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Daily Living Aids
Assistive aids to help an individual in eating, dressing, bathing, grooming, moving, preparing meals, and seeing.

Dance Lessons/Ballrooms
Dance Lessons/Ballrooms are scattered over many types of venues and provide great exercise and socialization, included in this website are instruction and locations.

Dating & Relationships
Dating & Relationships includes resources and education, as well as, Internet dating allowing people to provide information, then search for others, most allow photos.

Decubitus Ulcers
Decubitus Ulcers are skin sores caused by constant pressure. (Also known as Pressure Ulcers, Pressure Sores or Bedsores)

Deductible
Deductible is the amount an insurance policyholder must pay toward covered medicine or medical treatment services before insurance payments begin. The amount is usually figured annually.

Deficiencies
Deficiencies are problems an inspector notes while visiting a nursing home, assisted living or other facility. The facility must correct any deficiencies, or be fined or given restrictions. If resolution is not received, the facility may loose their license, or be removed from Medicare or Medicaid participation.

Delirium
A state of temporary, acute mental confusion that comes on suddenly caused by a disturbance of brain function, causing confusion and changes in alertness, attention, thinking and reasoning, memory, emotions, sleeping patterns and coordination. These symptoms are due to some type of medical problem, and they may get worse or better multiple times, or may occur in persons suffering from short-term illnesses. Alcohol or drugs (including prescribed medications) also may cause confusion. Delirium may be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

Dementia Facilities or Memory Care
Dementia Facilities or Memory Care Facilities provide a secure setting that alerts staff if a resident has exited and a secure outdoor area; the staff receives training on Alzheimer's and related dementia. focus care on both personal care needs, as well as, cognitive support of individuals with varying degrees of memory loss from memory impairment diseases such as Alzheimer's. Typically, room and board, social activity, ongoing supervision are provided. Focus on retaining memory through regular stimulation activities is a standard. A secure environment equates to one that is locked to prevent wandering. Electronic surveillance or personal monitoring systems alone do not qualify as "secure environment". (Also known as Special Care)

Dementia
Dementia is a deterioration of cognitive. The symptoms of dementia can include changes in personality, mood and behavior. The two most common forms of dementia in older people are Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia (sometimes called vascular dementia.) These types of dementia are irreversible. Disease and injury cause irreversible dementia. But dementia caused by drugs, alcohol, hormone imbalances, vitamin deficiencies or depression may be reversible. Reversible conditions with symptoms of dementia can be caused by a high fever, dehydration, vitamin deficiency and poor nutrition, bad reactions to medicines, problems with the thyroid gland or a minor head injury. Dementia symptoms may include asking the same questions repeatedly; becoming lost in familiar places; being unable to follow directions; getting disoriented about time, people and places; and neglecting personal safety, hygiene and nutrition.

Dental Resources & Services
Dental Resources & Services are organizations that provide dental services, resources or education; some may provide services on sliding scale payment arrangements.

Dentist
Dentist is a person who cares for the teeth and gums of an individual. Medicare does not cover dental services, but Medicaid covers some dental expenses. Regular dental care is a key to staying healthy.

Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles or its equivalent oversees the state's driving programs, safe driver education, Handicapped Accessible License Plates and other services. This department typically oversees that state's driver license program. Note that Handicapped Accessible License Plates are generally handled under Vehicle Registration Departments and they are a different group within each state government.

Depression
Depression is a psychiatric disorder or illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts. Symptoms include sadness, inactivity, feelings of hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies. Depression affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing negative mood. Those with depression cannot simply pull themselves out of depression and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression. Note: When dementia and depression are present together, intellectual deterioration may be exaggerated.

Developmental Disability (DD)
Developmental Disability (DD) refers to a serious and chronic disability, which is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of impairments. Those affected may have limitations such as: self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, economic self-sufficiency. Examples are: cerebral palsy, retardation, thyroid problems, seizures and quadriplegia.

Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas produces too little insulin or the body does not properly use insulin; the result is inability to adequately metabolize sugar. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

Diabetic Supplies
Diabetic Supplies are products, equipment, or resources needed for the care of diabetes, including test strips, glucometer, lancets, etc...

Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs)
Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) are billing codes used by hospitals when billing Medicare for inpatient services. Medicare reimburses hospitals a fixed amount based on the DRG code assigned to the patient based upon diagnosis.

Dialysis
Dialysis is a treatment to clean individual's blood when one or both kidneys are defective or absent, and to remove excess accumulation of drugs or chemicals in the blood. When kidneys go below 15% of their normal function, dialysis or kidney transplant is necessary to remove waste and fluid from the body.

Diet & Meal Preparation
Diet & Meal Preparation can include advice, education or meal preparation from a registered dietician, personal chef; meals may be prepared in your home or delivered.

Dietician
Dieticians make sure that a meals are healthy and nutritious. Most Hospitals, Nursing Homes or Assisted Livings will have a Dietician on staff or as a counsultant.

Dining
Dining links on the Internet offer a wonderful way to preselect and preview restaurants and even look for meal discount.

Director of Nursing (DON)
Director of Nursing (DON) oversees all nursing staff in a nursing home and is responsible for formulating nursing policies and monitoring the quality of care delivered, as well as the facility's compliance with federal and state regulations pertaining to nursing care.

Disability Insurance
Disability Insurance is a type of insurance coverage that compensates a percentage of a worker's wages should they be ill or injured and unable to work.

Disability Programs
Disability Programs exist at the National, State and Local level and can provide services such as financial support, health care coverage, transportation and other supportive services to eligible individuals with disabilities.

Disability Referrals
Disability Referrals include Information and Assistance provided for individuals with disabilities (i.e. physical, cognitive, etc.) and their caregivers regardless of age or type of disability.

Discharge Planner
Discharge Planner is a social worker or nurse who assists a patient with health care arrangements following a hospital stay.

Discharge Planning
Discharge Planning is usually performed by a social worker, for the patient who is about to be discharged from a hospital or nursing home, to facilitate a smooth transition from one level of care to another.

Discharge
Discharge is the release of an individual from a hospital or other facility such as a nursing home. The attending doctor must give an order for the discharge.

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders instruct a health care facility or doctor not to revive a patient whose heart and breathing has stopped using cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other related treatments. Many states have standardized DNR forms and many require a Physician signature and the signature of the individual or Power of Attorney. Usually, DNR orders are written after a discussion between a doctor and the patient and/or family members. DNR orders are written for people who are very unlikely to have a successful result from CPR, such as those who are terminally ill or those who are very elderly and frail.

Dual Eligibility
Dual Eligibility is someone who is qualified for both Medicaid and Medicare.

Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
Durable Medical Equipment (DME)is reusable medical equipment prescribed by a doctor for use by a patient at home These reusable items include such things as hospital beds, lifts, wheelchairs, and oxygen equipment.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOAHC)
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOAHC) is a legal document that specifies one or more individuals (called a health care proxy or attorney-in-fact) to act on your behalf for medical decisions in the event you are unable to do so yourself. See also (Power of Attorney and Advanced Directives)

Dysphagia
Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder in which individuals experience difficulty in oral preparation for swallowing. The person has difficulty moving material from the mouth to stomach.

Dyspnea
Dyspnea is difficulty in breathing.