long-distance caregivers

Where Can I Go for Help with My Aging Parents?

By Trish Colucci, RN-BC, CCM – Aging Life Care Association™ Member

 

Meet the Group of Professionals with the Expertise to Help Aging Adults and Families Live Well During the Aging Process

Where do you turn when you are worried about the care of your aging parents?  There is a professional association of qualified, experienced experts that can partner with you and your loved one to make the best decisions and deliver the best solutions with respect to values, preferences, and resources.

The Aging Life Care Association™, formerly known as the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, formed in 1985 with approximately 50 members, made up mostly of social workers and nurses.  Their vision was to provide top-quality consultative services for families looking for professional assistance and solutions to the challenges of caring for their elderly loved ones.

The organization has gone through several waves of growth and change throughout the years and today, the Aging Life Care Association boasts professional membership in excess of 2,000 members.  Membership still includes social workers and nurses of course, but there are myriad professional disciplines represented today including gerontology, psychology, occupational and physical therapy.

With the tsunami of baby boomers expected to enter into senior citizenship in the near future, the need for professional assistance to meet the ongoing challenges of elder care is expected to dramatically rise.   The members of the Aging Life Care Association are poised and ready to meet that demand.

The experts in aging well
Meet the Aging Life Care Association™ – The experts in aging well.

These professionals, who may use titles such as “Aging Life Care™ Managers” or “Geriatric Care Managers” or “Aging Life Care Professionals”, vary in their service offerings, but all work from a common thread:  helping families connect with the best, most appropriate resources for the care of their loved ones.

How do you know when it’s time to call an Aging Life Care Professional?  Consider these “red flags”:

  • When your parent needs a higher level of support and supervision in the home.
  • When your parent is no longer able to manage his/her own personal and medical care, or medications.
  • When you are concerned about the safety of your parent’s driving.
  • When your parent can no longer remain at home, even with help, and is in need of more intensive services.
  • When your parent’s behavior becomes increasingly agitated or combative.
  • When you live far away and need a skilled set of eyes to monitor your parent’s ever-changing condition.
  • When you live nearby but are bogged down with work and other family obligations and can’t closely monitor your parent’s care.
  • When you are in the midst of a crisis and need a skilled professional to help you out of the tangle.

An Aging Life Care Professional will meet with you and your loved one to assess your situation and develop a customized plan of resources and options which support the care your parent needs.  They know how to access entitlements which can help cover certain costs and will help you strategize the best way to finance the necessary care.

Above all, Aging Life Care is a caring field.  Those who are drawn to this profession offer their assessment skills, professional knowledge, emotional support, and compassion.

No one should have to navigate the world of elder care alone.  If you need assistance with your parent or loved one, reach out to an Aging Life Care Professional near you.

About the author:  Trish is in her tenth year of providing Aging Life Care management services and is the Founder and President of Peace Aging Life Experts, LLC in Flanders, New Jersey.  You can email Trish at trish@peaceagingcare.com or contact her through her website at www.peaceagingcare.com.


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.

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