ElderCare/PrimePlus
Glossary
401(K) Plans
– A 401(k) is a tax-deferred
investment and savings plan that acts as a personal pension fund for
employees. It allows employees of corporations and private companies to save
and invest for their own retirement. In a 401(k) the employee authorizes
pre-tax payroll deductions to be invested in mutual funds or other
investment options offered by the employer's plan. Often, employers match
the employee's contributions. The contributions, the investment earnings,
and any employer match may grow tax-deferred until withdrawal (assumed to be
retirement), at which time they are taxed as ordinary income. Like 403(b),
assets in IRAs can be withdrawn without penalty after age 59˝ and must start
no later than April 1 of the year following the date that one turns age 70˝
and be taken annually subject to minimum distribution requirements.
403(B) Plans
– A 403(b) is a tax-deferred
investment and savings program for employees of certain tax-exempt
employers. It allows employees of hospitals, educational institutions, and
other non-profit organizations to save and invest for their own retirement.
Depending on the program, an employee authorizes pre-tax payroll deductions
to be invested in a tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) or in a custodial account
made up of mutual funds offered by the employer. Both contributions and the
investment earnings may grow tax-deferred until withdrawal (assumed to be
retirement), at which time they are taxed as ordinary income. Like IRAs,
assets in a 403(b) can be withdrawn without penalty after age 59˝ and must
start no later than April 1 of the year following the date that one turns
age 70˝ and be taken annually subject to minimum distribution
requirements.
Abuse – Physical and Emotional
– Physical and emotional abuse includes neglect,
abandonment, beating, restraint, deprivation of food or water, sexual abuse,
humiliation,
intimidation, insults, threats, and harassment. Abuse may be domestic,
institutional, or self neglect.
ADL
–
The term "activities of daily living," or ADL’s,
refers to the basic tasks of everyday life, such as eating, bathing,
dressing, toileting, and transferring. When people are unable to perform
these activities, they need help in order to cope, either from other human
beings or mechanical devices or both. Although persons of all ages may have
problems performing the ADLs, prevalence rates are much higher for the
elderly than for the non-elderly. Within the elderly population, ADL
prevalence rates rise steeply with advancing age and are especially high for
persons aged 85 and over. Measurement of the activities of daily living is
critical because they have been found to be significant predictors of
admission to a nursing home; use of paid home care; use of hospital
services; use of physician services; trigger of insurance coverage; and
mortality.
Alzheimer’s Disease
– Alzheimer’s disease
(AD) is the most common cause of dementia in older people. AD affects the
parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. It is a slow
disease that starts with mild memory problems and leads to severe brain
damage. People with AD lose their abilities at different rates. AD can last
from 3 to 20 years or more after the onset of symptoms. It is not yet clear
what causes AD and there is no known cure. The behavioral problems in AD are
not something the person can control. They result from the brain damage that
worsens over time. AD begins slowly. At first, the only symptom may be
memory problems. People with AD may have trouble remembering recent events,
activities, or the names of familiar people or things.
(cont)
