Pain
Sudden pain that usually indicates tissue damage or injury; short-term and decreases as healing occurs.
Acute Pain
A condition that occurs when a person does not get enough sleep, leading to fatigue, irritability, and impaired functioning.
Sleep Deprivation
The natural, gradual process of becoming older, involving physical, psychological, and social changes.
Aging
Physical changes during adolescence that lead to sexual maturity.
Puberty
focusing on independence, relationships, and career.
Early Adulthood
Pain that persists for weeks, months, or even years; may not have a clear cause and can affect daily activities and sleep.
Chronic Pain
The body’s internal 24-hour clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and other physiological processes.
Circadian Rhythm
The scientific study of aging and the problems of older adults.
Gerontology
The process by which physical and mental functions reach full potential.
Maturation
focusing on retirement, health changes, and reflection on life.
Late Adulthood
Pain perceived in a body part that has been amputated or is no longer present.
Phantom Pain
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restorative sleep.
Insomnia
The act of recalling past experiences and memories; often used therapeutically with older adults.
Reminiscence
Changes in how a person interacts with others and understands relationships.
Social Development
when puberty occurs and identity is formed.
Adolescence
Pain felt in a part of the body different from the site of the injury or stimulus (e.g., shoulder pain from a heart attack).
Referred Pain
The part of the sleep cycle characterized by deeper, restorative sleep without rapid eye movement; includes stages 1–4 of sleep.
NREM Sleep (Non-Rapid Eye Movement)
Memory loss that worsens over time, affecting thinking and judgment.
Dementia
Changes in the ability to understand and manage feelings.
Emotional Development
focusing on career, family, and life goals.
Middle Adulthood
Pain originating from internal organs; often described as deep, dull, or pressure-like and may be difficult to localize.
Visceral Pain
A stage of sleep marked by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and increased brain activity; important for mental restoration and memory consolidation.
REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement)
Housing option that gives personal care and support but not full-time nursing care.
Assisted Living
Theory describing stages of thinking and reasoning from infancy to adulthood.
Piaget’s Cognitive Development
Preoperational thinking; imagination, symbolic play
Preschooler 3–6 years