Chapter 26 Terms Flashcards
Alzheimer’s disease
The most common type of dementia in older people, in which through, memory and language are impaired.
Asperger syndrome
A disorder on the autism spectrum - more mild form.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
A group of disorders characterized by some degree of impairment in communication and social interaction as well as repetitive behaviors.
Bereavement care
Care provided to families during during the period of grief and mourning surrounding death.
Catastrophic reaction
A reaction a person experiences when the person has become overwhelmed; signs include screaming, throwing objects and striking out.
Chronic diseases
Disease that occur gradually and continue over a long period of time.
Cognitive impairment
Impairment of thinking abilities including memory, judgement, reasoning, problem solving and decision making.
Deafness
The loss of the ability to hear from one or both ears; can be mild, moderate, severe or profound.
Can be inherited, occur at birth or be acquired at a later point in life, due to illness, medication, noise exposure or injury.
Dementia
A collection of symptoms caused by any of several disorders of the brain; characterized by significantly impaired intellectual functioning that interferes with normal activities and relationships.
Edema
Swelling in body tissues caused by fluid accumulation.
Hard of hearing
A degree of hearing loss that is mild enough to allow the person to continue to rely on hearing for communication.
Hospice care
Care provided in the final months of life to a terminally ill patient.
Mental illness
A range of medical conditions that affect a person’s mood or ability to think, feel, relate to others and function in everyday activities.
Service animal
A guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to a person with a disability.
Sundowning
A symptom of Alzheimer’s disease in which the person becomes increasingly restless or confused as late afternoon or evening approaches.
