Glossary

Adult day care centers: Facilities or programs that offer people with dementia and other chronic illnesses an opportunity to be social and to participate in activities in a safe environment, while also giving their caregivers the opportunity to work, complete tasks, and care for themselves.

Ageism: 

Cognitive impairment: Impairment in mental processes that drive how an individual understands and acts in the world, affecting the acquisition of information and knowledge.

Hospice care: Care selected by patients and families who are terminally ill or those who are expected to live less than 6 months that focuses on comfort and dignity.

Respite care: Care provided at home by a volunteer or paid service or in a care setting, to provide the caregiver with personal time.

Sundowning: A period of increased confusion, anxiety, agitation, pacing, and disorientation in patients with dementia that typically begins at dusk and continues throughout the night.