Glossary
Find definitions for key terms below. For a more complete list of terms and definitions related to gender identity and sexual orientation see the PFLAG National Glossary→.
A process by which adults at any age or state of health prepare for future medical care by identifying and sharing their values, life goals, and preferences
A legal document used to record your healthcare wishes if you are unable to make your own medical decisions because of a serious illness
A word to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth
A representative who is legally designated to make funeral arrangements for a person after they die
Social, psychological, medical, surgical, and legal measures that support a person’s gender identity and expression
A word to describe a wide range of gender identities, like nonbinary, genderfluid, and others, that differ from societal gender norms
A legal document that allows you to designate a "proxy" to make healthcare decisions for you if you become unable to do so yourself
A trusted person, like a family member or friend, whom you authorize to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so; related terms: surrogate decision-maker, healthcare agent
Treatment with hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, to help a person feel and appear more masculine or feminine in line with their gender identity
A type of specialized medical care focused on relieving symptoms for people with less than six months of life left
A person appointed by the courts to make decisions and care for someone who is unable to take care themselves
Services, like nursing home care, that meet your health and personal care needs when you can no longer do everyday activities on your own
Specialized medical care focused on relieving symptoms during a serious illness
A health condition, like cancer, heart failure, or Alzheimer’s disease, that has a negative impact on daily function and quality of life
A word to describe gender identities that differ from sex assigned at birth
A set of social, medical, and legal processes that transgender and gender-expansive people may undergo to express their gender identity