Accredited Facility
An accredited facility is one that meets high standards of care. These standards are set by organizations such as the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health care Organizations (JCAHO).
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Activities of daily living (ADL's) include eating, bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting.
Acute Care
Skilled medical services in a medical setting such as a hospital, intensive care unit or emergency department.
Adult Day Care
A community program for adults with disabilities. In a safe setting, people can socialize and participate in activities.
Adult Protective Services (APS)
A federal program that ensures the safety and well-being of elders, who may be neglected and mistreated or unable to care for themselves.
Advance Directive
An advance directive tells physicians and emergency personnel what kind of medical treatment you would like, if your life is in danger and you cannot communicate. For instance, if you have a heart attack and you have a DNR order, that means “Do Not Resuscitate.” This legal document should be on file with your primary care physician, and your immediate family should be aware of your wishes to avoid any confusion.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a disease of the brain and the most common cause of dementia that causes problems with memory, learning and thinking behavior.
Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
A private, non-profit corporation, that coordinates the planning, development, and delivery of services for persons over 60 years of age and older, and adults 18 years and older who are disabled with long-term care needs.
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
AHCCCS manages the Medicaid services offered in the state of Arizona.
Assisted Living Facility
Assisted living facility combines housing and personal services. The facility may offer personal care, laundry, housekeeping, transportation and social activities.
Attorney (elder law)
An elder law attorney specializes in senior related issues like estate planning, living wills, advance directives and long term care needs.
Audiologist
A trained professional who tests hearing and performs hearing evaluation tests which measure the degree of hearing loss.
Background Checks
Background checks are run on all employees to verify any criminal and employment history during the hiring process.
Bed-bound
A person who cannot leave their bed due to a medical condition.
Bonded Employees
In a perfect world, employee theft would never happen. Unfortunately, it does. To protect you, bonding assures that employees are trustworthy. And, if something should go amiss, it will be replaced.
Case Management
Case Management describes the care and services planned by health care workers.
Caregiver
A person who helps care for someone who is ill, disabled, or aged.
Caregiver Support Group
Caregiver support groups assist caregivers cope with providing care. These groups provide referrals, counseling, respite care options and other assistance.
Care Plan
Care Plans are outlines of treatments and service needed and typically outline desired goals.
Catheter
A hollow flexible tube that is used to drain urine from the bladder through the mouth of the urethra.
Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA)
A Certified Home Health Agency has met all the requirements set by Medicaid and Medicare to provide care and follow strict guidelines on record keeping and reporting.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
A certified nursing assistant works along side registered nurses assisting with taking vitals and personal care needs.
COBRA
Continued Health Insurance offered to employees that have been terminated.
Companions
Companion caregivers provide socialization, errand service, meal preparation, as well as respite or temporary relief to family caregivers.
Conservatorship
A legal proceeding.
Co-payment
A set dollar amount normally in the range of $15 to $20 when you arrive for your doctor’s appointment or when picking up medication.
Decubitus Ulcers
Bed sores caused by constant pressure.
Dementia
Dementia is a progressive decline of cognitive function, such as memory, concentration, and judgment, due to damage or disease of the brain beyond the natural process of aging.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order
A DNR order tells the health care professionals not to revive a patient whose heart or breathing has stopped. This order is normally in your advance directive.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
Medical equipment your doctor has ordered for your use. DME is normally walkers, wheelchairs and special hospital beds.
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
ESRD means permanent kidney failure that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Enrollment Period (also called open enrollment)
Enrollment period is a time when you can enroll in a health plan or Medicare plan.
Executor
The person appointed in a will to handle a deceased person's estate and the instructions stated in the will.
Family Caregiver
A family caregiver can be a family member or friend that provides care directly for someone ill. This is normally someone that provides this service at no charge.
Feeding Tube
A feeding tube is a plastic or rubber tube to give food and water to someone who cannot eat or drink.
Functional Impairment
Functional impairment means that an individual is unable to dress, use the toilet, eat, bathe or walk without assistance.
Good Neighbor Support Services
Your best resource in the non-medical in-home care industry.
Health Care Power of Attorney or Proxy
A Health Care Power of Attorney is needed to make health care decisions for someone that is too ill to make those decisions on their own.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
HIPAA is a federal law that ensures privacy relating to any of your health information.
Home and Community-based Services (HCBS)
Medical and non-medical services offered in a person’s home so that a person can live independently at home.
Home Health Agency (HHA)
A Home Health Agency provides skilled nursing services in the home.
Homemaker Services
A caregiver provides homemaker services, assists with housekeeping, laundry and meal preparation.
Home Visit
Good Neighbor conducts home visits to check on your current care, assuring you are happy with the our service and the service the caregiver is providing.
Hospice
Hospice offers pain relief and support to terminally ill individuals and their families.
Independent Living
Independent living normally means apartment style housing that may include meals and housekeeping.
In-home Services
In-home services are just that, caregivers or skilled nursing professionals that come to your home and provide care in your residence.
Insured
Good Neighbor Support Services is insured through SCF Arizona, covering all of its workman compensation needs. Insuring you, that our employees are protected against workplace injury claims.
JCAHO Accreditation
JCAHO Accreditation means that a facility complies with specific quality health care standards.
Licensed
Good Neighbor is licensed and in good standing to conduct business in the City of Goodyear, Arizona.
Living Will
A living will tells family and medical professionals about a person’s wishes regarding medical care to sustain life.
Long-Term Care Insurance
An insurance policy that normally pays for items that your normal health care plan or Medicare plans will not cover over long periods.
Meals on Wheels (MOW)
This service provides food delivered directly to your door.
Medicaid
Medicaid is the government health insurance program for low-income people of all ages.
Medicare
Medicare is federal health insurance normally for people over 65 years of age and the disabled.
Medicare Advantage Plan
Medicare Advantage Plans are offered through private health plans to manage your Medicare benefits.
Nurse
A nurse takes care of patients and oversees certified nurses' aides (CNA's) and custodial caregivers.
Nursing Home
A nursing home provides skilled nursing on a 24 hour basis to patients who need care around the clock.
Ombudsman
An ombudsman helps patients and their families keep their rights and resolve complaints.
Palliative Care
Palliative care is offered to terminally ill patients, the main goal is to keep the client as comfortable as possible.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist treats physical disabilities and works with residents to improve general fitness.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy provides mechanical treatments including exercise and massage.
Physician
A physician develops a medical care plan for his patients.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is a legal form that names someone to act as your substitute.
Primary Care Physician (PCP)
This is your primary doctor regarding your general health care. He will refer you to specialists when needed.
Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
A personal care attendant is a caregiver that assists with personal activities of daily living, such as bathing, shampooing, personal hygiene.
Provider
Provider is a term used to describe a health care professional or health care facility that provides care to patients.
Psychologist
A psychologist detects and treats emotional problems.
Rehabilitation
Services and therapies needed by people who have sustained severe injury, often due to trauma, stroke, infection, tumor, surgery, or a progressive disease.
Respite Care
Respite care provides temporary relief from caregiving tasks.
Reverse Mortgage
Reverse mortgages convert home equity into cash.
Skilled Nursing Care
Skilled nursing care is provided by a licensed nurse. Examples of skilled nursing care include intravenous injections and physical therapy.
Social Security Disability Income (SSI)
A monetary benefit paid through social security to persons under age 65 with disabilities.
Social Worker
A professional trained to talk with people and their families about emotional or physical needs, and to find them support services.
Veterans' Benefits
Medical services and other benefits provided by the Veterans' Administration to honorably discharged ex-service members and sometimes to their dependents.
