Safety and mobility terms
Terms families often hear when falls or home setup are part of the concern.
- Fall detection
- Transfer bench
- Grab bar
- Gait
- Assistive device
Section hub
Glossary
Aging-at-home decisions get harder when families run into unfamiliar terms. This glossary explains common words in plain language so readers can move through the site, appointments, and product research more confidently.
Who this section is for
Anyone who needs quick explanations of caregiving, safety, mobility, hearing, home support, or care-planning terms without medical jargon.
What this page helps with
- Understanding common care and equipment terms
- Reducing confusion during appointments and discharge planning
- Making hub pages easier to use and compare
Subtopics in this section
Care planning terms
Terms that often surface when support needs are growing.
- ADL
- IADL
- Respite care
- Home health
- Wandering
Plain-language glossary terms
ADL
Activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and moving from one position to another.
IADL
Instrumental activities of daily living, such as managing medications, preparing meals, shopping, transportation, and handling finances.
Gait
A person's walking pattern, including speed, balance, stride, and steadiness.
Transfer bench
A bench that helps a person sit down outside a tub and slide across more safely instead of stepping over the tub wall.
Grab bar
A securely installed support bar designed to help with balance and transfers. It is different from a towel bar and should not be treated the same way.
Fall detection
A device feature that may detect a fall and try to trigger an alert, though it does not replace emergency judgment or supervision.
Respite care
Short-term relief for a caregiver, often provided by another family member, a paid helper, or a care program.
Wandering
A safety concern in which a person with memory impairment leaves a safe area or moves without awareness of risk or destination.
Related live sections
Popular glossary topics
Use these topic prompts to narrow the family conversation and choose the next practical step.
ADL
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IADL
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Gait
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Transfer bench
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Respite care
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Wandering
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Common questions
Why include a glossary on a decision-support site?
A glossary lowers the learning curve. When families understand the language, they can compare options more accurately and ask professionals better questions.
Will glossary pages expand later?
Yes. The structure is designed so individual glossary detail pages can be added later without changing the main site architecture.
Need a different starting point?
Use the scenario hub if this section does not match what is happening at home, or open the checklist hub for a practical review.