Monthly Archives: May 2016

#AgingLifeCareMonth

Stories From Aging Life Care Month

Aging Life Care Professionals™ across the country celebrated National Aging Life Care™ Month by providing seminars, webinars, special events, open houses, and other educational activities for the public.

Many took to social media to share Aging Life Care stories via selfies and videos. Each week, ALCA asked members to share something from their world as Aging Life Care Professionals. During the month, several common themes emerged – a passion for helping families through difficult times, an appreciation for the wisdom of an older generation, resiliency, advocacy, care, and the need for daily hope and laughter.  Below is a look at some of  the stories shared during #AgingLifeCareMonth.

Week one: I am an Aging Life Care Professional™ Because…

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Week two: What is Aging Life Care™?

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Week three: The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from a client is…

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Week four: The best advice I have for aging well is…

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To learn more about Aging Life Care™ and to find an expert in aging well, visit aginglifecare.org.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

Retirement Checklist

Aging Life Care Managers Ensure Estate Plan Matches Reality of Care Needs

The typical estate planning team most often includes the attorney, an accountant, financial advisor, and sometimes an insurance professional.  With the increased number of older adults in our society and the changing landscape of family systems, there is a growing need for an estate planning team to include the professionals who can make client-specific recommendations related to healthcare – Aging Life Care Managers™ (also known as geriatric care managers).

The Role of Aging Life Care Managers™ in Estate Planning*

by Jennifer T. Szakaly, MA, CMC & Amy Smialowicz Fowler, BA, CMC

 

Aging Life Care Managers, while not a new profession, are still relatively small in number and exposure.  Pulling from skills sets that include nursing, gerontology, social work, counseling, and healthcare administration, care managers are equipped to manage family conflict and bring much-needed neutrality to toxic family relationships.  Their expertise also makes them valuable members of the estate planning team due to the care manager’s ability to make recommendations related to the proper care of an older or disabled adult.  Through comprehensive assessments that examine health & wellness, memory & mental health, social support networks, and financial resources, care managers can craft a long-term care plan that ensures the estate plan matches the reality of the client’s situation at home.

Resources for Aging

Aging Life Care Managers are able to help families sort through the rapidly growing assortment of services and resources aimed at keeping older adults independent later in life.  Because of constant interaction with various service providers, care managers are familiar with the staff, strengths and weaknesses, and are able to make referrals based on the need of the client and their family.  Attorneys often rely on care managers to determine appropriate level of care for clients and make recommendations for specific services that meet their clients’ needs.

Resistance to Care

After appropriate resources are identified, many families have difficulty getting the older adult to agree to care, whether being provided in the home or in a care community.  The Aging Life Care Manager, as advocate, is tasked with ensuring that the older adult is encouraged to be as independent as possible, while also mitigating health and safety risks.

For an older adult who is resistant to assistance, Aging Life Care Managers can take the time to understand their fears and concerns.  Equipped with this knowledge, they can work with the older adult to help them understand that the use of care isn’t a sign of disability, but rather an opportunity to focus on a client’s abilities, while being supported in other areas.  Sometimes families consider guardianship because their loved ones’ reluctance in using support services is threatening their health and wellbeing.  Care managers can quickly address these concerns by connecting with the older adult and are often able to eliminate the need for a guardianship.

 Guardianship support

If a guardianship is needed, care managers can work closely with attorneys most importantly by assisting to determine the level of cognitive functioning of a client.  Aging Life Care Managers are trained in the use of various cognitive assessments that can play an important part in determining when a person has reached the point of incompetency.  Facilitating the collection of relevant medical documentation and creating a plan for post-guardianship is also part of this critical role.

Aging Life Care Managers often act in the role as a health care advocate for older adults who have a guardian.  Frequent monitoring ensures that the older adult is receiving the appropriate care and that the guardian can make informed decisions as needs change.

Family Discord

Another trend in long-term care is the growing number of blended families and cases of estrangement in families.  As most estate planning and Elder Law attorneys will attest to, this dynamic can be paralyzing to the estate planning process and can create practical challenges to an older adult who is in need of family support later in life.

When managing family conflict and disagreements about the care of a client, attorneys can pull in Aging Life Care Managers to provide an unbiased, informed position on what is best for the older adult.  Care managers act as a mediator for families to allow each voice to be heard.  This process empowers families and often enables them to move together on a plan for their loved one.

Exploitation

Cases of exploitation and fraud committed against older adults are on the rise due to the technology that makes carrying out identity theft easier than ever.  Aging Life Care Managers are knowledgeable about both strategies for preventing acts of exploitation, as well as warning signs to look for that an older adult may be making themselves vulnerable to a threat.  The care manager’s ability to step in when family is absent, or if a family member presents the greatest threat, provides an additional protective barrier between areas of risk and older adults.

Future Considerations

With an aging population and increasing complexity in estate planning, we can expect that the need for an augmented team to put together a comprehensive plan will only increase in coming years.  Whether you use an Aging Life Care Manager as a resource for your office, or as part of your client’s estate planning & care team, broadening the resources available to you as an attorney will ultimately enhance the value you bring to your clients.  To find someone to work with who is nationally certified as a care manager, you can visit the website for the Aging Life Care Association at www.aginglifecare.org for a complete directory.

 

About the authors: Jennifer T. Szakaly, MA, CMC is a nationally certified care manager who openened Caregiving Corner, a Charlotte-based care management firm, in 2005. She can be reached at 704.492.0554 or by email at jennifer@caregivingcorner.comAmy Smialowicz Fowler, BA, CMC is a nationally certified care manager and owner of WNC Geriatric Care Management based in Asheville, NC. She can be reached at 828.776.4269 or by email at amy@wncgcm.org

*This article first appeared in the April 2016 issue of Gray Matters – a special publication of the Elder & Special Needs Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

incontinence, incontinence products, aging parents

Choosing the Best Incontinence Product

Incontinence isn’t the easiest topic to discuss; but when ignored, incontinence can cause bigger problems – depression, social isolation, infection.  With proper assessment and guidance, aging adults can greatly improve their quality of life by selecting the right incontinence product to meet individual incontinence challenges.  

Consider These Factors When Selecting the Right Incontinence Product

by Lucille Levine, RN, BSN – Aging Life Care Association™ Corporate Partner

 

Life’s choices are best navigated through the experience of others. Aging Life Care Professionals™ guide aging adults and families through a complex maze of resources and options to facilitate successful aging in place, including the challenging topic of incontinence.  Incontinence is an issue which needs to be addressed to reduce social isolation, prevent secondary health issues and reduce the need for long-term care admission.  Beyond the need for timely medical intervention, selecting the appropriate products to effectively manage incontinence plays a  pivotal role in the quality of life of aging adults and their caregivers.

Advertisements and personal care aisles of stores feature products which lead one to believe that their products will be the best solution for any person struggling with incontinence.  It is not that easy.  No two people or their incontinence challenges are alike.

A number of factors must be considered in making the best product choice.  Daytime needs and nighttime incontinence product needs are different.  Fall risk and the need for overnight staff assistance can be limited by proper product use.  The incontinence’s degree of bother to the client and caregivers along with medical history, medication regimen are key factors in product choice. The frequency, volume and source of incontinence, physical abilities, lifestyle and mental acuity of the client will steer the decision regarding the product style, features and absorbency for the client’s unique needs.

Optimally absorbing and containing products should be selected to preserve dignity, promote continence through toileting and allow ease of client use.   Common errors leading to ‘product failure’ and leakage include the use of cumbersome products, double product use and the use of oversized products which are not ‘body close’.

Aging Life Care Professionals consult with a Continence Management Product Consultant to explore product options based upon a detailed review of the situation and to sample a variety of products. Involving those who are directly involved in the care of the incontinent individual in the consultation process is also beneficial to successfully finding the right product.

About the author: Lucille Levine, RN, BSN is the founder of Disposables Delivered, LLC and is a Continence Management Product Consultant and an ALCA Corporate Partner.  For more information, contact Disposables Delivered at 1-866-613-3251. This post first appeared on the Aging Life Care Association’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter Blog


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

may is Aging Life Care Month

May is National Aging Life Care Month

The Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) – the nonprofit association representing 2,000 leaders in Aging Life Care™ / geriatric care management – will celebrate the profession during the month of May. Special events come on the heels of a sold-out professional conference in New York, where presenters and participants tackled the toughest issues related to aging today.

What is Aging Life Care™ and Why Should I Care?

While the practice and profession of Aging Life Care is not new, there is more attention being paid to the impact our aging population has on communities and resources. Aging Life Care plays an important role as these professionals are prepared to help aging adults plan for and face age-related challenges.

Aging Life Care is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing health challenges. The Aging Life Care Professional™ is a health and human services specialist who is a guide, advocate, and resource for families caring for an older relative or disabled adult. Working with families, the expertise of Aging Life Care Professionals provides the answers at a time of uncertainty. Their guidance leads families to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love, thus reducing worry, stress and time off of work for family caregivers.

housing, crisis, advocacy, legal, communication, financial, health and disabilityThey have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of resources in their communities. Aging Life Care Professionals are members of the Aging Life Care Association® (ALCA), must meet stringent education, experience, and certification requirements of the organization, and all members are required to adhere to a strict code of ethics and standards of practice.

Aging Life Care Professionals throughout the country will celebrate National Aging Life Care Month by providing seminars, webinars, special events, open houses, and other educational activities for the public. For more information, and locations of Aging Life Care Professionals, visit ALCA’s website aginglifecare.org.

The association was formed in 1985 by a group of about 50 members – mainly social workers and nurses –  who came together to build a profession from the ground up. “Our association was the first to represent the pioneers in a growing and developing field,” said ALCA CEO Kaaren Boothroyd.

“ALCA recognizes the vulnerable population our professionals serve, so we have developed the highest standards by which to hold our members accountable – for both the protection of the client and the public.”

Aging Life Care Professionals may be trained in any of a number of fields related to long-term care. These include counseling, gerontology, mental health, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, social work, and other allied health professions, with a specialized focus on issues related to aging.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.