health outcomes.
Geriatric Pharmacology
A specialized area of medicine focusing on the safe and effective use of medications in older adults, recognizing that aging changes how drugs are absorbed and metabolized.
Adaptive Clothing
Garments designed to be easy for older adults or those with mobility issues to put on and take off. Adaptive clothing often includes features like Velcro closures, elastic waists, and easy-access zippers.
Sleep Hygiene
Practices aimed at improving sleep quality, which is crucial for older adults who may experience sleep disruptions. Sleep hygiene includes a consistent bedtime routine, limiting caffeine, and creating a calming sleep environment.
Orthostatic Hypotension
A condition where blood pressure drops upon standing, often causing dizziness or fainting. It’s more common in older adults and can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication adjustments.
Nutrient Density
A measure of the nutrients provided per calorie of food, with nutrient-dense foods like vegetables and lean proteins being particularly beneficial for older adults to support health without excess calories.
Elder Concierge Services
Personalized assistance services for older adults, which may include help with transportation, organizing daily activities, or managing appointments, aimed at supporting independent living.
Bone Density
Refers to the strength and density of bones, which can decline with age, leading to conditions like osteoporosis. Maintaining bone density is essential for preventing fractures and falls.
Social Determinants of Health
Non-medical factors, such as income, education, and social support, that affect health outcomes. For older adults, access to social networks and community resources plays a key role in aging well.
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing, which can become more common with age due to changes in muscle function or certain medical conditions. It often requires dietary adjustments to prevent choking and ensure adequate nutrition.
Environmental Gerontology
The study of how physical surroundings affect the aging process. It focuses on creating age-friendly environments, from urban design to home layouts, to support well-being in later life.
Low-Impact Exercise
Physical activities, such as walking, swimming, or yoga, that reduce strain on joints while promoting fitness. Low-impact exercise is particularly beneficial for maintaining mobility and cardiovascular health in aging.
Estate Planning
The process of arranging the management and disposal of an individual's assets after death. Estate planning includes drafting wills, setting up trusts, and designating beneficiaries.
Oral Health in Aging
The maintenance of dental and gum health, which is critical for older adults as oral issues can impact nutrition, general health, and quality of life. Regular dental check-ups and hygiene practices are key.
Age-Related Incontinence
The loss of bladder or bowel control, which can affect older adults due to changes in muscle strength, certain medications, or medical conditions. Management strategies include pelvic exercises and lifestyle adjustments.
Social Capital
The networks, relationships, and community ties that provide social support. For older adults, social capital can significantly impact mental health, physical health, and resilience against isolation.
Mobility Aids
Devices like canes, walkers, and wheelchairs that assist older adults in moving safely. Mobility aids are essential for maintaining independence and preventing falls.
Resilience in Aging
The capacity to adapt to life’s changes and challenges, which becomes especially important with age. Resilience can be strengthened through social connections, mindset, and personal interests.
Malnutrition in Older Adults
Inadequate intake of essential nutrients, which can occur due to factors like diminished appetite, dental issues, or difficulty accessing food. Addressing malnutrition is key to preventing health decline in aging.
Elder Advocacy
Efforts made by individuals or organizations to protect the rights and improve the well-being of older adults. Elder advocates often address issues like access to healthcare, elder abuse, and age discrimination.
Health Coaching for Seniors
Guidance provided by trained professionals to help older adults set and achieve health-related goals. Health coaches may assist with nutrition, exercise, and managing chronic conditions.
Assistive Listening Devices
Tools that amplify sound for individuals with hearing loss, making it easier to engage in conversations and enjoy media. Examples include personal amplifiers, hearing loops, and TV listening devices.
Senior Transportation Services
Transportation options tailored for older adults who may no longer drive, providing safe travel to medical appointments, social events, or shopping centers to support independence.
Therapeutic Recreation
Recreational activities designed to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being in older adults. These may include art therapy, music sessions, and group exercises.
Mindfulness for Seniors
Practices focusing on present-moment awareness, which can help reduce stress, improve mental health, and enhance quality of life in older adults. Mindfulness techniques include breathing exercises and guided meditation.
Home Health Aide
A professional caregiver who provides assistance with daily living tasks, such as bathing, dressing, and medication management, usually within the home setting to support aging in place.
Foot Care for Aging Adults
Specialized care to prevent and treat foot issues common with age, such as calluses, bunions, and poor circulation. Regular foot care supports mobility and comfort.
Hypertension Management
Strategies for controlling high blood pressure, a common condition in older adults. Management may include lifestyle changes, medications, and regular monitoring to reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues.
Elder-Friendly Banking
Financial services and products adapted for older adults, focusing on accessibility, fraud protection, and easy account management to support financial independence.
Chronic Pain Management
Approaches to reduce persistent pain, often associated with arthritis or other age-related conditions. Chronic pain management may include physical therapy, medication, and alternative therapies.
Functional Foods
Foods with health benefits beyond basic nutrition, such as fortified cereals, probiotic yogurt, or antioxidant-rich berries. Functional foods support health and may reduce disease risk in aging.
Vision Rehabilitation
Services and tools to help older adults adapt to age-related vision loss. Vision rehabilitation includes magnification devices, orientation training, and daily living aids to maintain independence.

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