An Aging Life Care Professional is often referred to as a geriatric care manager and is a health and human services specialist who acts as a guide and advocate for families who are caring for older loved ones or disabled adults. The goal of an Aging Life Care Specialist is to guide families to decisions and actions that ensure quality care and optimal life for those they love and to reduce the stress and worry that many family caregivers feel.
So what does an Aging Life Care Professional actually do? Their role can be summarized in 5 main areas:
- Health. An Aging Life Care Professional interacts with the health care system frequently. They can attend doctor appointments, facilitate communication between health care professionals and family and be helpful to you during a crisis. They can assist in navigating through emergency departments, hospitalizations, and rehabilitation stays. They can be particularly helpful for families that live at a distance from their elderly loved one.
- Housing Needs. An Aging Life Care Professional is also a great resource for housing needs. They can help families and clients evaluate and select an appropriate level of housing or residential options when the times comes for your loved one to move to a facility.
- Financial. Another service that an Aging Life Care Professional may provide is financial. They may assist in overseeing bill paying or consulting with a client’s accountant or power of attorney. They can also be a great resource for any local, state or federal entitlements that may be available for your loved one.
- Legal. Aging Life Care Professionals often refer clients to legal experts, like elder law attorneys and estate planners. They can even be called on by the court to provide expert opinion for courts in determining level of care and establishing needs.
- Advocacy. Arguably the most important role of an Aging Life Care Professional is advocacy. They can be strong and effective advocates for their clients and the family. Their role is to promote the client’s wishes with health care and other providers and ensure that their needs are being met.
How do I know if I need an Aging Life Care Professional?
You may need an Aging Life Care Professional if you are taking care of a family member and it becomes overwhelming. It may also be helpful to contact with an Aging Life Care Professional if the person you are caring for has multiple medical issues, is unable to live safely in their current environment, requires advocacy or if they have limited family support. Contact us at Sinclair Prosser Gasior to discuss your estate planning and elder law needs and whether an Aging Life Care Professional could be a good resource for you and your family.
Laura’s unique professional background as a family law attorney and working at a creditors’ rights law firm provides her with the skills to bring comprehensive services to our clients. Laura was first attracted to Sinclair Prosser Gasior because of their approach to work with clients throughout years and life stages. Sinclair Prosser Gasior strives to make our clients confident about their choices to provide peace of mind and lasting security.
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