Topic: care management

The Role of a Care Manager: Team Member, Navigator, Diplomat, Advocate, Collaborator

team caremgrs

Our Aging Life Care Professionals, AKA Care Managers, wear many hats: team member, navigator, diplomat, advocate, collaborator.  Additionally, the services and supports they provide are not cookie cutter solutions, but tailored to each client’s needs, finances, and goals. …

What are some of the obstacles to helping someone?

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Every situation has its own variables, just as each family has its own system and dynamics. This can often rank at the top of obstacles to providing the support an aging parent may need.

Risk assessment and risk tolerance play a part as well, especially if the person in your care is living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. …

Navigating Long-Term Care Options (in greater Seattle) Part II

senior housing

Last week we looked at tips for navigating long-term care options to support living at home.  Successfully managing care at home depends on many factors, including finances, health status, transportation, mobility, a supportive physical environment, a willingness to accept care, and having a realistic view of the care needs.

There may come a point when the person in your care can no longer be safely and adequately cared for at home. For example, when your parent has a progressive health condition such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s, there may come a time when the care needed at home exceeds your capacity to support them safely.

Be prepared for this reality; it’s never too early to research, visit, and reflect in preparation for a possible move. It’s always best to be proactive. …

Aging Wisdom Turns 19 Today!

Happy Birthday

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

Nineteen years ago Lisa Mayfield launched Aging Wisdom as a solo practitioner in geriatric care management (AKA Aging Life Care).

Aging Wisdom was started with the vision of helping individuals and families navigate unexpected health and cognitive changes and crises, as well as to help guide families to common ground when they might not agree on the best approach to supporting an older loved one in their care.

Our objective has always been to help others age well, care well, and live well.  Much has happened in those 19 years and this early vision continues to guide our work today as a team of fourteen amazing women and growing! …

Tips for Helping Someone Living with Dementia Enjoy the 4th of July (and other summer celebrations)

4th of July family cookout

Summer celebrations are upon — Independence Day, family reunions, graduations, weddings. All are wonderful opportunities to gather, though often filled with high expectations, requiring lots of energy and engagement. For individuals and families living with dementia, it can be challenging. A time of high anxiety.

To minimize anxiety and encourage an inclusive, more enjoyable holiday and gatherings for all, a little advance planning can go a long way in ensuring everyone has a wonderful time. …

Why I Love Being an Aging Life Care Professional™

lisa aginglifecareismypassion

May is both Older Americans Month and National Aging Life Care Month. This presents a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the things I love about the work I do as a Care Manager, celebrating our profession in Aging Life Care, and the clients we serve.

In that spirit, here are some of the reasons I love what my Aging Wisdom colleagues, my professional colleagues, and I do for a living. …

8 Tips for Aging Well: Make Your Plan Now for a Healthy, Supported Future

The pandemic has provided many lessons, including the importance of our communities, the value of the place we call home, and what steps to take to protect and care for our mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

All these factors play essential roles in our overall health, happiness, and ability to remain independent.

Perhaps this is why the Administration for Community Living has chosen to focus on “aging in place—how older adults can plan to stay in their homes and live independently” for Older Adults Month 2022. This year’s theme is “Age my  way!”

Get in the Lifeboat: But Don’t Float Alone! Key Supports You’ll Want in Your Boat

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: …

How Social Isolation Stole My Mom

On September 6, 2019, my mother turned 76. As was our birthday tradition, I invited her to lunch and suggested an outing to a local craft store she loved. For the first time ever, she refused to budge from her home. This was new behavior and it really worried me because her world was shrinking. She seemed to prefer solitary activities like beading, knitting, and weaving intricate pine needle baskets, only venturing out when she absolutely had to.

Why I Became An Aging Life Care Professional®

Harisa Paco, Aging Life Care Professional

by Harisa Paco, MSW, LICSW, CMC

When I was a toddler, my family, including my grandparents, emigrated to the United States from Bosnia in 1993. We were the first Bosnian family to live in Edmonds, Washington, just north of Seattle.

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