PROBLEM-SOLVING For The Elder Client

Each Elder has unique qualities, needs, and wishes. Specific requirements need different approaches. We will explore them together to achieve a personalized care plan. Whether long-term or situational, our commitment is to align with the client’s goal(s) in maintaining their cognitive, physical, and social capabilities.

Common reasons for seeking support for the Elder:

• INCREASING CARE NEEDS: The elder  may have experienced a medical, physical, or mental change.  Dementia and confusion may have affected the way the elder cares for themselves, and there may be resistance to receiving help.
• CHANGING FAMILY SITUATIONS such as  a spouse becoming a caregiver, loss of a spouse, or children moving away.
• OVERWHELMED CAREGIVERS: as the elder's care increases, the family caregiver may become overwhelmed as they may be juggling careers, children, and other life responsibilities.
• LACK OF INFORMATION or INFORMATION OVERLOAD: What are the right solutions? What are the best options? Who can I turn to information?

 OUR ELDER SPECIFIC SERVICES can include, but aren’t limited to:

* Care Management and Coordination Service: After establishing baseline information about the client, we then create a plan for care.  We can attend discharge planning meetings at hospital or post-hospital rehab and assist family with coordinating services for the elder to return home safely.  The discharging team may recommend extra support and services,  set up of special equipment, or connecting additional community services after recovery. 

* Medical ‘Liaison’ Service: We can attend medical appointments to be listening ears for a client and family as they interpret diagnoses and treatment recommendations. We can help clarify recommendations with physicians and specialists by asking the important questions that often are difficult to think of on the spot.  For example, attending appointments with debriefing, write ups, and call to family (3-5 hours). 

* Proactive monitoring/ Wellness Check: We will develop a plan with the elder client and/or family to visit on a consistent basis. 

• We can do face-to-face visits or video visits. During these visits we will ensure that their health and wellness are being addressed proactively, and provide creative solutions to issues that may arise.

* Caregiver Support and FAMILY Caregiver Support: 

• We can provide coaching, information, and support to help you tailor the care you are providing to the needs of your loved one. 
• When there is a caregiver team in the home, we can evaluate whether our client is receiving quality care. When needed we can provide coaching to hired caregivers in the home. For example, we can assess current home caregiver team and provide recommendation for improvement, if needed (1 hour).

* Technology:  We can help find creative solutions to help clients who live away from their families or friends.  As a means of staying connected, technology can be a great tool to help clients engage in the community when it becomes more difficult to leave their home, assure safety monitoring for family, and connect emergency services when needed. We can assess what would be helpful to your loved one and implement this technology in their daily routine. 

* Connecting with local Community Resources: As a specialist in community resources, we can assess social needs and connect our client to local community resources as needed. These resources can include elder day centers, senior center activities, specialty private pay caregiver agencies, durable medical equipment (dme), specialized transportation, specialty pharmacy, elder law attorneys, Medicare and Medicaid counseling .

 * LOCATING OPTIONS IN Alternative Housing: We can help our clients remain independent as long as they possibly can.  We will work with clients and their families to evaluate and select the appropriate level of support that will keep them safe and happy for respite or long-term care.  We can guide you with information about a retirement setting, or a facility specializing in dementia care, Assisted Living Facility (ALF), or Adult Family Home (*AFH). Please ask about our NO FEE Service for AFH placement