Which term refers to a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority?

• A. Regulation
• B. Rehabilitation
• C. Reporting
• D. Reality orientation

Answer: (A)

Regulation is a rule or directive created and maintained by an authority to govern behavior and ensure standards. In healthcare settings, regulations come from government agencies or licensing bodies and carry formal obligations that facilities and staff must follow, such as safety requirements, documentation rules, and resident rights protections. This matches the description in the question—the rule or directive is made by an authority and kept in place to govern how things are done. Rehabilitation is about helping someone regain abilities; reporting is the act of sharing information; reality orientation is a care technique used to help people stay oriented. Those terms describe processes or practices rather than formal rules established by an authority.