Glossary
Navigating the seniors housing maze can be difficult at first. These simple definitions will help you with the terminology you will run into along the way. If you have questions about these terms, have additional senior housing terms you would like to suggest we add, or need additional help, please contact a Pathway community near you.
To see a term’s definition, click the title.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Blood clot in a vein; usually occurs in leg vein.
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Deterioration of the discs between spinal vertebrae.
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
Usually affects hips and knees but can affect any joint.
Dehydration
A state of illness produced by lack of fluid intake.
Delirium
A temporary state of confusion, may be accompanied by restlessness, confused or garbled speech, and hallucinations.
Delusions
A false idea, sometimes because of misinterpretation that is firmly believed even with evidence to the contrary.
Dementia
The progressive loss of the ability to process information, memory, language, or spatial discrimination. Though Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, not all types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease.
Depression
A medical/psychiatric disorder that produces extreme feelings of sadness and helplessness.
Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
Diabetes.
Diabetes Mellitus II (DMII)
Type II diabetes; controlled with diet, pills or may require insulin.
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN)
Check context in which this abbreviation is being used; neuropathy is abnormality of nerve endings in hands and feet resulting from damage by diabetes.
Dignity
A person’s respect and honor.
Pathway wishes to acknowledge the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), Senior Living University, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for their contributions to this Glossary. This information is presented for informational purposes only and should not be used as medical or legal advice.
