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Geriatric Rehabilitation Glossary

105 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026

orthostatic hypotension

Advanced Technical IVT

A significant drop in blood pressure upon standing — defined as a fall of ≥20 mmHg systolic or ≥10 mmHg diastolic — that is a major cause of falls and dizziness in geriatric rehabilitation patients.

Showing 25–48 of 105

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Professional Formal IVT

A multidimensional, interdisciplinary diagnostic process used to evaluate the medical, functional, psychological, and so...

Technical Term Full entry →

Confusion Assessment Method

Advanced Technical IVT

A validated clinical screening tool used to identify delirium in hospitalised patients, including those in geriatric reh...

CAM
Document Type Full entry →

contracture

Intermediate Technical IVT

A permanent or semi-permanent shortening of muscle, tendon, or joint capsule tissue resulting in restricted range of mot...

Technical Term Full entry →

deconditioning

Intermediate Technical IVT

The physiological deterioration of cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and functional capacity resulting from prolo...

Technical Term Full entry →

delirium

Intermediate Technical IVT

An acute neuropsychiatric syndrome characterised by disturbances in attention, awareness, and cognition that develop ove...

Technical Term Full entry →

Dysdiadochokinesia

Professional Technical IVT

Impaired ability to perform rapid alternating movements, typically indicative of cerebellar dysfunction and commonly ass...

Technical Term Full entry →

dysphagia

Intermediate Technical IVT

Difficulty swallowing, a frequent complication in geriatric rehabilitation patients that carries significant risks for a...

Technical Term Full entry →

dysphagia management plan

Advanced Technical IVT

A documented clinical plan specifying modified diet and fluid textures, feeding strategies, and monitoring protocols for...

Document Type Full entry →

dyspraxia

Advanced Technical IVT

An acquired or developmental neurological condition affecting the planning and execution of coordinated voluntary moveme...

Technical Term Full entry →

falls risk assessment

Basic Semi-formal IVT

A structured evaluation identifying patient-specific intrinsic and extrinsic factors that increase the likelihood of a f...

Document Type Full entry →

FEES

Advanced Technical IVT

An instrumental assessment in which a flexible endoscope is passed transnasally to allow direct visualisation of the pha...

Abbreviation Full entry →

FIM

Basic Technical IVT

Standard abbreviation for the Functional Independence Measure, an 18-item rehabilitation assessment tool measuring indep...

Abbreviation Full entry →

frailty

Intermediate Technical IVT

A clinical syndrome of decreased physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors in older adults, commonl...

Technical Term Full entry →

A technique that applies low-level electrical currents to paralysed or weakened muscles to produce functional movements...

Technical Term Full entry →

Functional Independence Measure

Intermediate Technical IVT

A standardised 18-item assessment tool rating an older adult's level of independence across motor and cognitive tasks du...

Technical Term Full entry →

functional mobility scale

Advanced Technical IVT

A 6-point ordinal scale rating a child's or adult's mode of mobility over specific walking distances, commonly used to t...

FMS
Technical Term Full entry →

Functional Reach Test

Intermediate Technical IVT

A quick bedside assessment measuring the maximum distance a standing patient can reach forward beyond arm's length witho...

Technical Term Full entry →

gait analysis

Intermediate Technical IVT

The systematic assessment of a patient's walking pattern, used in geriatric rehabilitation to identify abnormalities, fa...

Technical Term Full entry →

GAS

Intermediate Technical IVT

Acronym for Goal Attainment Scaling, a method of quantifying individualised rehabilitation outcomes by scoring progress...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Geriatric Depression Scale

Intermediate Technical IVT

A validated self-report screening tool designed specifically to detect depressive symptoms in older adults, using a yes/...

Technical Term Full entry →

Geriatric Evaluation and Management

Professional Technical IVT

A subacute care type in which the primary clinical purpose is the multidimensional assessment and optimisation of an old...

Technical Term Full entry →

Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit

Intermediate Technical IVT

A specialist inpatient ward dedicated to the functional recovery of older adults following acute illness, injury, or sur...

Document Type Full entry →

glenohumeral subluxation

Advanced Technical IVT

Partial dislocation of the head of the humerus from the glenoid fossa of the shoulder joint, commonly occurring in hemip...

Technical Term Full entry →

Goal Attainment Scaling

Advanced Technical IVT

A method of scoring the extent to which individual patient rehabilitation goals are achieved, expressed on a standardise...

GAS
Technical Term Full entry →
Showing 25–48 of 105

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