It might feel scary to tell others if you’ve been diagnosed with dementia or even just mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Start with those you think will be the most supportive. Perhaps close family and friends. …
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. …
Today we celebrate our colleague Nicole Amico Kane, Director of Care Management. This month marks Nicole’s ten-year work anniversary at Aging Wisdom.
Nicole oversees our care management team as mentor, director, and visionary leader. She also guides and mentors our University of Washington social work student interns. In addition, Nicole frequently makes informative and empowering presentations in the community.
Recently, Nicole was recognized as Outstanding Chapter Member of the Year by the Western Region Chapter (WRC) of our professional association, the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA), during the ALCA annual conference held in Minneapolis. …
The heart of our mission* at Aging Wisdom is to support positive aging and help our clients to live well, care well, and age well. This applies to everyone, regardless of “race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, political ideology, age, creed, religion, heritage, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental or physical ability.”1 …
Integrated and personalized care is at the core of our work as Aging Life Care Professionals (AKA Care Managers). A person-centered approach is how we best meet the needs of our clients.
There are proven methods for managing symptoms and optimizing care so the person living with Parkinson’s can maintain as much autonomy as possible.
Care management yields positive effects on an individual’s health outcomes, health care utilization, quality of life, and overall well-being, all while addressing the unique needs of their care partners. …
Parkinson’s Disease: The benefits of integrated, personalized care planningRead More »
Your healthcare power of attorney (HCPOA) is an individual you trust to speak for you when you are unable to voice your own decisions: A car accident, surgery, coma, dementia.
In such circumstances, doctors need someone who knows you well and has had conversations with you to guide them in terms of the medical procedures you would or would not want. …
March is Nutrition Month, an invitation to refresh our knowledge of healthful eating using evidence-based guidelines.
Healthy eating across the lifespan is important. As we grow older, nutrition can play an essential role in how we age. The food choices we make play an important role in sustaining health and preventing disease. …
“It feels so isolating.” This is a common refrain I hear when talking to family care partners of persons living with dementia.
In surveys, support groups, and personal conversations, spouses, partners, and adult children caring for someone living with dementia express the need for a variety of services, especially for social and emotional supports. …
Changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementiaRead More »
Updated March 4, 2024; previously published April 14, 2021
Being caught in a tax scam can happen to anyone, even though most of us think we’re too smart to get fleeced. Unfortunately, even the most cautious person can get ripped off. When older adults are defrauded, the effects can be devastating.
One insidious fraud making the rounds during tax season involves IRS impersonators. Swindlers claiming to be from the IRS tell intended victims they owe taxes and must pay using a pre-paid debit card, money order or a wire transfer. They threaten those who refuse to pay with a grand jury indictment, immediate arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver’s license. …
IRS Impersonators & Tax Scams Targeting Older AdultsRead More »
Life plan communities—sometimes called “continuing care retirement communities” (CCRCs)—are private communities that offer residents a full range of care levels, depending on need. For those in independent living, amenities such as a golf course, gym, pool, and tennis and pickle ball courts are typically provided. Some communities even offer college-level classes, a salon, and grocery store. …