What is AGING LIFE CARE™?

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Aging Life Care/geriatric care management is a holistic, client centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing ongoing health challenges. 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 stress and time off of work for family caregivers through:

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• Assessment and monitoring

• Planning and problem solving

• Education and advocacy

• Long-distance caregiving 

 

Aging Life Care Professionals are engaged to assist in a variety of areas, such as:

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• Housing - helping families evaluate and select an 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 appointment, 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

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Local, cost effective resources are identified and engaged as needed. A person-centered care plan tailored for each individuals' circumstances is prepared after a comprehensive assessment. The plan may be modified, in consultation with client and family, as circumstances change.

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Aging Life Care Professionals are members of the Aging Life Care Association®(ALCA) and differ from Patient Advocates, Senior Advisors, Senior Navigators and Elder Advocates. ALCA members 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.

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Thank you to the Aging Life Care Association® for permission to share this information. You may learn more about Aging Life Care at aginglifecare.org.