Glossary

Navigating the seniors housing maze can be difficult at first. These simple definitions will help you with the terminology you will run into along the way. If you have questions about these terms, have additional senior housing terms you would like to suggest we add, or need additional help, please contact a Pathway community near you.

To see a term’s definition, click the title.

U

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that can happen anywhere along the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections have different names, depending on what part of the urinary tract is infected.

  • Bladder – Infection in the bladder is also called cystitis or a bladder infection.
  • Kidneys – Infection of one or both kidneys is called pyelonephritis or a kidney infection.
  • Ureters – The tubes that take urine from each kidney to the bladder are only rarely the site of infection.
  • Urethra — An infection of the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside is called urethritis.

Pathway wishes to acknowledge the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), Senior Living University, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for their contributions to this Glossary. This information is presented for informational purposes only and should not be used as medical or legal advice.