Should You Hire an Aging Life Care Manager?

Aging Life Care Managers – also called Geriatric Care Managers – specialize in assisting families with the help and support they need to care for older loved ones. As the population of older Americans continues to burgeon, more families need to prepare.

In fact, the number of Americans aged 65 and older is expected to more than double to 80 million by 2040. Those aged 85 and older typically are the ones most in need of help with basic personal care, and families have myriad options and decisions to make for finding and facilitating that care. While it’s daunting to know where to start, aging life care professionals can help.

What is an Aging Life Care Manager?

An Aging Life Care Manager often has a medical background and years of education and experience working in the field of aging adults. It’s common for an Aging Life Care or Geriatric Care Manager to be a licensed nurse, mental health professional, gerontologist, occupational or physical therapist, or social worker with expertise in elder care.

Based on their years of advocacy and experience with older adults, along with their knowledge of available services, they can help identify a senior’s unique needs and create a plan that serves to facilitate health, preparedness, coping and many other strategies necessary for those who are aging.

What Does an Aging Life Care Manager Do?

Aging Life Care Managers act as guides and advocates for seniors and their families. They can step in when an older adult is without family members living close by to assist and provide necessary support or to help with burnout that family members may be experiencing.

An Aging Life Care Manager serves as a concierge and single point of contact. Valuable and much needed age-related care services include, but are not limited to:

Facilitating family conversations about short- and long-term plans
Serving as a mediator and problem solver when there is family tension or disagreements
Visiting the senior’s home environment and determining in-home care needs for aging in place, including home safety and activities of daily living
Coordinating medical services, navigating the health care system and securing referrals to specialists
Evaluating the senior’s quality of life and emotional needs
Discussing alternatives and choices for living arrangements and care settings,
Helping when a crisis occurs, such as an emergency room visit or hospitalization, and facilitating a safe transition from hospital to home
Navigating financial options, including Medicare, private insurance, and government or and veterans’ assistance

Signs You May Need an Aging Life Manager

Seeing a loved one lose any level of independence or quality of life can be heartbreaking and overwhelming. Your family may benefit from working with an Aging Life Care professional if you begin to see certain warning signs:

Declining health
Decreasing cognitive ability
Overwhelming medical and financial matters
Refusing to talk with family about their health and living situation

In-Home Care and Aging Life Care Managers

One important task that Aging Life Care Managers perform is recommending and arranging suitable in-home care providers. Once a home care plan is in place, the Aging Life Care Manager oversees the services delivered by the home care provider and monitors how well the home care professionals are attending to the individual’s needs.

To find an Aging Life Care Manager near you, the Aging Life Care Association maintains a Find an Aging Life Care Expert search tool to search by city, state or zip code.

Kadan Homecare regularly interacts with Aging Life Care Managers and our highly qualified caregivers work closely with them to facilitate the care plan that is agreed upon in providing necessary care for the senior. Contact us for a complimentary in-home consultation by calling 770-396-8997 or emailing info@kadan.org.

Dina Kadan White2024-06-24T18:35:17+00:00June 24th, 2024|

About the Author: Dina Kadan White

As President of Kadan Homecare, White oversees the day-to-to day operations and crafts the strategic plan for the company. White has worked with Kadan full-time for the past 24 years, although she has been engaged with the family-run firm at some level for the 40 years Kadan has been providing home care. Prior to joining Kadan, White served as Director of Product Development at Equifax and previously was a Marketing Director with Wachovia. These jobs prepared her well for a position where she works for the benefit of all aspects of this highly client-focused agency. White holds a bachelor's degree in business management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has been active with the National Private Duty Association, a membership organization for firms whose homecare model is to employ, train, monitor and supervise caregivers to work toward a safe and secure environment for the person at home and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. White is also accredited as a Virtual Dementia Tour – Certified Trainer. Prior to joining Kadan, White served as Director of Product Development at Equifax and previously was a Marketing Director with Wachovia. These jobs prepared her well for a position where she works for the benefit of all aspects of this highly client-focused agency. White holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a member of the National Private Duty Association, a membership organization for firms whose homecare model is to employ, train, monitor and supervise caregivers, create a plan of care for the client and work toward a safe and secure environment for the person at home. White is also a member of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.