What do Aging Life Care Professionals™ Do?

The graying of America has created the need for a new dimension in life care advocacy. Many people feel overwhelmed when an aging family member needs care.

Should my mother age in place or move to a residential facility? What’s a health care proxy and how can we get one? Can life insurance be used to pay for Dad’s long-term care? The issues related to aging life care are virtually endless. Whether it’s managing medical needs, household, finances, or some other aspect of their lives, families don’t always have the time or experience time to make the best decisions regarding their elderly loved ones.

Enter the Aging Life Care Professional™.

This health and human services specialist helps aging clients and their families to understand, access, and manage the complex world of eldercare. Acting as a concerned guide and advocate, they address a broad range of issues, including the availability, quality, and costs of various resources in their communities. Also known as geriatric care managers, these professionals are educated and experienced in any of several fields, which may include gerontology, nursing, social work, or psychology, with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and eldercare.

Help your loved one live his or her best life.

The Aging Life Care Professional™ assists clients in attaining their maximum functional potential by addressing a broad range of issues related to their overall well-being. Independence is encouraged, while safety and security concerns are also addressed. Aging Life Care Professionals™ are members of the Aging Life Care Association™ (ALCA) and differ from patient advocates, senior advisors, and elder advocates. ALCA members must meet stringent requirements regarding education, experience, and certification. Additionally, members must adhere to a strict code of ethics and standards of practice.

How might an Aging Life Care Professional™ help you?

Aging life care management provides a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults. Acting as an advocate and resource, he or she can assist with:

• Medical issues: This may include determining the types of services needed; attending doctor appointments and facilitating communication between the physician, client, and family; and assisting in engaging and monitoring those services.
• Financial matters: Services may include overseeing bill paying; consulting with a client’s accountant or Power of Attorney; and completing and reviewing insurance claims and applications.
• Housing: When families and clients need help evaluating housing options, such as whether their aging loved one can continue to live safely in their residence with in-home care or should move to a care facility, they can help research, arrange for and coordinate those services.
• Advocacy: Aging life care professionals are often powerful and effective advocates for clients and their families, promoting their client’s wishes with health care and other providers.
• Legal: They can refer clients to a network of legal experts, such as elder law attorneys and estate planners, and facilitate the process.
• Crisis intervention: Most offer emergency response assistance, helping clients navigate through emergency room situations, hospitalizations, and stays in rehabilitation facilities.

If you are a long-distance caregiver, these services can be especially helpful. An aging life care manager who lives in the same area as your loved one can help you coordinate care, provide regular updates on his or her condition, and even attend doctor’s appointments.

Get the peace of mind you deserve.

An Aging Life Care Professional™ can be an invaluable resource, improving the lives of you and your elderly loved ones. To find aging life care management options in your area, you can search via the ACLA website or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Eldercare Locator.

Vaughn Greene Funeral Services has extensive elder care resources at our disposal. We would be honored to help you locate a professional to meet your unique needs. Please contact us for assistance.

About Vaughn Greene Funeral Services: For more than 20 years, Vaughn Greene Funeral Services has been providing a ministry of care to Baltimore’s African American community. As a leading local, minority- and family-owned provider, we promise to provide our highest level of service and respect to families who entrust us to honor their loved ones. For more information, please call us at 410.655.0015 or visit us online at https://vaughncgreene.com/.