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Activity: A task or action by being done by
a person.
Activities of Daily Living or ADL: Simple personal
care activities which are necessary for every day living
such as eating, bathing, dressing, etc.
Adaptation: A change or an adjustment to make
an action possible.
Advanced Directive: A written document that
states how a person wants medical decisions to be made
in the event they become unable to make decisions or
speak in your behalf. A health care advance directive
may include a Living Will and a Durable or medical power
of attorney for health care.
Assessment: Determine actual need.
Assistive Devices or Self Help Aids: Devices
or equipment or tools that can help a person do activities
that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. (example:
wider grip on a pen can make it easier to hold a pen
for writing: a large grip on a potato peeler can make
it possible to peel a potato; a magnifying glass can
make it possible to read a newspaper, a walking cane,
etc.).
Assistive Technology: Specialized hardware or
software that is used to help increase, maintain or
assist the functional capabilities of people with disabilities.
It can be any device or technique that assists people
in removing or reducing barriers to computing technology
and information and enhances their everyday activities.
An example of assistive technology is a screen reader,
which uses a text-to-speech synthesizer to translate
what is displayed on a screen into audible text.
Balance / Body Control: Ability to maintain
steadiness while in one set position or during movement
(moving yourself or moving objects). A person with balance
/ body control problems may be at risk for falls, especially
when sitting, standing; reaching for objects; and/or
transferring from any position such as from sitting
to standing or lying to sitting.
Barriers: Structure, object or feature that
prevents free movement, or reduces an ability or places
a person at risk of injury. Any barrier could become
a serious threat to home safety or independence. Removing
barriers is a way to increase safety, and in some cases,
makes independence possible.
Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL): Daily life
activities that must be done by an individual on a regular
basis including bathing/showering, bowel/bladder control,
dressing, eating/feeding, mobility, hygiene/grooming,
and sleeping. For more information, read our
September
2007 newsletter.
Blind: Lacking the ability to see.
Blood pressure: Blood pressure is determined
by the amount of blood the heart pumps and the resistance
to blood flow in the arteries. Narrowed arteries limit
the blood flow. In general, the more blood the heart
pumps and the narrower your arteries, the harder the
heart must work to pump the same amount of blood.
Blood pressure test (screening): This test uses
a cuff device that wraps around the arm. When the cuff
is filled with air, it squeezes the arm. When this happens,
it is able to measure the amount of pressure the heart
generates when pumping blood out through the arteries
(systolic pressure) and measures the amount of pressure
in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats
(diastolic pressure). This test should be done regularly
to detect high blood pressure (hypertension). The longer
high blood pressure goes undetected and untreated, the
higher the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure
and kidney damage.
Body Functions: Body functions includes mental,
sensory, joint, muscle and movement abilities, as well
as all of the internal organ systems in your body that
works together to support the ability to live and do
activities (breathing, digestion, urinary, metabolic
systems, etc).
Body Mechanics: How the body is positioned and
moved while carrying out activities.
Body Structures: Parts of the body such as arms,
legs; organs such as the heart or kidney and those systems
which supports abilities.
Bone Density Test: This tests the strength of
the bones.
Bowel or Bladder Control: The bladder stores
urine, the bowel stores solid wastes. Urine and solid
wastes must be eliminated from the body every day. Both
urine and solid wastes can be eliminated when we find
it convenient. We have control of these functions. Occasionally,
the elimination of body wastes becomes uncontrollable.
Should this occur, it is necessary to visit a doctor.
It is NOT to be considered a typical sign of aging.
Breathing Difficulty: Difficulty with inhaling
or exhaling air using the lungs, nose, throat, or mouth.
A person with a breathing difficulty may use an inhaler,
oxygen mask, and/or benefit from learning techniques
to conserve energy, simplify work, or to reduce effort.
Caregiver: someone who provides assistance,
generally in the home environment, to an aging parent,
spouse, other relative, or unrelated person, or to an
ill or disabled person of any age. A caregiver can be
an unpaid or paid family member, friend, volunteer,
neighbor or professional.
Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a form of fat carried
in the blood. Problems occur when there is a build up
of this fat on artery walls in the blood stream. This
build up can prevent the blood from flowing naturally,
and can cause a heart attack or a stroke.
Cholesterol Screening: A simple blood test that
measures the amount of cholesterol in the blood stream.
Undesirable levels of cholesterol raise the risk of
heart attack and stroke.
Client Factors: Those factors that reside within
the person that affect the ability to perform daily
activities. These factors include performance skills
such as coordination, strength, range of motion, endurance;
body functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing,
motivation, ability to manage stress, temperament, and
sensory abilities (such as vision, hearing, and taste)
and how they all relate together to make doing possible.
Clinical Breast Examination: Physical examination
of the breast by a doctor, nurse or nurse practitioner,
which should be done yearly.
Colostomy Bag: After an opening is made by a
surgeon, from the colon to the surface of the body,
a colostomy bag is placed around the opening to collect
the stool. This makes it possible for the body to eliminate
solid wastes.
Coordination: Skillful movement. Coordination
requires the use of large and small muscles working
together smoothly, to create pleasant, easy movement.
There is large motor skills like walking, and fine motor
skills, like holding a pencil. Large motor and fine
motor coordination should be smooth and easy and should
not a lot of hard physical effort.
Communication: The process of interpreting words
or movements of others and expressing one's own thoughts
and emotions through words, writing and body language.
Communication difficulties could be with speech, listening
skills and writing; and could affect ability to talk,
answer questions, use facial expressions, and understand
gestures.
Deaf/ Hard of Hearing: Lacking the ability to
detect and discriminate sounds. Deafness/ hard of hearing
may involve problems with recognizing sounds of varying
pitch and loudness, maintaining attention to sounds,
or finding the direction or distance of sound sources.
A person with a hearing difficulty may use sign language
or assistive devices such as a hearing aid, TTY, and/or
a phone amplifier.
Dental Floss: a soft thread used for cleaning
the spaces between the teeth. Dentists recommend flossing
the teeth every day.
Diabetes: This is a group of diseases that affects
the way the body uses blood sugar (glucose). This sugar
is vital to health because it is the body's main source
of fuel. The blood sugar accumulates in the blood stream.
Digestion: The breakdown of food into substances
the body can use for energy, cell repair, and growth.
Environment: is comprised of a physical location, equipment,
materials processed or used, and the kinds of tasks
performed in the course of living at home.
Ergonomic Risk Factors: Conditions that increase
the risk of injury. Risk factors cause a physical stress
to the body and include: force, repetition, awkward
postures, static postures (remain in the same position
for long periods of time); stress (contact and psychological)
vibration, and extremes in environmental conditions,
such as very cold or very hot temperatures.
Exercise: Is a planned physical activity which
can combat the effects of lack of motion. Exercise is
the cornerstone of fitness. Positive effects of exercise
include increased strength, flexibility, coordination,
endurance, reduced body aches, and an improved sense
of well being.
Extreme Temperatures: Low temperatures reduce
sensory feedback; the ability to manipulate small objects;
blood flow, muscle strength and balance. High temperatures
increase the rate at which the body fatigues.
Eyestrain: An irritation of the eyes related
to overuse or abuse.
Fall: Unintentionally lost balance to such a
degree that the body comes to rest on the ground, or
on an object such as a commode, tub, or piece of furniture.
Fatigue: A reduction in the ability to exert
force in response to voluntary effort. It is an emotional
or physical limitation of function, which can cause
loss of enthusiasm, tiredness, weariness, apathy, listlessness.
Financial Planning: Thinking ahead to make the
best decisions about the money or (wealth) you have
now or in the future.
Fine Coordination: Using muscles or groups of
hand/arm muscles to perform movement. Coordination could
be affected by sensation, muscle strength and vision.
A person having difficulties with coordination could
experience problems with writing, eating, bathing, grooming,
dressing, telephoning, and handling money, etc.
Fitness: the combination of physical capabilities
that include flexibility, strength, coordination, skill
and aerobic capacity (good breathing).
Fixed (Static) Posture: The muscles contract
(shorten) without any joint movement. An example of
this is standing perfectly still in one position; sitting
on the couch in one spot all day without moving; or
holding a pen for hours at a time). This posture causes
stress to the body.
Force: Amount of physical effort that is required
to accomplish a task or motion or maintain control of
tools and equipment.
Habits: (a performance pattern) Automatic behavior
pattern that enables a person to function on a day-to-day
basis. Hazard: condition, activity, or characteristic
that has potential to cause harm.
Hazard Analysis: identification of factors or
events that lead to harm or loss; or evaluation of consequences
from an event or an incident.
Health: a complete state of physical, mental,
and social well-being, and not just the absence of disease
or infirmity.
Health Care Consultant (HCC): A SAFE Aging,
Inc. physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech
pathologist, gerontologist, registered nurse, or licensed
health care risk manager who has received additional
and specific training relative to the SAFESM. The HCC
is a consultant, using information provided by the client
as the basis for making recommendations designed to
increase comfort, safety or ease within the home environment.
Health Care Power of Attorney of Surrogate:
a grant of power to a person to make or carry out the
decision of the signer of a document under terms of
state law, to withdraw food and water during the final
stages of fatal illness.
Health Condition: a departure or change from
a state of physical or mental well being.
Health Promotion: "is the science and art of
helping people change their lifestyle to move toward
a state of optimal health. Optimal health is defined
as a balance of physical, emotional, social, spiritual,
and intellectual health. Lifestyle change can be facilitated
through a combination of efforts to enhance awareness,
change behavior and create environments that support
good health practices. Of the three, supportive environments
will probably have the greatest impact in producing
lasting change". (American Journal of Health Promotion,
1989,3,3,5)
Health Screening: This is a test that looks
for a disease BEFORE any symptoms appear. Health screenings
are important for everyone.
Home Safety Assessment: A home safety assessment
is a systematic observation of the home environment
to determine potential hazards, barriers or habits that
could reduce abilities, threaten safety, or actually
cause harm.
Implants: Implants are devices that are surgically
placed into the body for a reason. (Examples: Cochlear
implants are to make hearing possible, pacemakers are
to make the heart beat regularly. Another implant example
are breast implants.)
Independence: Having the ability to safely accomplish
whatever task needs to be done without having to have
another person’s assistance.
Injury: Harm or hurt; wound or maim; usually
applied to damage inflicted to the body by an external
force.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living or IADL:
Daily life activities that require involvement with
the environment, may be optional in nature, and could
be done by others if necessary.
Living Will: A written document that has described
personal written wishes about medical treatment in the
event the person is unable to say what these wishes
are at the end of life.
Mammography: Is a low-dose x-ray procedure that
creates an image or picture of the breast. The x-ray
image is called a mammogram. It is a screening test
for cancer.
Medical Devices: Special equipment that has
been implanted in the body for a specific purpose, or
is used as a direct result of a medical surgery.
Medical Power of Attorney: A written document
that authorizes a trusted person to make decisions about
personal medical care if the person is unable to make
the decisions for themselves.
Medical
Practitioner General Definitions - read this pdf
for a list and definition of various medical
practitioner titles.
See list
Mobility: Ability of a person to move the body.
Bed mobility refers to getting in/out and moving around
in bed. Wheelchair mobility refers to moving the wheelchair
on various surfaces and managing the wheelchair parts.
Mobility difficulties may involve problems with standing,
walking, lifting, carrying, stooping, kneeling, and
the stamina or endurance to accomplish these tasks.
A person with a mobility concern may benefit by using
assistive devices such as a cane, walker, scooter, sliding
board or wheelchair.
Near Fall: Unintentionally lost balance to such
a degree that a person would have fallen to the ground,
if it had not been for some support, such as from a
wall, a chair, another person.
Neutral Posture: Comfortable working posture
that reduces the risk of muscle or bone disorders. The
joints are naturally aligned with elbows at the side
of the body, elbows bent and wrists straight, otherwise
known as normal resting position.
Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy
services are provided for the purpose of promoting
health and wellness to those who have or are at risk for
developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder,
condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation,
or participation restriction.
Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive,
psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance
in a variety of contexts (such as the home, school,
workplace, community, and many other settings) to
support engagement in everyday life activities that
affect health, well-being, and quality of life.
Over The Counter Products: Over the counter
(OTC) products are items that can be easily purchased
without a medical prescription, at a wide variety of
places. Some OTC products, when combined with certain
medications can enhance or reduce medication effects,
and/or can cause side effects. The physician should
be informed of any OTC product taken if there are any
medical conditions or medication prescriptions. Examples
of OTC products are vitamins, herbs, and liquid drinks.
Overweight: Being overweight adds stress to
the body. To determine an overweight condition, you
have to measure height and weight together. This measure
is called a BMI. A healthy weight (BMI) for adults is
18.5 or less than 25. Overweight is equal to or greater
than the BMI of 25; obesity is equal to or greater than
the BMI of 30.
Pacemaker: a device that is surgically implanted
into the body to help the heartbeat.
Pain: An unpleasant or uncomfortable sensation
that is the body' s warning sign. Pain causes changes
that actually alter normal tissue physiology. Pain affects
every aspect of the body in some way. Pay attention
to pain, do not ignore it. A person in pain may have
difficulty or inability in a wide range of daily life
activities, and may benefit from using assistive devices;
learning energy conservation or work simplification
techniques; changing the environment to maximize comfort.
Pap Smear: A small sample of cells removed from
a woman’s cervix is viewed under a microscope to see
if any cancerous changes have occurred. This test is
painless.
Performance Patterns: Patterns of behavior related
to daily life activities that are habitual or routine.
Performance Skills: Skills needed to carry out
activities of daily living.
Personal Context: Features of the individual
that are not part of a health condition or health status.
Personal context includes age, gender, social/economic
status; and educational status, people that reside with
you; the age of your home, etc.
Personal Risk Factor: Personal characteristics
that increase the likelihood of developing an injury
or illness.
Physical Demands: Physical demands are a
variety of activities a person does in life to make
actions happen.
If any of these activities are done in excess or beyond
the capability of the individual doing the action, the
effort can cause ill health, muscular aches, strains,
pains and other injuries. The following is a list of
physical demands:
click here
to read.
Pinch Grip: Gripping an object between the fingertips.
A pinch grip uses small muscles of the hand and requires
more strength than a power grip.
Poor Posture: Alters the length of surrounding
muscles and causes joint problems and muscle imbalance
which leads to decreased strength, body strain, sometimes
pain and injury.
Posture: Position or arrangement of the body
and its legs and arms. A balanced posture requires little
or no muscle action. Posture must look good and feel
good. There is no one perfect posture that can be maintained
all day. Good posture requires learning to use a variety
of positions that do not force the muscles to work harder
than necessary over long periods of time.
Power Grip: Holding an object in the palm of
the hand with the thumb wrapped around the object so
that the thumb and the fingertip are touching each other.
A power grip uses the large muscles of the arm; and
has about 4Xs the strength of a pinch grip. (Example:
holding a hammer)
Precision Grips: The ability to manipulate small
objects with the thumb and fingers. There are 3 types
of precision grips: Tip to tip (hold a sewing needle),
palmar (hold a pencil) and lateral (hold a key or a
card between the thumb and the side of the index finger).
Prescription Medication: A drug that is available
only with written instructions from a health care professional
such as a doctor or dentist. Prevention: Promoting a
healthy lifestyle at the individual, group, organizational,
community (societal), governmental/policy level.
Prostate Screening: This is rectal exam completed
by a doctor to see if there are any lumps or firmness
in the prostate, then a blood test is taken. These two
tests together can help the doctor to screen for prostate
cancer. By the age 65, all men should have this done
annually.
Prosthetics: Artificial legs or arms.
Quality of Life: Quality of life has different
meanings to different people. When you think about the
overall quality of your life, try to estimate the satisfaction
you feel with your life, health, abilities, surroundings,
income, etc.
Range Of Movement: Joint flexibility. The range
of movement is the total amount of motion possible in
a joint. Joints have different amounts of motion. Active
range of movement increases blood circulation, keeps
the joints flexible, and should be maintained to prevent
loss of abilities or pain.
Risk: combination of the likelihood and consequences
of a hazard being realized.
Risk Assessment: determination of likelihood
of injury or illness resulting from potential hazards.
Risk Factor: Characteristics or variables associated
with increased probability of harm. Conditions that
increase the likelihood of an injury or illness occurring.
Risk factors impose a physical or mental stress on the
body, and can affect muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments,
joints, cartilage, blood vessels and spinal discs. Risk
factors include but are not limited to, force, a fixed
or awkward posture, repetition, localized or whole body
vibration, contact stress, or prolonged exertions, like
frequent or heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying
heavy objects; and environmental conditions such as
extreme temperatures, poor lighting, noise and/or poor
air quality and toxic fumes.
Risk Identification: Gather information, review
information and/or visually inspect to determine risk.
Risk Management: a very structured plan to control
risk that affect health or safety. The SAFESM
is a collection of information that when completed and
score identifies potential health or safety factors
in life and in the home which could have an effect on
abilities, health and safety. It is a screening tool,
can be used as a handy reference and should be kept
with important papers. If a decline or change in any
area is noticed, seeking the advice of a health care
professional is recommended.
Safety: freedom from accidental injury.
Screening: Identifies potential risk.
Self Help Aids: products, devices, or equipment
that will make it easier or make it possible to do a
task. (Examples include a long handled shoe horn or
sponge brush, a reacher, etc)
Sensations: Sensations include the ability to
smell, hear, touch, and taste: Not being able to detect
and discriminate sensations with the nose, skin, tongue,
mouth or ears could be a serious health threat. For
example, not having the ability to smell smoke could
delay a person from quickly getting out of a house that
is on fire!
Skill: ability to do something well as a
result of long practical experience.
Specialized Equipment: Equipment used to improve
abilities: may be needed for a particular reason, such
as a cane, safety and bath rails, motorized scooter,
or special footwear. Other examples include common
products such as long handled sponges, larger grips on
household utensils, magnifying glasses, suitcases, carts
or laundry baskets on wheels, etc.
Specialized Footwear: Provides additional support
or protection when needed, and can make walking easier
and safer. Specialized footwear is often prescribed
by a podiatrist or foot doctor.
Static Posture: Condition where a single body
position is held for long periods of time. The health
risks of static posture include restricted blood flow,
fewer nutrients to the intervertebral discs, and muscle
wasting or shrinking.
Strain: Over stretching or overexertion of a
muscle or tendon.
Stress: A feeling of tension which can cause
weakened or tightened muscles. It is a feeling of tension
which can be caused by emotional and physical factors.
Stress can cause physical discomfort. Emotional stress
usually occurs when situations are considered difficult
or unmanageable. Different people consider different
situations as stressful. Physical stress refers to the
body’s reaction to various factors. The pain experienced
due to lifting excessive weight is an example of physical
stress. Physical stress often leads to emotional stress,
and emotional stress is frequently experienced as physical
discomfort (e.g., stomach cramps or muscle spasms).
Relaxation and exercise can reduce stress.
Stress Management: refers to various efforts
used to control and reduce the tension that occurs due
to physical or emotional stress.
Weight Condition: a description of weight (over
weight, under weight, within normal limits).
Wellness: The condition of being in good health,
including the appreciation and the enjoyment of health.
Wellness is more than a lack of disease symptoms; it
is a state of mental and physical balance and fitness.
Resources:
—American Occupational Therapy Association
—World Health Organization
—SAFE Aging, Inc.
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