Glossary

Advance Directives
You explain what kind of medical treatment you want -- or do not want -- if you can't make your wishes known because of illness or an accident. You can explain what you want by telling someone or writing it down. There are two types: living wills and durable power of attorney.

Assisted Living Facility
Housing and services to help with tasks such as bathing, dressing and taking medications. For people who do not require 24-hour nursing home care.

Curative Treatment
A remedy, procedure or therapy that tries to cure a disease or significantly prolong life.

Durable Power of Attorney
A type of advance directive. You name someone to make medical decisions for you if you can't communicate or make decisions for yourself. A durable power of attorney says, If I am not able to make health care decisions for myself, my health care agent (also called a proxy or surrogate) will make the decisions for me. An agent is usually -- but not always -- a family member. An agent does not need to be an attorney.

Health Care Agent (Proxy)
The person you name to make medical decisions for you if you can't communicate or make decisions for yourself. This agent (also called a proxy or surrogate) is usually a family member, but can be anyone you choose.

Hospice
An organization that cares for seriously ill people, usually in their last six months of life. Care can be provided in a hospice facility or at home. Care focuses on minimizing pain and discomfort. Hospice addresses physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.

Living Wills
A type of advance directive. You give instructions to your health care professionals (doctors, nurses, etc.) and family members. You tell them what you do and do not want regarding end-of-life medical decisions. Example: Would you want to be kept alive with a feeding tube or respirator?

Nursing Home
Round-the-clock housing and medical care for the elderly or chronically ill. Sometimes called a "rest home."

Organ Donation
You give permission to have your organs donated after you die. You decide whether your organs will be used by sick people or for research.

Pain Management
Methods to stop, reduce or prevent pain. Options include treating the cause of the pain, controlling the pain with drugs or other methods (such as yoga, meditation and biofeedback) and surgery.

Palliative Care
Treatment and services focused on soothing or relieving symptoms, rather than bringing about a cure..

Terminal Illness
An illness that cannot be cured and is at an advanced stage.