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Getting Holistic, Client-Centered Help When Caring for Aging Adults

Aging Life Care™, also known as geriatric care management, is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing ongoing health challenges.

Members of the Aging Life Care Association®, called Aging Life Care Professionals (ALCPs) or Aging Life Care Managers®, partner with clients, families, and other providers to help clients make the best decisions and find personalized solutions. Respecting the client’s values, preferences and resources are the guiding practice. ALCPs are practitioners with extensive knowledge about costs, quality, and availability of resources in their communities.

Because ALCPs adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and are generally not affiliated with, or representatives of, any health care entities they can be completely objective in recommendations while providing a safe place for clients and their loved ones to express their concerns and fears.

ALCPs are engaged with clients for the long haul and are uniquely positioned to engage in the difficult discussions about health care and end-of-life goals. ALCPs often are the ones to suggest hospice to clients and assist with the transition to palliative care or hospice care when appropriate.

What they do

The following case example illustrates how ALCPs, hospice teams, and clients work together:

“When Joe’s son hired me as his father’s Aging Life Care Manager six years ago, it was to provide a weekly check-in. They didn’t know then that they would journey through hospice care, but I was able to help them navigate multiple hospice admittances while relieving some of the burden.

On the first admittance, I served as the bridge between Joe, his family, and the hospice staff. I helped with solving medication management and communication challenges, and with coordinating Joe’s changing levels of care. I had the difficult conversations with Joe concerning end-of-life planning and made sure his choices would be honored. Once it became clear that Joe’s health had stopped declining, I helped the family transition away from hospice care.

When Joe was diagnosed with cancer at 97, we made the decision to re-engage hospice care. I helped the family customize his care plan and coordinated his eventual move to an inpatient unit. Because I handled the day-to-day realities of hospice and end-of-life-care, Joe, his father and family were able to focus on their remaining time together.”

Aging Life Care Professionals are able to assist clients and their families at any stage in the aging process, from the initial assessment to final decisions.

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