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Palliative Care

Medical care that focuses on relieving pain and other symptoms without curing the patient’s disease. Hospice care provides patients at the end of life with palliative care that offers comfort from disease symptoms and drug side effects.

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive disorder of the nervous system and continues for long periods of time, usually many years. Parkinson's disease affects a person's muscular coordination. Symptoms include tremor (shaking), stiffness in some muscles, slow movements, and problems with keeping normal posture. The disease is caused by the death of cells in one of the movement control centers of the brain. These nerve cells control body movement.

Patient Review Instrument (PRI)

Before a senior can be placed in a skilled nursing facility, it is mandated by law that a patient review instrument, or PRI, be performed by a registered nurse. Partners in Care, the private care affiliate of VNSNY, provides PRI assessments. PRI’s are valid for 30 days and are used to determine the level of care and the type of facility required. It includes medical condition, treatments and medications needed, special diets or therapies needed, physical and mental abilities and limitations, ability to perform acts of daily living such as eating moving and toileting, behaviors such as aggressiveness and disruptiveness.

Plan of Care

VNSNY nurses and rehabilitation therapists follow a plan of care, which is a comprehensive description of a patient's health care problems and/or needs, established by the patient's doctor. VNSNY clinical staff update the doctor if there are any changes to the patient's condition so that the plan of care can be revised.

Power of Attorney

Power of attorney is a legal document giving one person (called an "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") the power to act for another person (the principal). The agent can have broad legal authority or limited authority to make legal decisions about the principal's property and finance. The power of attorney is frequently used in the event of a principal's illness or disability, or when the principal can't be present to sign necessary legal documents for financial transactions.

Personal Care Workers

Personal care workers (called home attendants in New York City) are specially certified under New York State law. The scope of their services is essentially limited to providing assistance with ADL’s and IADL’s and they cannot perform the health-related functions carried out by a home health aide (such as taking a patient's temperature). For people who simply need general (rather than medical) assistance, home attendants perform a valuable service.

Physical Therapist (PT)

Physical therapists help restore strength, flexibility, coordination and general function of patients who have been disabled by an accident or illness.

Prescription Drug Plan (PDP)

Everyone with Medicare, regardless of income, health status or prescription drugs used, can get some sort of prescription drug coverage. These plans gained momentum with the implementation of Medicare Part D in 2006.

Pulse

The rhythmic beat of the arteries caused by the contractions of the heart.

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