May is Aging Life Care Month, an opportunity to celebrate our profession! We love our work.
What is an Aging Life Care Professional (aka Care Manager)?
We are health and human services specialists who act as guides and advocates for individuals and couples who are planning for themselves, and others, such as families, chosen families, and friends caring for older or disabled adults.
Aging Wisdom’s Care Managers are educated and experienced in any of several fields related to Aging Life Care management, including, but not limited to social work, gerontology, mental health, counseling, and psychology; with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care.
Our Aging Life Care Professionals assist clients in attaining their maximum functional potential. The individual’s independence is encouraged, while safety and security concerns are also addressed. We are able to address a broad range of issues related to the well-being of our clients. We also have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of resources in our community.
As Aging Life Care Professionals, we become the “coach” and families or clients the “team captain.”
We 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.
What is Aging Life Care Management (aka Care Management)?
Aging Life Care management is a holistic, client-centered approach to planning with and caring for older adults, dependent adults, or others facing ongoing health or disability challenges.
As experts in living, caring, and aging well, our Aging Life Care Managers help older adults navigate the challenges of aging and make positive, informed decisions and plans.
Our guidance leads people to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for themselves or those they care about, thus reducing worry, stress, and time off work for family, chosen family, spouses, partners, or friends through:
- Assessment and monitoring
- Planning and problem-solving
- Education and advocacy
- Family caregiver coaching
The expertise of Aging Life Care Professionals can be summarized into eight knowledge areas:
- Health and Disability.From physical problems to mental health and dementia-related problems, we regularly interact with the health
care system effectively and frequently. We attend doctor appointments and facilitate communication between doctor, client, and family. We help determine types of services – such as home health and hospice – that are right for a client and assist in engaging and monitoring those services. - Financial. Services may include reviewing or overseeing bill paying or consulting with a client’s accountant or Power of Attorney. We provide information on Federal and state entitlements, connecting families to local programs when appropriate. We also help clients and their supports with insurance concerns, claims, and applications.
- Housing. We help families and clients evaluate and select appropriate level of housing or residential options.
- Families. In our roles as Care Managers, we often help families and other supports adjust, cope and problem-solve around long-distance and in-home caregiving, addressing care concerns, internal conflicts, and differences of opinion about long-term care planning.
- Local Resources.We know the specifics of the local resources in our communities and know how services are accessed. Local, cost-effective resources are identified and engaged as needed.
- Advocacy. We are strong and effective advocates for clients and their families, promoting the client’s wishes with health care and other providers, ensuring that client’s needs are being adequately addressed.
- Legal. Our Care Managers refer to legal experts, like elder law attorneys, estate planners, and Powers of Attorney. Some on our staff provide expert opinion for courts in determining level of care and establishing client needs.
- Crisis Intervention.We offer crisis intervention when it is needed, helping clients navigate through emergency departments and hospitalizations, rehabilitation stays, and ensuring that adequate care is available to the client. For families that live at a distance, this can be a much-needed 24/7 emergency contact.
Want to learn more about how our client-centered approach to living, caring, and aging well can benefit you? Click here to schedule a get-acquainted call with one of our Certified Care Managers.
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