As part of celebrating the month of May as Aging Life Care Month, we would like to help educate our visitors on what it is that Aging Life Care Professionals, also known as Geriatric Care Managers, do to help aging persons and their involved family members to plan for care and solve aging challenges.
I have been working in the healthcare field for over 30 years. Not only am I Certified Care Manager but I am also a Licensed Professional Counselor. My Bachelor of Arts degree is in psychology, and I hold a master’s degree is in community counseling and I hold certificates in gerontology and in death and dying from Sacred Heart University. My entire career is built around community care of aging individuals and their families, and my work path followed that education. I have had the pleasure of working with aging persons in the community.
Every day in this role, I experience the joy of helping make people’s situations better by providing them with an increased quality of life. I know how fortunate I am because there is no better job satisfaction that that.
Helping families enable their loved ones to age in the best possible setting is truly my passion. Throughout my many years of working with elderly clients and their families, I have seen firsthand how much a person’s quality of life can be enhanced, once a variety of appropriate measures and services are put into place. Happily, I have learned that the challenges of aging can be met with the best possible outcome for all involved, using knowledge, experience, and an intuitive understanding of my clients’ needs.
It is hard to express the pleasure it gives me to help turn around a family situation that at first felt overwhelming and hopeless but is transformed into a scenario in which a senior’s physical and emotional needs are truly fulfilled. Family members gain peace of mind because they have given their loved one the best life they can attain through their later years.
I adhere to a Life Care philosophy; a long-term, comprehensive approach to creatively and mindfully managing the inevitable transitions of the later years. There is no “one size fits all” solution to aging. Rather, as seniors’ circumstances evolve and their needs change, I will make sure that they are taken care of appropriately every step of the way, always keeping in mind a family’s wishes, financial situation and a variety of other factors.
My priority is always to find just the right setting for each individual client. Aging in place is an ideal that I feel strongly about, and I use every possible means to attain this goal, provided it matches my clients’ and families’ wishes.
When the home setting is no longer appropriate for your loved one, I will guide you toward the least restrictive setting. This may be the highest quality assisted living facility close to home or family members. I will help to determine whether skilled care at home is a viable option, or if a nursing home is necessary. In the latter case, I can find a facility that will provide the finest overall care. With my intimate knowledge of area resources, I believe that I am uniquely qualified to assist your family in making these vitally important choices.
Every day in my role as a Geriatric Care Manager, I experience the joy of helping make people’s situations better by providing them with an increased quality of life. I know how fortunate I am because there is no better job satisfaction than that.
Whether you are planning ahead for your future or you find yourself in immediate need of professional support, please reach out to me at (203) 258-2640 or info@growingoptions.com.