How we do it
Pinpoint the client's unmet needs
Through an initial meeting and discussion of the client’s care needs, we will develop a written needs assessment report with our professional recommendations. We will review primary areas of need including the client’s past and current functional status, medical history, general legal and financial status, emotional supports, social history and religious preferences, and the client’s stated goals. We'll incorporate cognitive, functional, and psychological assessments where appropriate and pertinent to the client.
Collaborate on developing a plan of care
We will schedule an initial review of the written report with the client and their designated support team. From there we will discuss our recommendations and collaborate on determining priorities and establishing a plan of care. By incorporating the client’s financial and functional status and care priorities, we'll create a baseline plan to build on as the client goes through life's transitions.
Coordinate & monitor client's condition
For ongoing care management services, we'll manage the details for the client and attend appointments as their advocate. We'll follow up with the client’s medical team, delegate tasks to skilled professionals where necessary, and hold them accountable to always consider the client’s best interest. In collaboration with the client's professional team, we will implement a plan of care. We’ll simplify the details, while actively solving problems as they develop and proactively planning for future obstacles.
Keep care team connected & updated
We will send regular updates to the client’s authorized persons and loved ones, facilitate ongoing communication among their medical team, and maintain documentation and record of changes in care. We provide family education where needed and aim to empower the care team to meet care goals while following the client’s stated wishes. By preparing a backup plan, we can proactively address and update the client’s care team to meet challenges head on and facilitate excellent quality of care.
Engage in transparent & ethical billing
We do not sell any products, provide in-home caregivers, or medical services, nor do we receive any type of compensation from any of the service providers we recommend; therefore, we have no vested interest in steering our clients in one direction or another.
Instead, we help our clients discern what is right for them and then provide oversight.
We charge the same hourly rate for all services, regardless of family assets, as stated in written form and discussed with the person accepting responsibility for payment. Clients are only billed for the time spent providing services, as we do not add additional charges for complex cases or difficult family dynamics.
Many families who engage Aging Life Care Professionals find that they save money in the long run due to reduction in service duplication, crisis prevention, advanced planning and more efficient use of their time. According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index (2011), family caregivers spend 13 hours per month researching care services or information on disease, coordinating physician visits, or managing financial matters. Your time is valuable so let us help you with the abridged version.
a•bridge: Aging Life Care Management applies the eight knowledge areas to their expertise:
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Health & Disability: We attend medical appointments, facilitating communication among doctors, clients, and family members. We identify types of services – insurance paid and out of pocket– that are right for our client and assist in engaging and monitoring those services.
Financial: We provide information on federal and state entitlements, connecting families to local programs when appropriate. In consultation with a client’s accountant or power of attorney, we also help clients and families with insurance concerns, claims, and applications.
Housing: We help families and clients evaluate residential options and select the appropriate type and level of housing that fits their budget, social and care needs.
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Families: We help families adjust, cope and problem-solve around long-distance and in-home caregiving, addressing care concerns, internal conflicts, and differences of opinion about long-term care planning.
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Local Resources: We know the local resources in the communities we serve, and we know how services are accessed. We know who to call!
Advocacy: We are strong and effective advocates for clients and their families, promoting the client’s wishes with health care providers and other services, ensuring that our client’s needs are being adequately addressed.
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Legal: We refer to and collaborate with legal experts, like elder law attorneys and estate planners. We can provide expert opinion for courts in determining level of care and establishing client needs.
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Crisis Intervention: We offer crisis intervention, helping clients navigate emergency departments, hospitalizations, and rehabilitation stays, ensuring that they do not ‘get lost in the maze’. For families that live at a distance, we serve as a much-needed local contact.