by Lisa Kaufman Even if I have been a member of the Aging Life Care Association for nearly 20 years, I have always thought of myself as the “red-headed stepchild” (yes, go ahead and laugh if you know me…) of ALCA. And now I see an opportunity for my “particular set of skills” to be…
By: Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC, Walnut Creek, CA The current worldwide pandemic is causing sleepless nights, hand wringing and some strange behaviors having to do with fear that can sometimes bring out the worst in us. However, we are also seeing some incredible acts of kindness and selflessness in neighbors helping neighbors. As, well…
by Lisa Kaufman I received a call this morning. A man who has never spoken with me before wanted my opinion about the care needs of his 80-year-old mother. He explained that she has moderate to severe (read severe) dementia, visual impairment, is hard of hearing and is in renal failure requiring dialysis. He went…
by Miriam Zucker I live in New Rochelle, New York, a city whose fame is rooted with the Petrie’s of The Dick Van Dyke show. That image of a suburban family living on a quiet tree-lined street changed dramatically on March 10. New Rochelle became the first COVID-19 containment area in the United States. On…
By: Tasha Beauchamp What we know as of 3/1/20 COVID-19 is spread much like the regular flu—through coughs and sneezes that put droplets in the air and on surfaces. It may be 2–14 days after exposure before a person has symptoms. That means people can spread the virus without knowing it. And many have symptoms…
In this trying time with the Coronavirus (COVID 19) upon us, the one thing that seems certain is uncertainty. Creative and out-of-the-box thinking, flexibility and need to think on your feet is critical with the rapidly changing tides. Who better than Aging Life Care Professionals® to meet this challenge? As a midsize practice in Newton,…
by: Lisa Mayfield At 72, Betsy is doing all the right things to ensure she enjoys good physical, emotional, mental, and financial health. She eats a Mediterranean diet, doesn’t smoke, drinks in moderation, exercises regularly, has adjusted her spending and investments for retirement, goes for regular check-ups with her doctor, and gets the recommended health…
By Anne Sansevero As Aging Life Care Managers® one of our important roles is helping clients and their families look ahead to assist them with emergency preparedness. We do this with advanced directive planning and health education by ensuring their vaccinations are up to date. However, there are times when certain situations pose new and…
Thirty-five years ago a group of visionary women in eldercare created a profession and a professional association. Originally the National Association of Private Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM), this non-profit has grown from 75 members to the now 2,000-strong Aging Life Care Association® (ALCA). Since 1985, Aging Life Care Association members have cared for about two…
While “Dryuary” or Dry January seems like a relatively new trend, it’s origins date back much earlier. Even the New York Times showcases the activities around when Prohibition began (Jan. 17, 1920.) January is also a month where people re-consider their over-indulgences in food and drink then hit the gyms or yoga mats and buy…