D
deficits
Physical and/or cognitive skills or abilities that a person has lost, has difficulty with, or can no longer perform due to his or her dementia.
dementia
The loss of intellectual functions (such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning) of sufficient severity to interfere with a person’s daily functioning. Dementia is not a disease itself but rather a group of symptoms that may accompany certain diseases or conditions. Symptoms may also include changes in personality, mood, and behavior. Dementia is irreversible when caused by disease or injury but may be reversible when caused by drugs, alcohol, hormone or vitamin imbalances, or depression.
diagnosis
The process by which a physician determines what disease a patient has by studying the patient’s symptoms and medical history and analyzing any tests performed (blood, urine, brain scans, etc.).
Down syndrome
A syndrome that causes slowed growth, abnormal facial features, and mental retardation. Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of all or part of chromosome 21. Most individuals with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease in adulthood.
durable power of attorney
A legal document that allows an individual (the principal) an opportunity to authorize an agent (usually a trusted family member or friend) to make legal decisions for when the person is no longer able to do so themselves.
durable power of attorney for health care
A legal document that allows an individual to appoint an agent to make all decisions regarding health care, including choices regarding health care providers, medical treatment, and, in the later stages of the disease, end-of-life decisions.
E
early stage
The beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease when an individual experiences very mild to moderate cognitive impairments.
F
G
guardian
An individual appointed by the courts who is authorized to make legal and financial decisions for another individual.
H
hospice
Philosophy and approach to providing comfort and care at life’s end rather than heroic lifesaving measures.
I
incontinence
Loss of bladder and/or bowel control.
J
K
L
LMRP's
Local Medical Review Policy. Eligibility guidelines determined by Medicare that a person must meet to be considered eligible for Hospice Care.
late stage
Designation given when dementia symptoms have progressed to the extent that a person has little capacity for self-care.
M
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A brain scanning technique that generates cross-sectional images of a human brain by detecting small molecular changes. MRI scans reveal a contrast between normal and abnormal tissues. The image produced is similar to those generated by CT scans. There are no side effects or risks associated with MRI scans, although MRI can affect electrical devices like pacemakers and hearing aids.
Medicaid
A program sponsored by the federal government and administered by states that is intended to provide health care and health-related services to low-income individuals.
Medicare
A federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older and for individuals with disabilities.
memory
The ability to process information that requires attention, storage, and retrieval.
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
A standard mental status exam routinely used to measure a person’s basic cognitive skills, such as short-term memory, long-term memory, orientation, writing, and language.
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