Can some of the patients in your practice benefit from the services of an Aging Life Care Professional?

Here are some signs indicating there might be a need:

• They aren’t managing like they used to
  Your patient is struggling with the day-to-day activities that were once second-nature.
• Bills aren’t getting paid
  The electricity and/or water bills were neglected and your patient is living without lights or hot water.
• Lack of self-care
  Your patient is forgetting to wash himself or his clothes.
• Lack of support
  There may be no family or friends willing or able to take on the role of caregiver.
• Worsening medical conditions
  Your patient may have medical conditions that require more expert care than she can manage on her own.
• Concern for safety
  There may be an increased concern for a patient’s safety and ability to live alone.
• Holding onto independence
  You know your patient needs help, but he is refusing to relinquish his independence.
• It’s all too much
  Your patient or her family appears exhausted from trying to find the right resources, handle financial responsibilities, or navigate the complexities of finding the proper care.

When a patient returns home after a hospital stay

As you know, the risk of readmission is high for elderly patients returning home from a stay in the hospital or rehab, in part because the care transition process is prone to errors. These errors result from poor communication and coordination and inadequate follow-up care. This applies especially to those patients with serious or complex conditions.

Eldercare Leaders can provide the continuity of care that can help to prevent readmissions.

Refer a patient to us when

• You have concerns about discharge. Some home situations are not ideal for handling the increased needs of a recently discharged patient. There may be no relative living nearby. A spouse may have his or her own health challenges. We can assess the situation and put together a customized plan of care.
• Medication management is an issue. Patients often find it challenging to be sent home from the hospital with new medications and/or dosages. The situation is particularly fraught when a patient is struggling with memory issues. We can implement strategies that will improve adherence.
• A patient has a complex condition or multiple comorbidities. We can be your eyes and ears monitoring the patient at home on a regular basis to catch problems before they become medical emergencies that require a return to the hospital.

We also assist with senior living placements. If your patient is still living at home, but it's no longer advisable to do so, we can assist in evaluating and choosing from the wide range of options, from assisted living to nursing homes to continuing care communities, to help ensure that the appropriate level of care is chosen.