Finding it difficult to understand some of the medical terms on this website? Don’t Worry! This short but comprehensive list will help communicate what you need to know in order to help yourself or a loved one. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out and we will be happy to put your mind at ease.

• Gerontology - is the study of the physical aspects of aging, as well as the mental, social and societal implications of aging.

• IV Therapy - “IV” stands for intravenous, which means the fluid is administered through the veins. The fluid that contains vitamins and minerals or medication is delivered via an IV drip or injection into the vein, which allows the therapy to move quickly through your bloodstream. You or your loved one may be sent home from the hospital with ongoing medication treatment that is delivered via intravenous therapy. This means that you, or your loved one would require the services of a nurse to safely administer the medication.

• Alzheimer’s disease - is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment. Alzheimer’s disease involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. It can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.

  In 2020, as many as 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease. Younger people may get Alzheimer’s disease, but it is less common. The number of people living with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060. Symptoms of the disease can first appear after age 60, and the risk increases with age. In addition to memory problems, someone with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may experience one or more of the following:

  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as getting lost in a familiar place or repeating questions.

  • Trouble handling money and paying bills.

  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.

  • Decreased or poor judgment.

  • Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them.

  • Changes in mood, personality, or behavior.

• Dementia - Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.

• End of Life and Palliative Care - Both these types of care are meant to offer supportive and compassionate care that focuses on comfort, quality of life, and offering respect for personal health care treatment decisions at the end of ones life. It will also provide support including psychological, cultural and spiritual concerns for dying peoples and their families.

• Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness – whatever the diagnosis. Care can be provided wherever the client is living, whether at home, in hospice, an assisted living residence or a long-term care home.

  End-of-life and palliative care services aim to preserve an individual’s comfort, dignity and quality of life as their needs change, and to offer on-going support for family and friends. These services include the following: care co-ordination and consultation, pain and symptom management, community nursing services, home support, respite for the caregiver and hospice care.

• Medication Management and Administration - In home medication management provides seniors with professional help from the comfort of their own homes. Medication management is a service provided by a Registered Nurse (RN) who has a four-year degree in the healthcare field. RNs are certified to perform medical services, such as suture cleaning and injections, as well as attend doctor(s) appointments or procedures.

  RNs can also administer, reconcile, and manage a senior’s medication regime due to their experience and extensive education credentials. Medication management is incredibly helpful for those taking multiple prescription drugs at a time. However, medication reminders are a different level of care and empower seniors to take their own medications with oversight.

• Medication Reminders - Families typically need someone to support their loved one’s medication adherence, not to physically administer the pills. Medication reminders are a nonmedical service provided by your caregiver. Caregivers do not administer medications, pick up prescriptions, or speak with a doctor or pharmacist about a client’s medicine or regime—but they do ensure medication safety and regularity.

  Our caregivers provide services such as personal care, housework, transportation, meal preparation, and medication reminders. The fading memories of Dementia and Alzheimer’s clients tend to require a dedicated caregiver to gently, but insistently remind them to take their pills. Our caregivers will report immediately to their nurse supervisor should the client become non compliant to taking their medications.

• Subcutaneous Injection and Subcutaneous Butterfly - A subcutaneous injection is a method of administering medication. Subcutaneous means under the skin. In this type of injection, a short needle is used to inject a drug into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle. With a subcutaneous butterfly, subcutaneous means under the skin and ‘Butterfly’ refers to the shape of the wings of the port that is placed in the client. Your loved one may return from hospital or have reached the time for end-of-life care. A subcutaneous butterfly is placed to ease the administration of medication. Each butterfly site can be used more than once but can only be used for one medicine. If a person needs more than one medicine, they will have more than one butterfly site. Why use a subcutaneous butterfly? It can stay in place for several days, reducing the number of needle pokes. Allows the person to get medicine when they are not able to swallow. It is the best way for some medicines to get into the body. Love Me Tender Registered Nurses can assist you or your loved one with the administration and care of these medications.