A-D

Advance Directives: Documents that state your choices for future medical treatment if you are unable to make these decisions or choices yourself. The four documents are:

• Living Will
• Health Care Power of Attorney
• Mental Health Care Power of Attorney
• Do-Not-Resuscitate Order

Advocate: A person, often a family member, who speaks for you with healthcare providers.

Caregiver: Someone who is responsible for your needs when you are ill.

Chronic Pain: Pain or discomfort which has been present for a long time, possibly for months or years.

Complementary Therapies: Methods and practices of healing used in addition to traditional medicine, i.e. acupuncture, massage and music therapy.

Comfort Care: A synonym for palliative care; the goal of treatment is pain management and relief from suffering rather than cure.

Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order: An explicit written instruction to healthcare providers not to attempt CPR in case of cardiac or respiratory arrest.

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E-I

End-of-Life Care: Care provided to dying patients.

Healing: To restore to health; to mend the body as well as the soul and spirit.

Healthcare Proxy: A person or agent given legal power to make medical decisions when you no longer can. Also called a Health Care Power of Attorney.

Hospice Care: Special concept of care designed to provide comfort, care and support to terminally ill patients and their families.

ICU (Intensive Care Unit): A specially equipped area in a hospital where care is provided to patients whose conditions are life threatening and require constant monitoring.

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L-P

Living Will: A document stating your wishes for medical treatment when you become unable to express them yourself.

Medical Power of Attorney: A statement that authorizes another person or "agent" to make healthcare decisions for you.

Palliative Care: A comprehensive approach to treating a seriously ill person, controlling pain and relieving suffering, including the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient.

Physician-Assisted Suicide: Taking one’s own life with a lethal prescription written by a physician.

Prognosis: The probable course of a disease.

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R-T

Respite Care: Temporary care provided by someone else so that the everyday caregiver may take a break or tend to other responsibilities.

Spiritual History: An inventory or history of the beliefs and values that are important to you.

Terminal Illness: A disease that leads to death.

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