Glossary
You don't need to know any of this to use CareHaven. The app speaks in everyday words, and where a medical term shows up, you can usually tap it to read what it means.
This page collects those terms in one place. The first part covers the CareHaven ideas you'll see across this wiki. The second part is an A-to-Z of the clinical acronyms a doctor, school, or document might use — written for you, not for them.
If you ever see one of these acronyms underlined inside the app, you can tap it to read the same kind of plain-language note right there.
CareHaven ideas
These are the words CareHaven uses to describe what it does and who it's for.
Mental load — The invisible weight of keeping it all in your head: the remembering, planning, deciding, and worrying that comes with caring for someone. CareHaven's whole job is to carry that weight for you, never add to it. When anything else gets in the way of lightening your load, lightening your load wins.
The Care Loop — The natural path your mind takes with any care need: jot it down, see the pattern, figure out what to do, and pass it along to whoever's next. CareHaven walks each step with you so less of it falls back on you.
Person — The loved one you're caring for inside the app — your child, parent, or whoever you look after. You can keep a separate profile for each person you care for, up to twelve on one device.
Caregiver — That's you. A family member or friend caring for someone, not a paid clinician. The app is built to speak your language, not doctor-speak.
Condition — Something your person lives with — a diagnosis, symptom, or challenge like autism, epilepsy, a feeding issue, or trouble getting around. The app quietly reshapes itself to fit whatever conditions you add.
Condition-aware — The app shows only the tools and tips that match your person's situation, and hides the rest. You never wade through features meant for someone else's loved one. See How CareHaven thinks.
Diagnosis lens — A plain-language view tuned to one condition: where to start, what's typical for that condition, and what a clinician tends to watch for. It changes what you read, not what you can track. Available
Watch-for — A sign worth noticing that comes with a particular condition, written as "what a clinician watches for" — not a diagnosis from the app. A watch-for tells you what to notice and when to seek care; anything that's a true emergency links straight to the matching first-aid or crisis steps.
Clinical acronyms, A to Z
You'll meet these on paperwork, in appointments, or from your person's care team. Here's what each one means in everyday terms.
AAC — Any tool that helps someone communicate when speech is hard: picture boards, talking devices, sign language, or gestures. At meals, a board might offer choices like "more," "all done," or "different texture."
ABC — A simple way to break a tough moment into three parts: what happened right before, what the person did, and what happened right after. It's where most pattern-spotting begins, and it's how CareHaven's behavior log is shaped.
ADHD — A brain-wiring difference that affects focus, impulse control, and energy level. It shows up differently from person to person — some mostly inattentive, some mostly restless, some both.
ARFID — A serious eating challenge where someone avoids food because of texture, smell, or fear — not the same as ordinary picky eating. They may stick rigidly to certain brands or packaging.
ASD — Autism. A brain-wiring difference that shapes how a person communicates, connects with others, and experiences the world through their senses. It looks very different from one person to the next.
BIP — A behavior intervention plan: the action plan built from understanding why a behavior happens — what to encourage instead, how to teach it, and what everyone in the person's life does the same way to help.
BPSD — The behavior changes that often come with dementia: restlessness, confusion that worsens in the evening, wandering, seeing things, or withdrawing. Noticing what sets them off and what calms them helps shape a care plan.
DNR — A documented wish not to attempt CPR if the heart or breathing stops. It's signed with a doctor and kept somewhere caregivers can find it fast.
DSM-5 — The reference guide doctors use to define mental-health and developmental diagnoses.
EAP — An emergency action plan: a short, easy-to-follow card that tells a babysitter or helper exactly what to do if a specific emergency happens, like a seizure or allergic reaction.
EEG — A painless test that records the brain's electrical activity, used to look at seizures. It sometimes requires fasting beforehand.
EMS — The 911 emergency team. For a seizure, current guidance is to call them once it reaches five minutes, since after that it's less likely to stop on its own. See Log a seizure with the timer.
FBA — A functional behavior assessment: a careful look at why a behavior keeps happening — to escape something hard, to get attention, for a sensory need, or to get something they want. The "why" is the key to changing it.
GAD-7 — A quick seven-question check-in that measures how much anxiety someone is feeling, from "not at all" to "nearly every day."
GERD — Acid reflux that happens often enough to need real treatment. Things like sleep trouble, body position, and how long ago someone ate are the clues to watch.
GI — Anything to do with the digestive system: the stomach, gut, and feeding tubes. "The GI" often just means the digestive-system doctor.
G-tube — A feeding tube placed through the belly straight into the stomach, used when eating by mouth isn't enough. Tracking how much went in, plus water flushes, is the everyday routine.
ICD-10 — The standard set of codes doctors and insurers use to label a diagnosis on paperwork and claims.
IDDSI — A worldwide scale for how thick to make foods and drinks — from thin liquids up to regular textures — so eating and drinking stay safe for someone with swallowing trouble.
IEP — A written plan a U.S. public school must create that spells out the special-education help a student receives. It's reviewed at least once a year to check on progress. See Scan an IEP or doctor letter.
J-tube — A feeding tube that goes past the stomach into the small intestine. It usually means slow, steady feeds rather than larger meals all at once.
MBI-9 — A brief check-in built to catch caregiver burnout — when you feel emotionally drained, distant, or like nothing you do is enough.
MMSE — A 30-point thinking-and-memory test doctors use to track dementia over time. Higher scores mean clearer thinking; lower scores point to more memory trouble.
MoCA — A 30-point memory-and-thinking test, a little better than the MMSE at catching early, mild changes. The score ranges work the same way.
NPO — A "nothing to eat or drink" instruction, usually before surgery or certain tests. CareHaven flags these fasting windows so you don't accidentally offer food.
OT — An occupational therapist: the specialist who helps with everyday-life skills like getting dressed, handling sensory overload, and using helpful equipment.
PAINAD — A way to read pain in someone who can't tell you they hurt — like in advanced dementia — by watching their breathing, sounds, face, body, and whether comforting helps.
PFD — A catch-all diagnosis for kids who struggle with eating across several areas — medical, nutrition, eating skills, or stress around meals. A common goal is keeping mealtimes under about 30 minutes.
PHQ-9 — A short nine-question check-in that helps spot signs of depression. One question asks about thoughts of self-harm, and any answer above zero is taken seriously as a safety flag.
POLST — A signed medical form that travels with the person and clearly states which treatments they do and don't want, so any caregiver or first responder can honor their wishes.
POMA — A balance-and-walking checklist a therapist scores by watching the person move. A higher score means a lower chance of falling.
PRN — A medicine given only when it's needed — for pain, a fever, or as a rescue dose — instead of on a fixed daily schedule.
PT — A physical therapist: the specialist who helps with movement, walking, balance, and overall mobility.
RD — A dietitian: the specialist who builds eating and nutrition plans, sets calorie goals, and approves homemade or formula feeds.
SLP — A speech therapist: the specialist who helps with talking, communication tools, and safe swallowing.
SOS — CareHaven's emergency screen that keeps your key contacts one tap away — just tap a name to call. (Not the same as the "SOS Approach" feeding method below.)
SOS Approach — A gentle feeding-therapy method that helps a child get comfortable with food in small steps — from looking at it, to touching, smelling, licking, and finally eating it. Logging how far they got shows real progress.
TUG — A simple walking test where the person stands up, walks a few steps, turns, and sits back down — timed to see how steady they are. The longer it takes, the higher the risk of a fall.
Titration — Adjusting a medicine slowly — starting low and changing the dose bit by bit — to find the amount that works best with the fewest side effects.
ZBI-12 — A 12-question check-in that measures how heavy caregiving feels for you. It's good at catching the slow build-up of strain that everyday moments can hide.