How Aging Life Care Professionals™ Help Clients Discover Happiness and Quality of Life
From offering dating advice to finding the right living facility, Aging Life Care Professionals™ help aging family members find quality of life during their later years. As Aging Life Care Associaiton™ Member Debbie Feldman, MSW, LCSW, CMC shares here, her work as an advocate and support system is often rewarded with the gift of friendship.
How can Aging Life Care Professional™ Help You or an Aging Family Member?
Aging Life Care Professionals™, also known as geriatric care managers, work with families and individuals to provide guidance at a time of uncertainty. Aging Life Care Professionals are specialized health and human service professionals advocating and directing the care of older adults and others facing ongoing health challenges. Their expertise 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.
Aging Life Care Professionals can assist in a number of ways and tailor their services to address individual client needs, with the overall goal of improving the well-being of clients and families.
Aging Life Care Professionals are engaged to assist in a variety of areas, such as:
- Housing – helping families evaluate and select appropriate level of housing or residential options
- Home care services – determining types of services that are right for a client and assisting the family to engage and monitor those services
- Medical management – attending doctor appointments, facilitating communication between doctor, client, and family, and if appropriate, monitoring client’s adherence to medical orders and instructions
- Communication – keeping family members and professionals informed as to the well-being and changing needs of the client
- Social activities – providing opportunity for client to engage in social, recreational, or cultural activities that enrich the quality of life
- Legal – referring to or consulting with an elder law attorney; providing expert opinion for courts in determining level of care
- Financial – may include reviewing or overseeing bill paying or consulting with accountant or client’s Power of Attorney
- Entitlements – providing information on Federal and state entitlements; connecting families to local programs
- Safety and security – monitoring the client at home; recommending technologies to add to security or safety; observing changes and potential risks of exploitation or abuse
- Long-distance care – coordinating the care of a loved one for families that live at a distance; including crisis management
A care plan tailored for each individual’s circumstances is prepared after a comprehensive assessment. The plan may be modified, in consultation with client and family, as circumstances change. Local, cost-effective resources are identified and engaged as needed.
When caregiving for an aging family member becomes overwhelming; or if you’d like assistance in preparing for your own aging, contact an Aging Life Care Professional. You can find an expert in your area at 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.