Topic: Aging Life Care professional
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. …
An Aging Life Care Professional (aka geriatric Care Manager) is a health and human services specialist who acts as a guide and advocate for families who are caring for older relatives or disabled adults.
Aging Life Care Professionals are educated and experienced in any of several fields related to Aging Life Care management, including, but not limited to counseling, gerontology, mental health, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, or social work; with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care. …
What are the Qualifications of an Aging Life Care Professional?Read More »
Every business has an origin story. Here’s ours: Lisa Mayfield, Aging Wisdom’s founder and principal, shares how she came to understand the challenges of dementia from an early age. …
How we came to work with older adults and their familiesRead More »
Unexpected health changes that require long-term care can occur at any age, though the likelihood increases with age. Someone turning age 65 today has a 70% chance of needing long-term care services and supports as they grow older, according to the U.S. Administration on Aging.
I’m sure you know someone who has assisted an aging parent with navigating a health challenge. It was likely a stressful situation because their parent had not made plans for long-term care, refused help, and left their adult children to pick up the pieces. …
Founded in 2003, Aging Wisdom was launched by Lisa Mayfield as a sole practitioner of care management. This year we are celebrating 20 years as an Aging Life Care practice and a staff of sixteen!
And it’s May, which is National Aging Life Care Month, a time for us to celebrate our profession.
Our Care Managers have all taken different career paths before finding Aging Life Care as a profession, including Lisa.
In this episode, Lisa reflects on her background and experience in community and mental health and how it lead to learning about and eventually practicing Aging Life Care.
Aging Life Care as a profession became Lisa’s focus when she saw how it had the opportunity to address the difficult and challenging issues that families often face when helping an older adult.
It was this help with the foundational challenges, such as addressing falls, cognitive changes, driving when it was no longer safe, for example, that was more effective at supporting older adults than counseling alone. Counseling, Lisa observes, still has a role once the older adults is safe and these issues have been addressed.
Families are often flummoxed by the myriad of changes and challenges, as well as navigating the complexities of healthcare systems. Our role is that of advisor, guide, facilitator, advocate, or coach, depending on the client’s needs and that of their family and supports.
Not sure what your next steps should be? We’ve helped hundreds of families navigate these changes and prepare for the future. Click here to schedule a get-acquainted call with one of our Certified Care Managers.
Additional Reading:
We have a lot to celebrate this month. In addition to May being National Aging Life Care Month and Older Adults Month, our colleague Wendy Nathan celebrates ten years with Aging Wisdom!
If you are familiar with our team, you know our paths to Aging Life Care are varied, but we share a mutual mission: To inspire hope through creative solutions so our clients live well, care well, and age well.
As Wendy shares in this episode of Wisdom Wednesday, she has had a rich career, starting as a hospital respiratory therapist and in research. She then went back to school to become a massage therapist and worked predominantly with older adults.
Her work with older adults prompted a fascination with how different people age, their attitudes toward aging, and how massage and the power of touch allowed her clients to live more full lives.
This eventually led to pursing a Certificate in Gerontology through the University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education program and working at Aging Wisdom, first as a companion (what is now known as our Creative Engagement program) and eventually as a Certified Care Manager.
Want to learn more about Aging Life Care and how it can be of benefit to you? CLICK HERE to schedule a FREE get-acquainted call to determine together whether our services are a good fit for your needs.
Additional Reading:
When there’s family conflict, Care Managers serve as a neutral third party that provides an unbiased assessment of the situation and guidance to families on the best options moving forward. …
Being a caregiver can be lonely. Over time, friends and family may start to fade away and your world begins to feel very small. As you encounter tricky situations, you might struggle with how to navigate them gracefully. This caregiving race is a marathon, not a sprint. Equipping yourself for the long haul is essential. Just as you would never head out to sea alone, you shouldn’t start this caregiving journey alone.
As you get into your lifeboat, you don’t have to float alone. Here are some key players you’ll want with you to ensure a smooth ride: …
Get in the Lifeboat: But Don’t Float Alone! Key Supports You’ll Want in Your BoatRead More »