Geriatric Rehabilitation Glossary
105 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
orthostatic hypotension
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.
polypharmacy
The concurrent use of multiple medications by a single patient, commonly defined in geriatric contexts as five or more d...
post-acute rehabilitation
A phase of structured rehabilitation delivered after the acute medical or surgical phase of an illness, aimed at restori...
Post-Fall Syndrome
A clinical condition characterised by a fear of falling, loss of confidence in mobility, and consequent self-restriction...
Premorbid Function
The level of physical and cognitive functional ability a patient maintained prior to the acute illness or injury that pr...
pressure injury
Localised damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue, typically over a bony prominence, caused by prolonged pressure or...
Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness
A clinical state in which a patient fails to recover full consciousness beyond a defined period following acquired brain...
proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
A stretching and strengthening technique that uses alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles to improve range of...
rehabilitation goal-setting
The collaborative process through which the patient, family, and interdisciplinary rehabilitation team identify, documen...
Rehabilitation Potential
A clinical judgement, typically made at admission, estimating the likelihood and degree to which a patient can regain lo...
reminiscence therapy
A psychosocial intervention used in geriatric rehabilitation and dementia care in which structured recall of past person...
Restorative Allied Health
Allied health services specifically directed at maximising or restoring an older person's functional independence rather...
restorative care
A goal-directed approach within geriatric rehabilitation that aims to restore or maintain a patient's highest possible l...
restorative nursing
A nursing care philosophy and set of practices aimed at maintaining or improving a patient's ability to perform daily fu...
restorative occupational therapy
An occupational therapy approach that focuses on regaining lost functional abilities through graded, goal-directed activ...
sarcopenia
Age-related progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical performance, representing a key rehabilitat...
Six-Minute Walk Test
A submaximal exercise test measuring the distance an individual can walk in six minutes, used in geriatric rehabilitatio...
SMART goals
A widely used framework for writing rehabilitation goals that ensures each objective is clearly defined, quantifiable, r...
spasticity
A motor disorder characterised by velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes, resulting in muscle stiffness a...
splinting
The application of a rigid or semi-rigid orthotic device to immobilise, support, or gradually stretch a joint or limb se...
step-down unit
An intermediate level of care facility or ward that bridges the gap between acute hospital care and community or home-ba...
Subacute Care
A level of inpatient care that follows the acute phase of illness, providing medical oversight and therapy at lower inte...
subcortical dementia
A form of dementia characterised by cognitive slowing, executive dysfunction, and mood disturbance arising from patholog...
sundowning
A pattern of increased confusion, agitation, or behavioural disturbance in cognitively impaired patients that emerges or...
supine positioning
The practice of placing a patient lying flat on their back, relevant in geriatric rehabilitation for managing contractur...