Learning Center
Senior care and caregiving terms explained in plain language. What they mean, why they matter, and what to do about them.
Clinical & Assessment
Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Activities of Daily Living, or ADLs, are the basic self-care tasks a person does every day. These include bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, moving from a bed to a chair (called "transferring"), and walking. Healthcare providers use ADLs to measure how well someone can take care of themselves without help.
Fall Risk Assessment
A fall risk assessment is a structured evaluation that measures how likely a person is to fall. It looks at factors like balance, gait (how someone walks), muscle strength, medication side effects, vision, home hazards, and history of previous falls. Healthcare providers use it to identify specific risks and create a prevention plan.
Home Safety
Caregiving
Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that happens when someone caring for a loved one pushes past their limits for too long. It is not a character flaw or a sign of weakness. It is a predictable result of sustained stress without enough support, rest, or resources.
Sandwich Generation
The sandwich generation refers to adults, typically in their 40s and 50s, who are simultaneously caring for their aging parents while raising their own children. The term captures the feeling of being "sandwiched" between two generations that both need your time, energy, and financial resources.