Are you new and feeling lost when faced with online jargon? Check out the following terminology to become more acquainted with this online community.

Here is the basic structure:

• Online Community: A virtual, interactive, resourceful community consisting of chat rooms and a message board. The peer-to-peer interaction, relationship building, and supportive nature help define this online service as a community.

• Message Board: An interactive website which allows registered members to write, read, and respond to messages by other members. Messages are sorted by topic in Forums inside each forum there are discussions, also known as threads. From here messages are further sorted into discussion categories, or topics.

• Forum: Sections within a message board categorized by topic. Each forum has a list of discussions within it. The forums on our message board include;
• Under 65, I have Alzheimer's
• Caregivers forum
• Caregivers Who have Lost a Loved One
• Health Professionals
• Questions for the Care Consultant
• Chat Guide
• Success Stories
• Musings
• Alzheimer's in the News
• Medications/Treatments for Alzheimer's
•  Website Issues, Comments, and Questions

• Thread : A line of discussion between members. This is also known as a 'topic' or a 'discussion.' By starting a new topic you are also starting a new thread.
  
  
• Post: A message written by a member, which is then submitted as a new topic in a forum, or in response to a topic. Only registered members can post.

Other helpful terms:

1. Bread Crumbs: Shows what forum you are in and what discussion you are in. Use the breadcrumb links to navigate to other forums.
   
   
2. Links or Hyperlinks:  A website address that will lead you to a new web page. Often these are highlighted or underlined. Currently in the Alzheimer's Association Online Community, hyperlinks are deactivated. This means you cannot click on the web address to be directed there. Instead you must copy and paste the script (or re-write it) into your internet browser in order to be connected to that source.
   
   
3. Stickys: A Topic or thread that has a red exclamation point (!) next to the topic's name to note it is important. Stickys stay at the top of the forum list of discussions. Stickys contain important information which each member should read. Keep your eye out for new Stickys.
   
   
4. Polls: Members can ask each other question to gather helpful information using the Poll function.
   
   
5. Username/Display Name: Otherwise known as a screen name this is the name each member chooses to be addressed by within the online community . This does not have to be your real name.
   
   
6. Signature: A line of text that is posted at the bottom of each post a member makes, if so designated, in the profile settings. Some members simply write their name in the signature; or a special quote or saying.
   
   
7. Chat Room: A place online where people can talk with one another in real time by meeting in the virtual room and inputting messages as text for all members in the space to read. Chat Rooms are popular within this Community between the hours of 7-10pm almost every night. Click here to learn more about Chat Rooms.
   
   
8. Groupee: The Alzheimer's Association Online Community registration provider. To access the online community new members must create a Groupee account. Upon registering, members will receive an email from Groupee to confirm emails. When logging into the community, members will be asked to use their Groupee account.
   
   
9. Eve Community: The Alzheimer's Association Message Boards, and Chat Room provider.
   
   
10. TTT or ttt: This popular and highly used acronym stands for "To the Top." Members will use this acronym in place of content when they want to bring an old thread which has dropped lower in the list of topics, up to the top of the list in order to call attention to it. This is often done to help other members find more information about a topic which was discussed previously, but has fallen down the list since.

A list of common Abbreviations with our Online Community:

People:
DH = Dear Husband
DS = Dear/Darling Son
DD = Dear/Darling Daughter
MIL = Mother-in-Law
FIL = Father-in-Law
BIL = Brother-in-Law
SIL = Sister-in-Law
BF = Boy Friend
GF = Girl Friend
SO = Significant Other
OH = Other Half
SIB's = Brothers and Sisters or siblings
LO = Loved One
GLO = greetings to loved ones
ADLO = Loved One with Alzheimer's disease

Care Places:
ALF = Assisted Living Facility
NH = Nursing Home
SNF = Skilled Nursing Facility/Nursing Home
ADC = Adult Day Care
CCC/CCRC = Continuing Care Community or Continuing Care Retirement Community (a facility which offers, Independent, assisted living and nursing home residence)

Medical:
PCP = Primary Care Physician
ER = Emergency Room
DNR = Do Not Resuscitate
UTI = Urinary Tract Infection
DVT =Deep Vein Thrombosis
TIA = transient ischemic attack (mini stroke)
PEG tube = percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube (feeding tube inserted direct into the abdomen)
Delusion= experiencing things that are out of touch with reality through thoughts or beliefs while a person is awake and conscious
Hallucination = experiencing things that are out of touch with reality through the senses while a person is awake and conscious
PT = Physical therapy
OT = Occupational therapy

Types of Dementia:
Alz or AD = Alzheimer's disease
EO = Early Onset (diagnosis before the age of 65)
EOAD = Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease (diagnosis of Alzheimer's before the age of 65)
YOAD= Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (another way to say Diagnosis before age 65)
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
FTLD = Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
LBD or LB = Lewy Body Disease or Dementia
MD = Mixed Dementia
VD = Vascular Disease or Dementia

Stages of Dementia:
ES = Early Stage (in the beginning stages of a dementia)
MS = Middle Stage
LS = Late Stage

Legal:
DPOA = Durable Power of Attorney
POA = Power of Attorney
LW = Living Will
APS = Adult Protective Services
HIPAA Law = Health Insurance Provider Accountability Act
LTCO = Long Term Care Ombudsman (these professionals are dedicated to enhancing the lives of long term care residents by advocating for residents' rights and quality care, educating consumers and providers and resolving residents' complaints Provide information to the public)
NAELA = National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (visit http://naela.org to learn more)

Popular Online Communiqué:
LOL = Laugh Out Loud
BRB = Be right back
TTLY = Talk to you later
ROLF = Rolling on the floor laughing!