| Nancy Wexler provides professional consultation in-person in Los Angeles, and by telephone if you live in another part of the country. She is also available for speaking engagements. With the support of her company, Gerontology Associates, Nancy provides a full range of care management services, including: |
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Assessment:
We provide a comprehensive evaluation of your aging parent, which is the cornerstone of a detailed plan. Families often wait until there is a crisis before consulting professionals. However, it is much easier for all concerned to take a thorough look at the situation before an emergency arises.
Our assessment includes a functional analysis, evaluating how an elderly individual gets through the day and their quality of life. In addition, we assess the elderly family member's psychological and social functioning, physical and mental limitations, financial resources and their individual strengths and needs.
Plan Development:
We develop an appropriate plan of intervention which includes use of all appropriate resources. When possible, you, other family members and/or supportive friends (if appropriate) are included in the planning process.
Monitoring:
We present all your care-giving options and establish with you how much care you may want to provide yourself, and to what extent care managers will assist. We empower you to manage the care of your elderly parent as much as you choose to or are able.
We monitor your parent's care on a regular or as-needed basdis. This process may include, but is not limited to, phone calls to you, your parent and caretakers, home visits and communication with allied professionals and other family members. We evaluate the success of the interaction and adjust the planned intervention as your parent's needs change.
Private Physician On-Call:
Our on-call physician, Cheryl Gray, MD, a specialist in internal medicine and family practice, is available to make house calls, enabling your loved one to receive any needed medical attention at home.
Staffing:
Our goal is to ensure that your parent receives the best quality care at all times. To accomplish this, we work with relevant agencies to screen and assign staff to your parent in his or her own home, being mindful of personality and lifestyle preferences. On an ongoing basis, we monitor the care-giving process at your parent's home, making sure that the interaction between attendants and your parent results in the best quality of life possible at all times.
Personal Chef:
To ensure that your parent receives the appropriate nutrition, our personal chef is available to make home visits, inventory kitchen supplies, shop for groceries, and prepare meals that meet the individual's nutritional and dietary requirements. Meals may be prepared weekly and stored in the freezer for easy preparation.
Serving as a Resource to Attendants:
To facilitate the best quality care from in-home care givers, we provide:
Activities Management:
We keep track of your parent's appointments with physicians and, where possible, participate in these. We encourage and assist with appropriate outings and arrange other activities that enhance the quality of your parent's life, such as grocery or personal shopping and cultural or social activities.
Record Keeping:
We maintain records as necessary. Records may include, but are not limited to, each contact with your parent, contacts with physicians, dentists or other health professionals, medication changes, and observed changes in behavior, mood and activities.
Case Review:
We keep you appraised of your parent's situation in a timely manner. Matters of any urgency are discussed with you at the earliest possible time.
Placement:
When your parent needs an alternative living arrangement, our specialty is locating the place that will be just right for that individual. A move from one's own home to a care facility is a major life transition. By knowing the people as well as the physical facilities in the Los Angeles area, we can minimize the trauma that may accompany such a move, and enhance your parent's well-being as well as your peace of mind.
The above are guidelines. Which of these may/will apply in any individual case will be discussed with you.