Services
Services from Aging in Arizona are provided by certified Aging Life Care Managers®, sometimes also referred to as Geriatric Care Managers, who are members of the Aging Life Care Association. This membership signifies advanced training and following of strict standards and ethics for the care of aging persons. A care manager will most often hold a degree in social work, nursing, gerontology, or other human services field and they maintain their knowledge by attending CEU training. In addition to their education and required experience, this membership provides peer-to-peer discussions with fellow Aging Life Care Managers in order to maintain the highest standards of care for each client.
Services from Aging in Arizona are provided by certified Aging Life Care Managers®, sometimes also referred to as Geriatric Care Managers, who are members of the Aging Life Care Association. This membership signifies advanced training and following of strict standards and ethics for the care of aging persons. A care manager will most often hold a degree in social work, nursing, gerontology, or other human services field and they maintain their knowledge by attending CEU training. In addition to their education and required experience, this membership provides peer-to-peer discussions with fellow Aging Life Care Managers in order to maintain the highest standards of care for each client.
Care Management
Care management is a service provided to older adults and involved family members. The primary focus is advocacy for solutions to care challenges. There is no question too small or too large.
Some challenges included are:
- Maintaining independence in activities of daily life.
- Navigating medical issues such as a crisis situation or chronic illness.
- Monitoring changes in memory and cognitive function, including dementia and Alzheimer’s concerns.
- Watching for elder abuse or financial exploitation.
- Reviewing home safety, including mobility, appliance usage, and outside structural concerns.
If you have any concern about how your loved one is living or functioning, a care manager is the answer to help you sort through the issues and provide recommendations. Working as partners, you are guaranteed to have a professional on your side who will help reduce worry, make sure that the older adult has the best care possible, and can advocate for them every step of the way. Care management includes many care details. When we meet with an older adult and their involved family members, we are looking at the holistic view of their care and providing recommendations that are unique to their needs. Your loved one’s needs are at the center of all our work done together.
Navigating Medical Care
Today’s medical system is disjointed and difficult to navigate. Some days, even making an appointment is difficult. Communication between the patient and physicians are often in different portals and it falls on the patient, and their family, to keep it organized. If your aging parent or grandparent are facing medical crises or chronic health conditions keeping it straight is difficult. What happens when it’s not managed closely? It affects the older adult, the patient! They don’t receive the care that they need, when they need it, and delays can harm them physically, mentally, and emotionally. Care management avoids those issues from compounding.
How do we help?
With extensive experience helping families, we organize, coordinate, and communicate within the medical system. Effective organization and communication by an advocate improves care received leading to higher quality of life. For over 25 years our Director, Shana, has been assisting families as navigate healthcare and make important care decisions.
Care management includes attending physician appointments, monitoring ongoing care needs, attending to medical crises, reviewing hospital care, and coordinating specialized care. We communicate with involved family and make sure we provide quality options and recommendations. Care decisions are made by the client and/or their medical power of attorney decision maker and we help carry them out.
Home Safety & Mobility
Safety and mobility are important aspects in senior care. A full review of the home and life environments including inside and outside the home, driving safety, appropriate exercise, use of appliances, and associated safety such as sidewalks, roof, flooring, bathroom bars, rugs, etc. The safety review can include cleaning up around the home and removing obstacles. In some situations it includes immediate intervention for severe hoarding issues. In cases of memory and cognitive changes, even eyesight concerns, a review of whether or not they should be driving is included. Recommendations for assistive devices to support mobility are discussed. These changes can make them feel that they are losing independence so it is important to honor their concerns and help them remain as independent as possible. We help with the tough decisions and conversations.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
When your loved one is forgetting important things or is showing new signs of confusion, it is time to call for your free 30-minute consultation. When we work together, we provide professional suggestions. Sometimes these symptoms indicate a medical condition not related to memory loss or dementia and it’s important to determine that early. From there we help the client and the family determine how they can manage the changes.
Any diagnosis that is related to memory or cognitive decline is concerning. As partners in the process, we walk with you through each step including seeking the best care, reviewing their living situation, addressing driving concerns, educating the family, finding the right care options for home, and working to meet the specific unique needs of your loved one. You are not alone in this process, we are happy to help!