Could we start a dictionary for abbreviations used on AgingCare so that we all have a clue?

cwillie, great idea about using the *search site* box, it does give some of the full words for some of the abbreviations. I'll be using that because I just can't remember what some of the abbreviations mean... brain file cabinets are too full :P

SIL= son-in-law or sister-in-law

cwillie I tried the "put the abbreviations in the search bar on this site" that works great but not for NH - search thinks it is New Hampshire and AL search thinks it is Alabama.

Frankly, it did not dawn on me to use the search feature for this...NC = No Clue!

But why doesn't NH = Nursing Home on the Search feature??? Please don't send everyone to New Hampshire or Alabama

It is more helpful to type "abbreviations" or the offending shortcut in the search box on this site rather than to search google I think. Google will give you a thousand unrelated answers, the site search is more relevant.

hihihihahah..........!!!

Wonder what the kids think CHF is?

Freqflyer... I believe it ....... and you confirmed it... the texting abbreviations young folks use, are crawling into their formal use... meaning they are so used to their "shorthand" they may not even remember the proper word usage, or think everyone should know it......I'll have to check my 2 granddaugthers 12 + 14... to see how they use their smartphones language... my 14 year old walks in, says” Hi Oma”, flops into an easy chair, never to be heard from again... as her nose is stuck in that phone. I call it an addiction... and she is a straight-A student...Do they ever grow out of it ?... And I am sure they are masters at abbreviations..... Aaahhh, but what I would not give to have their memory ability... yet one still has to figure out the meaning of the abbreviations at 1st encounter... that’s what we need the lists for... Then it also depends on our professions... I know what CHF means... I worked in NSG, [Nursing] but already forgot what SMF means....I give up for tonight ! And I wish you well !!!

Like this evening, I was reading another post and the person had typed SNF, and for the life of me I could not remember what that meant. I had to take time and go into the Acronym Finder and try to narrow it down.

DHilBe, last year our company had put out an employment advertisement and those interested to email us a resume with a cover letter. You would not believe how many cover letters we got that were filled with abbreviations and typed like someone was texting a friend. Say what? Couldn't they write out "you" instead of typing "u"? Those cover letters didn't get a second look because our business needed qualified people who could communicate with ALL age groups.

Well... I wrote my text above right after reading Glass1/2full’s text on top .... without reading all other comments......
So now , thanks, Cwillie, for remembering my “Abbreviations are getting my GOAT!” comments .....
AgingCare did not react to my suggestions then... I am a PC-dummy... don’t know if it is asking too much of Agingcare to expand their format regarding Kilobyte increase and “time spent” to create a list, that would include oodles of abbreviations in form of a listing-tab, on which we could just click and find the meanings.... ??? Also JeanneGibbs said...”Google it” ,,, But like another said.....There may be one abbreviation, that fits `100s of meanings....
The simplest solution for AgingCare would be , in my humble opinion, a request printed at strategic points ....to just see reminders that state : “ DON’T USE ABBREVIATIONS “ OR : something to the effect : “” If you abbreviate:... WRITE OUT the FULL NAME next to the ABBREVIATION ,THE FIRST TIME YOU USE IT IN YOUR TEXT... “
As I said weeks back... this is protocol in business letters already...... We just need reminders... and like someone else said, it would prevent interruption of flow of concentration while reading, and most likely make for more answers on this site...!!!... which I am sure AgingCare won’t mind a bit !!!
Or else we can all start our own lists...... Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. ,,, ... I wish you all well !!!

OOOhhh, yes, dear glasshalfful .... I have asked AgingCare to have a REMARK PERMANENTLY SITUATED on this great site, where everyone can see it the minute they open this site, ... ASKING "bloggers" to write the FULL name of any abbreviation next to it, the FIRST TIME THEY USE IT in their blog text... !!!.....
Your idea is fine too... but where would we keep it on this site.......
Dear AgingCare, could you insert the words
“ ABBREVIATIONS LIST “ somewhere where we would “ fall over it “ the minute we open the site , and next to the " ANSWER THIS QUESTION box ???
Thanks, so glad I am not the only one getting stumped by folks talking in shorthand... I wish you well !!!

Glass, do not think you are dumb! There are still acronyms that come up that I do not know after nearly three years on this site. The most recent one that I thought what the heck, was CHF. Congestive Heart Failure.

I'm feeling lucky, because today I finally figured out that SMH means "shaking my head." I suppose it has already been in use for a decade, billions of texts and I just figure it out today? SMH.

Even under the blue bar near the top of the page, there is room to put some of the more popular acronyms.

I guess what we need is for this not to get lost. I wish Aging Care could give us a heading under tools or something so that we could have a Caregiver dictionary. I know that you can google a term but it ruins the flow. I know I can ask, but sometimes I think I must just be dumb. So if there was an easy way...we all could benefit.

Y'all forgot UTI.....Urinary tract infection. Everyone's favorite!

This is so helpful! Thanks yall!

When I first started, I thought all of the elderly were moving to Alabama (AL) and New Hampshire (NH). I was pleased to find out they were going to assisted living and a nursing home.

I use AcronymFinder, for example AD has199 different over all meanings [of which 42 are under the Medicine & Science field], and quite a few of those acronyms would fit into a posting.

The acronyms we use here are almost all standard abbreviations. When someone uses one I don't know I simply do a Google search for it. Don't know that MCI is a Mild Cognitive Impairment? You'll quickly discover that meaning if you Google it.

The problem with a thread of meanings is that it quickly becomes lost on the bottom pages. If a single thread to answer a common question worked, there would not be two or three new threads about how to get paid for caring for a family member.

If you don't understand an acronym, ask for clarification right in the thread, or look it up on Google.

In todays world the younger people use a lot of *short-hand* when they type or text to a point that it isn't a smooth read for us baby boomers. There are just too many acronyms for one person to remember... [sigh].

Abbreviations are getting my GOAT! was already started by DHilBe last year. One thing I would advise newcomers is to refrain from commenting on discussions if you don't know what is being asked, often if you follow for a while things will become clearer.

glasshalfful, same here, I also thought NH was new Hampshire, AL was Alabama, and IL was Illinois. Thought gosh a lot of people here from those States.

APS - Adult Protective Services
VA = Veterans Administration
DH - darling husband
DW - darling wife
SNF - Skilled Nursing Facility
MIL - Mother-in-law, FIL - Father-in-law
SW - social worker

AD = Alzheimer's Disease
PD = Parkinson's Disease