Care Management
What is Aging Life Care™?
Aging Life Care Management is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing health challenges. Working with families, the expertise of Aging Life Care Professionals (also known as Geriatric Care Managers) provides the answers at a time of uncertainty. Their guidance leads families to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love—reducing worry, stress, and time off work for family caregivers. Aging Life Care Managers may help people who have physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental health problems, and chronic or serious illnesses.
What is an Aging Life Care Professional?
An Aging Life Care Professional is dedicated to helping clients age well while also supporting quality of life for family members. This phase of a family’s journey together is often difficult and confusing.
The Aging Life Care Professional assists clients in attaining their maximum functional potential. The individual’s independence is encouraged, while safety and security concerns are also addressed. Aging Life Care Professionals address a broad range of issues related to the well-being of their client. They also have extensive knowledge about costs, quality, and availability of resources in their communities.
Aging Life Care Professionals become a trusted advisor to the aging person and their family. They are members of the Aging Life Care Association™ (ALCA) and differ from Patient Advocates, Senior Advisors, Senior Navigators, and Elder Advocates. ALCA members must meet stringent education, experience, and certification requirements of the organization, and all members must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Aging Life Care Professionals draw on their expertise in health and disability, housing, crisis intervention, family dynamics, advocacy, financial and legal, and local resources.
Benefits of Using an Aging Life Care Manager
- Personalized and compassionate service: Focusing on the individual's wants and needs.
- Continuity of care: Communications are coordinated between family members, doctors, other medical professionals, and service providers.
- Cost containment: Inappropriate placements, duplication of services, and unnecessary hospitalizations are avoided.
- Quality control: Aging Life Care Managers follow ALCA's Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.