"You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice"
- Bob Marley
Care Coordination That Brings Peace of Mind
Complexed scenarios
Complexed scenarios considered to be a combination of dealing with health conditions chronic or acute. In addition, there may be a distance between you and your loved one, disagreements in the family, a need to manage finances, a need to locate proper care, a parent who lives alone or parents where one is a full-time caregiver and needs some help. Any combination creates a complexed situation and a need for a professional who can bring calm in chaos by putting a creative plan of care with respect to the wishes of the loved one and the family.
Solo Agers
As we age, in many ways things will remain the same and some things will change!
A limited nearby family support and a lack of immediate support network, self-reliance by necessity having to handle medical appointments, household maintenance, financial decisions, and emergency largely on your own make a person vulnerable during crisis. You don’t have to do it alone.
As a Northwest Arkansas expert on aging, I serve as a resource and a guide to make sure no costly mistakes are made and nothing slips through the cracks.
Planning for future and contacting a Senior Care Manager to have a plan in place before crisis occurs is the best planning.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Changes in cognitive condition of a loved one can be the hardest thing. It’s uncomfortable and scary for them. The whole world is changing, they are not in control, and it is stressful. It’s an unknown territory and can be scary and emotional for you too. Trying to find proper care, navigate health care system, provide necessary safety and keep up with quality of life.
Senior Care Manager offers support, objective guidance, education, practical knowledge, planning for different stages of disease progression, coordination of care and implementation of safety systems.
Respite care
Typically respite care consists of assessment, planning and execution. It is always best to plan ahead but it doesn’t always happen. Senior Care Manager who is trained and experienced in the field of geriatric care will assists with navigation through this process. Whether you are planning for the future or in crisis right now. We will support you anywhere you are on this journey.
Respite care can be as little as a few hours to as long as needed. It can be a one-time need or an ongoing arrangement. Assessment is essential as it will give the best result for any respite care arrangement.
If you are overwhelmed, exhausted, have appointments you cannot attend, have a trip coming up or simply needing to enrich your life give me a call.
Emergency room, hospitalization, rehabilitation and going home
Crisis will happen. The question is, are you prepared? Who is on your team shouldering it with you? Is the POLST form in place? Do we have the right medication list on hand and available at the house? Is your loved one going to the hospital without personal belongings like a bag with a set of clothes or their wallet? Is there someone to take care of their loved pet while they are away? What happens to your loved one at the hospital? Who is taking notes, asking questions and advocating for them? Which rehab facility are they going to afterwards? Is it a good facility? How is their rehabilitation program going? Are they eating and hydrating well? Who will be with them on the day they go home? So many questions.
Senior Care Manager can help coordinate everything and everyone with the best outcome for your loved one and you.
Comprehensive personalized Care Plan
A comprehensive care plan begins with a thorough assessment that includes getting to know your loved one’s personality, current needs, cognitive state, physical functioning, review of medications, and understanding the understanding goals and expectations.
The plan will also include home safety and, if necessary, modifications like safety bars and railings, better lighting and removing trip hazards. Financial planning is crucial as well. Understanding insurance coverage, long-term care options, establishing clear billing structure, crisis preparedness including emergency contact list, POLST forms, medication documentation, and discharge planning to prevent situations from becoming chronic that leads to readmission. Senior Care Manager oversight allows to notice regular patterns in a lifehood. Patterns are a sign of somethings done right and some things require adjustment.
Oversight, management and reporting
Regular assessment and recalibration of the care plan ensures it remains relevant as your loved one needs evolve, with clear communication channels established between all stakeholders including family members and healthcare providers.
Senior Care Manager comes with experience and availability to step in on a professional level. When I am on task, you can keep your title as a family member spending quality time with your loved one and without any worries of what else you need to do.
