What Is Aging Life Care Management?

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What is an Aging Life Care Manager?

An Aging Life Care Manager is dedicated to helping clients age well while also supporting quality of life for family members. This phase of a family’s journey together is often complicated. There is more to do than there is time. Relatives may live far away. Relations can become strained.

Our professional training and knowledge of best practices can ease the journey.

Every family is unique. As Aging Life Care Managers, we apply our insights and skills in 8 key areas. They are identified by the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) to provide you with a positive care plan tailored to your family’s individual needs and strengths.

We offer expertise regarding:

  • Health and disability: While the experience of aging is much more than changes in the body, it is generally concerns over health and disability that bring clients to our door.We understand the health care system. Let us facilitate communication with doctors so you get the care you want and the support you deserve. We can match you to the services most suited to your needs with an eye to saving you time and money.In addition, we understand the emotional issues that arise—with one’s sense of self and within the family—when a chronic or serious condition comes to the fore. Our experience with many, many clients who have gone through similar situations allows us to give you perspective and a context for the path ahead.
  • Finances: Medicare, Medi-gap, Part D, Medicare Advantage… There’s so much to keep track of! And that’s just the insurance side of the picture.Let our experience with these and other programs match you with the best services for your budget. We can assist with sorting out deductibles and co-pays and identify potential duplications in services.Beyond insurance, are you concerned about a loved one’s ability to manage their money? We can help with that too. From special debit cards and bank accounts, to financial planners and professional bill payers, we can make referrals and propose solutions that maximize dignity and independence while protecting assets.
  • Housing: Most older adults prefer to “age in place,” meaning stay in their homes. Who wouldn’t? But family can’t always provide the assistance that is needed. And outside help costs money.Let us assess the situation and propose a variety of options based on safety, finances and personal preferences. We know the area resources and can make recommendations tailored to your care needs and family situation.
  • Family: Sibling disagreements and old family history often make the aging journey difficult. Our training provides for skilled facilitation of family meetings and creation of a plan that takes everyone’s needs into account. Let us help your family find common ground and arrange support so that all concerns are acknowledged and needs are respected.
  • Local Resources: There are programs available to help, but it’s difficult to know which one is the most appropriate for your situation. Save time and money by letting us objectively evaluate the situation and connect you to the resources best suited to your needs.
  • Advocacy: Sometimes you just need someone in your corner to be sure that your voice is heard. Whether it’s talking to the doctor, or negotiating with insurance or a care facility, our professionalism and knowledge of the industry allows us to go to bat for you.Part of our service includes helping you clarify your wants and desires, your values and priorities. Then we work to be sure that those hired to provide your care do what they can so you get to live according to your wishes.
  • Legal: We are not attorneys. But we can help you with simple documents, such as an advance directive. And we can refer you to attorneys and other professionals to help with more complicated needs such as estate planning, facility contracts, or arranging for guardianship.Perhaps you have a situation where you need legal testimony about a person’s mental competence, or optimal placement given their health and limitations. We can do assessments and make recommendations, providing expert testimony or written reports for the court.
  • Crisis Intervention: The unexpected is simply a fact of life in aging. We are experienced with elder emergencies and are ready to jump in at a moment’s notice. Maybe the person you care for has a chronic condition that results in frequent dashes to the ER. Let us get the right support in place so the disease can be managed pro-actively and problems can be caught before they become an emergency. Live far away? Need someone to be the 24/7 contact in case your loved one has an emergency? We can arrange a safety net support system.
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How Aging Life Care Managers are different

What makes an Aging Life Care Manager stand apart from the others is the commitment to stay focused on the needs of the client and family. Others may offer services for less, but what you receive cannot help but be influenced by the payment structure.

Hospital- or insurance-based case managers are employees of the health care system. They are good professionals. Their focus, however, is to address the issues of patients within the institution and to make efficient use of services for their organization.

We are based in the community and work with aging adults wherever they live. We provide continuity of care across all settings. We include the family and focus on improving quality of life for the older adult and their grown children.

Senior advisors are paid referral fees to suggest elder care facilities. As a general rule, they have a more limited sphere of knowledge and do not hold a professional degree needed to give them expertise in the 8 key areas of elder care. Only those facilities willing to pay a finder’s fee will be included in their list of suggestions. There may be a more appropriate option, but it will not be mentioned if the facility does not pay for referrals.

Because we are paid directly by you, we are independent and objective. Our focus is 100% on the needs of your family and your aging loved ones. We apply our considerable skill and years of training to your unique situation.

When the issue is safety and quality of life, you deserve the best!

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