Here Are Some Abbreviations and Acronyms Caregivers Should Learn
Caregivers usually are on the steep slope of a learning curve. Thus, learning as much as possible as quickly and as soon as possible can help you to avoid undue stress and mistakes. At this web site, however, are only some of the more common terms that often are used in caregiving, nursing homes, and long-term care.
Looking at this list of terms, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. To deal with these feelings, you can use several strategies:
1) Try first to understand the meaning of only those terms that you know pertain to your Loved One’s (LO’s) current medical status.
2) When a medical or legal professional uses an unfamiliar abbreviation, ask them to explain it to you.
3) If your LO’s medical condition changes, be prepared to learn the meaning of new abbreviations.
Medical professionals use these terms so much among themselves that they might forget that a non-medical professional might not know the meanings of these terms. If you do not get a chance to ask the meanings of these terms, you might try looking them up on the internet. Then, if you have questions about these terms, ask a medical professional how they pertain to your LO.
If your LO asks the meaning of a term, it will be good for your relationship with your LO if you can explain the meaning to him/her. 1 Timothy 3:1 reads: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.”
Are you a caregiver? Do you expect to become one soon? If so, learning these terms can be very important.
