Category Archives: care management

Living prepared:organizing important records and vital information

living prepared book | Preferred Living Solutions

Whether it’s being prepared for the curve balls life can throw at you or just being able to find a vital document at a moment’s notice, having your most important records and personal information in one easy-to-find location will bring you peace of mind and security.  Preferred Living Solutions’ The Living Prepared Workbook:  My Need to […]

Face Masks and FaceTime

Today was a good day. I visited two clients, a husband and wife of 60+ years, in their home. I’ve been visiting them, providing care management support and services, for several years. This past year I’ve been with them through two hospitalizations, one rehab stint, numerous medical appointments, and more. Today we made our way […]

Palliative care and hospice care

Hospice and palliative care are two healthcare approaches offering compassionate support  to patients with life limiting illnesses. When a loved one is living with health issues it can be hard for him or her to understand what options may be available to help manage treatment, side effects, advance directive decisions, and decision-making around stopping treatment. […]

Sibling rivalry, aging parents and running the emotional gauntlet

Sibling rivalry, also known as competition between sisters and brothers for a parent’s attention, may change over time. Unique relationships can strengthen or weaken on the road from childhood to adulthood. Birth order can create lifelong labels that defy age, education, and experience. With that status often come a pre-defined set of roles. As Jane […]

Vitamin D: bring back the sunshine

As basic as our need for water, sunlight is an ingredient for healthy bodies and minds. Known as the sunshine vitamin, we produce Vitamin D in response to exposure to sunlight. It is necessary for strong bones. Bone pain and muscle weakness are ways our bodies may reflect a deficiency. Low blood levels of Vitamin […]

Patient advocate: why you need one

Serving as my client’s patient advocate is one of my most heartfelt responsibilities. Who has your back if you are admitted to the hospital or need to go to the hospital emergency department (ED)? Have you heard of running a gauntlet? That’s what a trip to the hospital is like. The complexities of medical insurance, patient […]

Same day medical procedures

Same day medical procedures that require support from a care partner or a friend can be a challenge to organize and schedule. Have you or your loved ones been postponing a same day medical procedure (cataracts, endoscopy, colonoscopy, etc.) because you need someone to accompany you, wait for you throughout the procedure (required by physician) and […]

Household monthly bills

When did managing the household monthly bills become so burdensome to my mom? For 50+ years Mom ran the household, an early version of “Momager”. Recently though, as the macular degeneration continues to weaken Mom’s vision, her daily chores take longer and her patience is short. When I visit I see the mail stacked up on […]

Adult children home for the holidays

Adult children home for the holidays, like me, are back to our own daily routines with new worries and concerns. It was fun to see brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, Mom and Dad BUT. It was disconcerting to see how much older our parents seem this year. Their house, OMG, well – you can tell that […]

Dear dementia, what we need now

Dear dementia, today I add to my list of things that care partners (caregivers + people with dementia) need right now. It has been less than one month since I pressed my first list. Long story short, we need to improve the medical appointment experience for healthcare providers and their patients with dementia. In the spirit of relentlessly pursuing improved […]