Abdomen The portion of the body between the pelvis and thediaphragm.

Abduction moving an arm or leg away from the centre of the body.

Abuse Harm to a victim caused by anyone upon whom the victimrelies for basic needs or support.

Accountability Being personally responsible for your actions.

Acquired Brain Injury Brain injury that occurs as the result of trauma,anoxia, hemorrhage, seizure, or toxins.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome A condition caused by HIVin which the person experiences opportunistic diseases.

Active Range of Motion Exercise Movement completed by the client.

Acute Care The type of care provided in hospitals. Clients in an acutecare setting are usually called patients.

Acute Care Facility A setting in which a person receives treatment fora specific medical condition on a short-term basis. This is another termfor a hospital.

Adaptive Communication A form of communicating in which agroup of techniques is used to adapt communication to the specificneeds of the sender or receiver.

Adolescence The period from 12–19 years of age.

Adduction Moving an arm or leg toward the centre of the body.

Age-Related Changes The changes that are part of the aging processthat happen to everyone if they live long enough.

Alignment The positioning of the body along a straight line.

Alimentary Canal The structure that links the organs of the digestivesystem. It is also called the gastrointestinal tract.

Anatomy The study of the body’s structure.

Antibacterial An agent that destroys bacteria and/or prevents bacterialgrowth.

Antibiotics Medications that treat bacterial infections.

Anticipatory Grief The sense of loss, grieving, and preparing to moveon that can occur before an expected loss happens.

Anxiety Disorders A group of conditions in which anxiety becomesextremely disabling over a long period of time.

Aphasia The complete or partial loss of language skills because of aninjury to the brain.

Appearance Observations about body language, dress, and cleanliness.

Apraxia A condition that results from an injury to the brain, makingvoluntary, physical control of purposeful movement difficult.

Arthritis A condition that causes pain, stiffness, and sometimes swellingin or around joints. It can also affect other tissues.

Assertiveness A technique that helps you respect others’ views, con-cerns, and needs while not compromising your own.

Assessment The phase of support planning that determines the type ofsupport needed.

Assisted Living A setting in which clients live in their own apartmentsor townhouses but receive services from an agency in the building.Assisted living is also called supportive housing or assisted housing.

Attendant A person who assists a client with physical disabilities, whodirects his or her own care.

Attire Clothing.

Augmentative Communication A form of communicating in whichphysical aids are used in communication.

Autism Spectrum Disorder A group of disorders that affect verbaland non-verbal communication and social interaction caused byabnormalities in brain structure or function.

Autonomy Each person’s right to have his or her decisions respected.

Bacteria Microscopic organisms that we commonly call germs.

Barriers Things that prevent the message from getting across whencommunicating, such as language or hearing impairment.

Base of Support That part of the body that is in contact with the sup-porting surface—the weight-bearing surface most often defined by theposition of your feet.

Behaviour Observations about actions, awareness and interest in sur-roundings, and awareness and interest in others.

Beneficence The obligation to prevent or remove what is bad and topromote what is good.

Biodegradable A material that is easily broken down into chemicalsthat do not harm the environment.

Bipolar Disorder A condition in which a person has alternating peri-ods of hyperactivity and depression; also called manic depression.

Blister Pack A card containing single doses of one or more medica-tions prescribed for a person.

Blood Assists in nutrition and elimination, regulation, protection, andoxygenation of the body.

Blood Pressure The pressure of the blood within the arteries.

Body Language Communication through posture, facial expressions,and movements. This is often called nonverbal communication.

Bones Hard, rigid, living structures that provide support for the body.

Buccal Tablet A dose of medication that is dissolved in the mouth andabsorbs through the mucous membrane of the mouth.

Canada’s Food Guide A guide that is based on nutritional needs andprovides an easy way to ensure that people obtain the nutrientsrequired to build and maintain a healthy body. Canada’s Food Guide wasrevised in 2007.

Cancer A disease in which cells grow abnormally and out of control.

Carbohydrates Substances formed of starches and sugars that provideenergy.

Care Plan A written document that outlines the support a client is toreceive. This document often describes client needs and support goals,and includes names and contact information for family members andother services involved in the client’s support. There are many forms ofcare plans. These plans are also called support plans or service plans.

Caregiver A person who assists the client. Caregivers can include peo-ple who are not paid (e.g., family, friends, neighbours, and volunteers)as well as those who are paid (e.g., support workers or companions).

Cell The basic element of the human body and all living things.

Centre of Gravity The point where mass is equally distributed.

Cerebral Palsy A condition that results from an anomaly or injury tothe brain as it develops.

Chain of Infection The process of transmission of an infection.

Chronic Care The type of care provided to people whose condition isstable, but who need more professional care than residents of long-term care facilities. Some provinces have separate buildings for chroniccare facilities; others provide chronic care services in acute care centres.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A group of irreversible lungdiseases.

Chronological Resume A resume that organizes the information ineach section by date.

Circumcision The surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.

Clarifying Describing things clearly so that others understand or ask-ing questions so that you understand.

Clean Technique A method of destroying many pathogens to preventtransmission of infection; also called medical asepsis.

Cleft Lip A congenital fissure or opening in the upper lip.

Cleft Palate A congenital fissure in the roof of the mouth, resultingfrom incomplete fusion of the palate during embryonic development.

Client A person who uses community support services. Throughoutthis text, we will use the term client to refer to clients, residents, andconsumers.

Client Teaching The instruction given to a client by a support worker.

Glossary

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Club Foot A congenital condition that may result in the following: aninfant’s foot (especially the heel) being smaller than normal, pointingdownward, the front of the foot rotating toward the other foot, or theentire foot turning in. In extreme cases, the bottom of the foot canpoint up.

Code of Conduct A statement that is intended to guide supportworker practice. It is often made up of ethical principles, supportworker qualities, and skills. It is sometimes called a code of ethics.

Cognition The ability to process information; it includes six cognitiveprocesses.

Cognitive Impairment A situation that disrupts the way the brainworks to think, use language, remember, and coordinate movements.

Cognitive Processes The six factors that contribute to cognition: per-ceiving, recognizing, interpreting, and organizing information; judging;and reasoning.

Communication The ability to share your ideas, explore others’ ideas,and resolve conflicts. The aim of communication is to understand andto be understood. In reporting, this means observations about mes-sages, including what is said and how it is said.

Community A setting in which a person lives in her or his own home(house or apartment) without support services located in the samebuilding.

Conditional Offer of Employment An offer of employment that is con-ditional upon you providing certain documents before you can be hired.

Confidentiality The obligation to keep the client’s personal informa-tion private.

Congenital Hip Dysplasia A condition resulting in partial or total hipdislocation.

Connective Tissue The tissue that forms bones, tendons, cartilage andother fibrous tissues.

Consumer In this book, we use the term to describe a person withtemporary or permanent physical disability who uses support services.

Content Information communicated through words.

Continence The ability to control bowel or bladder function.

Continuing Care The type of care provided on a long-term basis.Continuing care can refer to long-term services provided in facilities orfor people who live in their own homes.

Continuum A range.

Contracture A tightening of muscles, tendons, ligaments or skin thatprevents normal movement.

Crisis Plan A document that includes information to help address anyworsening symptoms to avoid further deterioration and list the client’swishes for support or care if the client becomes unable to express thesewishes because of a mental health crisis.

Cycle of Abuse A term used to describe the three phases of abuse:abuse, remorse, and anger escalation.

Day Program Programs that provide clients an opportunity to takepart in activities and be with others in a secure setting. Some day pro-grams offer rehabilitation services to help clients recover from illness orinjury. Other programs are geared toward clients with specific condi-tions, such as clients who have dementia or who have had a stroke.

Decubitus Ulcers Skin breakdown caused when tissue is trappedbetween a hard surface and a bony prominence. Often occur whenclients are not repositioned frequently; also called pressure sores.

Delirium A reversible cognitive impairment often related to extremelyhigh fever, medications, or infections.

Dementia A term used to describe a set of symptoms that occur insome types of cognitive impairment.

Development The progression from simple to more complex commu-nication, language, thinking, movements and behaviours.

Depression A range of conditions from a feeling of sadness to a clini-cal syndrome.

Developmental achievements The expected physical, emotional, orpsychological and social skills at a particular age, stage or situation.

Developmental delays When physical skills and behaviours expectedat a particular point in an individual’s life are not present.

Diabetes A disease resulting from the pancreas’s inability to produceenough insulin or to properly use the insulin that is produced.

Disability A limitation to a person’s functioning, caused by an impair-ment, that affects things the person needs or wants to do.

Disinfection The process of destroying pathogens.

Distress Stress that prevents us from functioning in the way we wouldlike.

Documentation Written reports such as notes, reports, and checklists.

Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders A document that states a person is not toreceive life-sustaining measures.

Dossette A container that holds individual doses of medication.

Down Syndrome A condition caused by an unusual arrangement ofchromosomes, most often due to the presence of an additional copy of chromosome 21 in each cell.

Drug An agent that alters the body’s mechanisms.

Dysarthria A condition that results from a weakness or lack of coordi-nation in some of the muscles involved in speaking.

Early-Onset Dementia Dementia that occurs in younger people.

Embolus A mass, such as an air bubble, a blood clot or clump, or a for-eign body that travels through the bloodstream and lodges in a waythat blocks a blood vessel.

Empathy The ability to sense what others are feeling while respectingthat you will never fully understand their emotions.

Employability The ability to do the tasks of a job.

Engorgement A painful overfilling of the breasts.

Epithelial Tissue The tissue that covers the internal and external bodytissues.

Ethics The principles that guide how people behave.

Ethnicity A person’s ethnic origin.

Evaluation The phase of support planning that reviews the client’s sit-uation, needs, and preferences.

Extension Straightening the joint.

Facility A setting in which a person lives that has shared dining andrecreational areas. In facilities, the person receives support from serviceshoused in the same building. Throughout this text, the term facility willrefer to long-term care facilities, retirement homes, and rest homes.

Failure to Thrive A condition that occurs when abuse causes a child tofail to grow and develop.

Fat The substance that allows fat-soluble vitamins to be used by the body.Fat forms adipose tissue in the body and serves as an energy reserve.

Feelings Emotions communicated through words and body language.

Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE) A disorder that can occur when a womandrinks alcohol during pregnancy; milder than FAS.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) A disorder that can occur when awoman drinks alcohol during pregnancy; more serious than FAE.

Filters Things that affect how we communicate, including body lan-guage, mood, and stress.

Fine motor skills The delicate movements of the human body thatrequire small muscles and coordination.

Fire Hazards Things in the environment that pose a risk of fire or couldmake a fire spread.

Flexibility The ability to adapt to changes in a relationship, setting, orsituation.

Flexion Bending the joint.

Fragile X Syndrome A genetic disorder caused by a weakness or breakin a portion of a child’s X chromosome.

Functional Change The way in which a particular condition affects aclient.

Functional Resume A resume that groups skills and experiencesgained from a variety of employment situations.

Fundamental Skills Skills that provide the basic foundation to get,keep, and progress in a job.

Fungi A microscopic plant that lacks chlorophyll and must rely on ahost to survive.

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Goal Setting The phase of support planning in which client goals areidentified, along with the methods that will be used to attain the goals.

Generic Name The name of the active ingredient in a medication.

Good Body Mechanics Using your body in a safe and efficient man-ner to avoid injury and/or repetitive strain.

Grief WorkTasks associated with moving through the phases of grieving.

Gross motor skills The movements of the body that primarily involvethe body’s large muscles.

Group Home A home in which a small number of people live—inmost cases, no more than eight people. The group home has round-the-clock staff members, and it is usually located in a residential neigh-bourhood.

Growth A measurable increase.

Habilitation A process by which a person chooses to gain or regainfunction, or to adapt to a change in function in order to attain self-ful-fillment.

Handicap Commonly used to refer to a disability or activity limitation;not as widely used as it once was.

Health“A state of complete physical, social, and mental well-being, notmerely the absence of disease or infirmity”(WHO, 1998).

Health Condition Something that causes a change in a person’shealth status.

Hemiplegia Partial or total paralysis of one side of the body.

Herbal Medications Substances that contain naturally occurringchemicals.

Heredity The traits and attributes a person inherits from his or herparents.

Heterotopic Ossification Abnormal bone growth in joints after abrain injury.

Holistic Approach A way of seeing all aspects of a person instead ofjust one.

Home Care Services provided to clients in their own homes through aprovincially funded program. Different provinces include different serv-ices, although most include personal support as well as nursing, phys-iotherapy, and occupational therapy services.

Home Management The process of taking care of the client’s home.

Hospice A form of support and care for people who are terminally ill.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus The virus that causes AIDS.

Huntington’s Disease An inherited neurological disease characterizedby progressive physical and cognitive decline.

Hydrocephalus A condition related to an increase of intracranial fluidin the brain that causes increased head size and pressure in the brain.

Illness An acute or short-term condition of poor health.

Impairment A change in a person’s functioning that differs from thatexpected of others of the same age or sex.

Implementation The phase of support planning in which the methodsidentified in the goal-setting phase are put into practice.

Incontinence The lack of ability to control bowel or bladder function.

Independence The ability to do things for oneself.

Infantilize The treatment of an adult like a child.

Infectious Agent Microorganism capable of causing disease. These arealso called pathogens.

Integumentary System The system that includes the skin, nails, oil andsweat glands, and hair.

Interdependence The reliance we all have on others to help us do things.

Irreversible Not curable or capable of being restored to a previous state.

Isolation Precautions Techniques used to prevent transmission of seri-ous or highly contagious diseases.

Jaundice A condition that causes yellowing of the skin.

Joints The points where two or more bones meet and may move.

Lateral Lying on your side; also refers to body parts away from themidline.

Laundry Symbols Symbols that indicate the type of care a garmentshould receive.

Learning Changes in behaviour that result from new information.

Life Satisfaction Being content with our lives.

Life Span Perspective The development of a person that occurs frombirth to death.

Life-Threatening Illness An illness that is likely to cause death.

Line of Gravity The imaginary line in the middle of your body masswhere each side is equally balanced.

Living Will A document that gives specific instructions as to the careand treatment a person wants; also called an advance directive.

Long-Term Care Facility A setting in which a person lives and receivesassistance with routine activities of living as well as some nursing care.

Matrix The substance found between the cells in connective tissue.

Maturation The sequence of growth and development.

Means of Transmission The method of transfer of a causative agentfrom a reservoir to a susceptible host.

Medical Asepsis The destruction of many pathogens to prevent trans-mission of infection; also called clean technique.

Mental Health The ability to deal with the conditions of life effectively.

Mental Health Conditions Conditions that affect a person’s self-concept, behaviour, thoughts, or feelings to such an extent that theyinterfere with the person’s ability to deal with situations effectively.

Mental Health Facility A facility designed to provide service to peo-ple with mental health concerns. Many such facilities provide bothshort-term and long-term services. Some mental health facilities arelocated in acute care settings, whereas others are completely separate.Increasingly, mental health services are provided to clients who live intheir own homes.

Microorganisms Organisms that cannot be seen without a micro-scope, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi.

Milestone The time at which particular events, skills, or behaviours aregenerally expected to occur.

Minerals Inorganic materials that the body requires.

Mobility Aids Aids that are designed to improve a person’s stability byexpanding his or her base of support.

Motor Skills The coordinated movements of the human body thatrequire either large or small muscles.

Multidisciplinary Teams A support team made up of members fromdifferent professions or backgrounds.

Multiple Births The birth of more than one baby during one pregnancy.

Multiple Loss The loss of more than one thing at a time.

Multiple Sclerosis A central nervous system disease caused by theinflammation and scarring of the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibres.

Muscle Tissue The tissue that can contract and relax; may be smooth,striated, or cardiac.

Muscles Part of the musculoskeletal system that helps to maintain pos-ture, causes movement, and produces and helps to maintain body heat.

Muscular Dystrophy A condition that causes muscle tissue to degen-erate and be replaced by fatty and connective tissue.

Mutuality The ability to see how both people in a relationship benefitfrom it.

Narcotics Medications that dull the senses to provide pain relief andmay be addictive.

Need Something we must meet in order to survive or feel satisfied withour lives.

Neglect The intentional or unintentional failure to provide the essen-tials of life.

Negotiating The give-and-take used in problem solving.

Nerve Tissue The tissue made of nerve cells, or neurons, that transmitselectrical signals from the central nervous system to various parts of thebody.

Nonmalificence The obligation to do no harm to another person.

Nosocomial Infections Infections acquired after admission to a facility.

Nutrients Vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and waterthat your body needs to be healthy.

Omnipotent The state of being above all harm.

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Organelles Specialized structures within the cell that carry out partic-ular cell processes that, in turn, carry out the cell’s functions.

Organs Groups of tissues working together with a specific purpose.

Osteoporosis A condition in which bones become less dense, brittle,and weak.

Ostomy A surgical opening in the body.

Outreach Services Services that are provided to clients in their ownhomes, not in facilities, assisted living, or supportive housing.

Overlapping Tasks Tasks that are started and allowed to continuewhile another task is finished or begun.

Over-the-Counter Medications Medications that can be purchasedand used without a prescription.

Palliation Providing care, support, and comfort to a client whose con-dition cannot be cured.

Palliative Care Active and compassionate care with the purpose toprovide comfort and control pain, not to cure.

Parasitic Worms Multicelled organisms that live within the humanbody and obtain nourishment from this host.

Parent A person who has the primary responsibility of caring for a child.

Paranoia A range of conditions in which a person believes that he orshe is being persecuted or threatened.

Parkinson’s Disease A neurological disorder that affects the ability toinitiate movement.

Passive Range of Motion Exercise Movement done for the client bythe caregiver.

Patient A person who is in an acute care facility (hospital).

Pathogens Microorganisms that cause infection.

Personal Culture The mix of many factors, including ethnicity, religion,race, and experience, that make a person unique.

Personal Management Skills The combination of skills, attitudes, andbehaviours required to get, keep, and progress in a job.

Personality The psychological traits that each person has.

PersonhoodThe characteristics, attributes, and strengths of an individual.

Phenylketonuria A disease caused by the absence of a liver enzyme.

Physiology The study of the body’s functions.

Police Record Check A check done to provide proof that a personhas not been convicted of a crime that would affect that person’semployability.

Polypharmacy The use of more than one medication.

Portal of Entry The path into the body through which the infectiousagent enters the host.

Portal of Exit The path by which the infectious agent leaves the reservoir.

Post-Polio Syndrome A condition that can occur in people who havehad polio; causes further weakening of the muscles injured by the virus.

Postpartum Depression A depression that can occur in women whohave recently had a baby.

Posture The alignment of the different parts of the body as we changeposition.

Presbyopia An inability to focus on close objects due to age-relatedchanges in the lens of the eye.

Prescription Medications Medications that are prescribed by a doctorfor the treatment of specific conditions.

Pressure Sores Decubitus ulcers.

Prevention Avoiding the creation of unnecessary illness, impairment,or disability.

Priorities Goals that you want to attain before others.

Probationary Period A trial period of employment.

Professional Appearance All aspects of how you appear, includingclothing, cleanliness, and the attention paid to the details of grooming.

Professional Behaviour Conducting yourself in a polite and busi-nesslike manner.

Progressive Worsens over time.

Prone Lying on your stomach.

Protein The substance essential for growth and tissue repair.

Protozoa Single-celled microorganisms considered to be more com-plex than bacteria. Only some may cause disease.

Psychomotor Development The ability to sequence movements inpurposeful groups.

Pulse The impulse transmitted to arteries by contraction of the ventri-cles of the heart. Most often measured by feeling the radial arteries.

Privacy The right we all have to choose to share or not share personalinformation, or to restrict the distribution of information we have shared.

Range of Motion The normal movement a joint can progress throughcomfortably and safely.

References People who have agreed to give information regardingyour abilities to potential employers.

Rehabilitation A process that helps people regain desired activitiesand levels of participation when these things have been affected by animpairment.

Rehabilitation Centre A facility that provides rehabilitation servicesto patients to help the patient recover from surgery, illness, or injury.Patients usually stay in rehabilitation centres for only a short periodof time.

Reservoir The place where the infectious agent survives.

Resident A person who lives in a long-term care facility, or retirementor rest home.

Respect The ability to recognize and accommodate others’ thoughts,opinions, behaviours, needs, preferences, and decisions.

Respiration The act of inhaling and exhaling air; breathing.

Respite Care A type of service provided to a client and the client’s care-giver, so that the caregiver can be relieved from the responsibilities ofcaring for the client and has the opportunity to take a break. Respitecare is provided in the client’s home and in many long-term care facil-ities. Respite care is also called caregiver relief.

Retirement Homes or Rest Homes Settings in which older adults livewhere some laundry and homemaking services are provided.

Reversible Curable or capable of being restored to a previous state.

Rickettsia Specialized bacteria that live like a virus and are parasitic.Rickettsia are almost always transmitted by insects, such as lice, fleas,and ticks.

RIDICUPS An acronym describing the eight principles of personalizedcare: Respect, Independence, Dignity, Individuality, Communication,Understanding, Privacy, and Safety.

Right Something we have the authority to do.

Risk Factors Factors that put a person’s mental health at risk.

Schizophrenia A chronic mental health condition that affects a per-son’s ability to take part in everyday activities. The condition may causedelusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking.

Security The obligation to keep others’information safe and away fromthose who are not authorized to see it.

Sense of HomeThe feeling that a person has about where he or she lives.

Sensory Loss Changes in the senses that result in a loss of hearing,smell, touch, taste, and sight.

Service Agreement A document that spells out the services to be pro-vided, but does not usually include goals or client needs. Service agree-ments may be called service contracts.

Sexuality Our sense of ourselves as sexual beings.

SMART Goals Criteria for describing the effectiveness of goals.

Social Role Activities that are grouped together because of the expec-tations of a group or society.

Spina Bifida A congenital condition caused by a defect in the way thespinal column has formed.

Spinal Cord Injury A condition caused by damage to the spinal cord,usually as a result of injury to vertebrae.

Stage A period of time in the human life span.

Standard Precautions A set of procedures used to prevent the spreadof a communicable or contagious disease.

Status Observations about a client’s condition, function, and any changethat was seen.

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Stress A psychological and physiological condition that arises when werespond to stimulation or adjust to changes and demands.

Stressor A particular source of stress.

Sublingual Tablet A dose of medication that is dissolved under thetongue and absorbs through the mucous membrane of the mouth.

Substance Abuse The misuse of medications, illicit drugs, or alcohol.

Supine Lying on your back.

Support Plan The foundation for all services that a client receives; alsocalled a care plan.

Support Planning Process The process used to identify the goals andpreferences of the client.

Susceptible Host A person lacking resistance to a particular infectiousagent.

Syringe A hollow tube that can be filled with a medication for admin-istration.

System Group of organs working together with a specific purpose.

Team The term used to describe the group of people who worktogether (and depend upon one another) to provide support to a client.

Teamwork Skills Skills that are needed to work with others in a job.

Temperature The measurement of body heat.

Therapists Professionals who help the client regain ability or adjust tochanges.

Thorax The portion of the body between the diaphragm and theshoulders.

Thrombus A blood clot that forms in a vessel and remains attached tothat site.

Tissues Groups of cells linked together by a matrix.

Time Management Making the most of the time you have, in light ofyour priorities.

Traumatic Brain Injury Brain injury caused by traumatic events suchas motor vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds, or falls. This is sometimescalled Acquired Brain Injury.

Tuberculosis A bacterial disease most often affecting the lungs.

Viruses Microscopic organisms that grow in living cells and use thecells to sustain themselves. Also commonly called germs.

Vital Signs Measurements of temperature, pulse, blood pressure, andrespiration.

Vitamins Organic compounds that provide elements that the bodyneeds to function.

Wellness A process of becoming aware of and practising healthychoices to attain a sense of balance and well being.

WHMIS The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systemused to provide information about the proper use, handling, and stor-age of hazardous materials.

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