I attained the designation of Certified Care Manager issued through the National Association of Certified Care Managers. I can help by acting as a neutral third party when difficult family issues involving a senior arise and connect people with appropriate medical and non-medical services. Here are some of the services…
Chicago Senior Living Advisors Blog
Alcoholic Dementia Presents Challenges At Any Age
I was recently contacted to conduct a placement for a gentleman who has alcoholic dementia, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff’s syndrome. The affect of years of chronic alcohol abuse causes loss of short-term memory. The disease usually affects men between the ages of 45-65 who have a history of heavy drinking.…
A Senior’s Power Of Attorney For Health Care Should Know His/Her Personal History And Medical Needs
As a Certified Guardian, I am often asked to act as a senior’s Power of Attorney for Health Care when s/he doesn’t have a family member who is willing or fit to act for him/her. Simply stated, the Power of Attorney for Health Care grants the designated “agent” control over…
Internet Resources Aren’t Foolproof When Researching Senior Living options
As a senior living advisor and Certified Care Manager, I always conduct a face to face assessment of my client. This gives me an opportunity to evaluate him/her from a cognitive and functional standpoint. I observe the environment s/he is living in, talk with the family about the individual’s personal…
Differentiating Between Continuing Care Retirement Community Contracts
I have been involved in two recent cases where I was hired to provide a second opinion to seniors who were seeking to move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community* (CCRC) in Cook County of Illinois. I wasn’t surprised to learn during my initial consultation that neither of them knew…
Should You Keep Your Loved One At Home With Non-Medical Home Health Care or Place Him/Her In A LongTerm Care Community?
This is a question that is asked of me and often causes controversy among the families that I serve. My goal is to find the best answer, and every situation is different. In the seven years that I have owned my senior living business, no two cases have been exactly…
Intermediate Care Is A Fit For Seniors Between Assisted Living And Skilled Nursing
Intermediate care is a level of nursing care available for those seniors who are in need a little bit more care than what is provided in assisted living communities. Yet, it provides a level of are that is lower than what is provided in a skilled nursing home. Here is…
Senior Couples Wanting To Stay Together Present Special Living Challenges
Couples who want to remain together but require different levels of care always present some very complicated challenges. One person may want to stay in the home, the other may not. A member of a couple may develop health challenges that may necessitate a move to a nursing home due…
Quick Tips For Your Loved One’s Post-Medicare Placement
Many of my clients are surprised when they are told their senior loved one has “reached a plateau,” with his/her assessment for the appropriate level of care upon their release from the rehabilitation community is going to be key for your loved one’s long term plan of care. If your…
Will My Loved One Lose His/Her Independence By Moving To A Long Term Care Community?
If you carefully scrutinize the activity schedule at a long term care community and correlate it to the seniors needs, his/her independence could be enhanced. I was the Admissions Director of a Continuing Care Retirement Community located in Cook County near the Chicago metropolitan area. Many of the children who…