Glossary

Arrhythmia The heart beats when an electrical signal travels from the sinoatrial node—the heart’s natural pacemaker—to the heart. Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, results when these electrical impulses are disrupted. Arrhythmia can be a minor problem, such as a short pause or premature heart beat that has no affect on a person’s overall heart rate. However, an arrhythmia that lasts for a long time can cause the heart to beat too slowly or too quickly. A normal heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute. Tachycardia occurs when the heart beats more than 100 times per minute, and bradycardia means the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute.
Alzheimer’s care A person with Alzheimer’s disease needs special care. This plan includes special nurses and staff who are knowledgeable about the disease, security measures that promote independence and freedom and prevent wandering, support and guidance for the family, and a friendly atmosphere to reduce confusion and frustration for the patient.
Assisted living facility (ALF) Assisted living facilities are residences that are ideal for individuals who are able to live independently but may need help with some daily activities. Residents often reside in their own apartments and will have access to facility-provided meals, recreational activities, and light housekeeping services.
Advanced macular degeneration (AMD) AMD is a common source of vision loss among people older than age 60. Although AMD rarely results in blindness, people with AMD have difficulty driving, reading and performing other tasks because their vision becomes blurred.
Aegis Rehab Outcomes Aegis Rehab Outcomes is an outcomes measurement tool that quantitatively measures patients’ recovery progress.