Attendant Care
Paid personal assistance services provided to individuals with disabilities to support the performance of daily living tasks they cannot carry out independently.
Full Definition
Attendant care refers to the provision of human assistance—as distinct from device-based assistance—for tasks such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and bowel and bladder management. It is a formal service category used in rehabilitation planning, insurance claims, and government disability funding frameworks. Editors should hyphenate the compound modifier when it precedes a noun ('attendant-care hours') but leave it open as a noun phrase ('he requires attendant care'). The term should not be used interchangeably with 'personal care attendant' (which denotes the person providing the care) or 'home health aide' (a distinct scope of practice).
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as a compound modifier before a noun ('attendant-care plan') but use open form as a noun phrase ('the client receives attendant care'). Do not conflate with 'home health aide,' which has a distinct regulated scope of practice.
In Context
- "The rehabilitation plan included 28 hours per week of attendant care to support the patient's personal hygiene and meal preparation." — Rehabilitation discharge summary
- "Ensure 'attendant-care hours' is hyphenated when used attributively, consistent with the department's style guide." — Editorial review comment