“In the Know”

Newswise — The brand-new ReSTART online recovery resource was created by rehabilitation nurses to provide key information for those starting the journey of rehabilitation, as well as their family members, loved ones, and caretakers.

One helpful feature that really makes the ReSTART website valuable is the easy to understand glossary of terms that it provides. We all know that interacting with healthcare staff can sometimes be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to understand confusing and intimidating words or terms. Thankfully, the new ReSTART online resource is available to clarify and to help visitors make the most of the rehabilitation process.

Here are just a few helpful definitions of some of the most common terms used by rehabilitation healthcare staff. To really get “in the know” with the full list of terms, simply visit www.restartrecovery.org/glossary.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): ADLs refer to daily self-care activities that take place within an individual's place of residence, in outdoor environments, or both. ADLs include eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (walking), and continence. Health professionals routinely refer to the ability or inability to perform ADLs as a measurement of the functional status of a person.

Home Health Care: Home health care is nursing care and therapy provided in your home. This type of care is often provided when you are healthy enough to stay at home but have difficulty doing some regular activities or self-care and cannot travel to and from outpatient rehabilitation or physical therapy.

PRN: PRN is a phrase used by healthcare providers that means “as needed.” PRN may be used in instructions for certain medicines that are to be taken only when needed, such as medications for constipation or chest pain. It is important to know if there is a limit to the total number of these medications that can be taken in one day or during a certain period of time.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF): SNF provides long-term nursing care for patients who need rehabilitation care or are chronically ill.

Subacute: Subacute care means any health or medical care provided outside of the acute or regular hospital setting. Subacute rehabilitation involves regular therapy for less time each day than is provided in the IRF or inpatient rehabilitation facility, which requires a total of 3 hours of therapy each day.