Each year, May is designated as National Aging Life Care Month by the Aging Life Care Association. As a long-time affiliate member of this prestigious organization, I participate in their annual conferences (this year it was virtual) and monthly education programs and learn from the authority in aging well, the Aging Life Care Experts.
What is Aging Life Care?
Simply stated, aging life care management is a holistic, client-centered approach to care for older adults or others facing ongoing health challenges. Aging Life Care Experts work with families and provide expertise in a range of disciplines to guide them to actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for loved ones. At a time of uncertainly, ALCA experts reduce worry, stress, and lost time at work through assessment and monitoring, planning and problem-solving, education and advocacy, and family caregiver coaching.
As I reflect upon my years of membership in ALCA, I can see how much I have learned and how this has helped me, in turn, to assist when an aging life care expert reaches out to me. Two such experiences come to mind and illustrate the varied services we contribute when we work together.
In addition, we worked with the ex-husband and sister to accumulate and remove, ship or deliver items they wanted. We worked through some contention over multiple requests for the same items. Lastly, TLS did our usual disposition of the remaining items and retained a heavy-duty cleaner so we could prepare the home for sale.
Case Study #1
Transitions Liquidation Services was called upon to assist when a 93-year-old female with a diagnosis of alcoholism and mid-stage dementia fell in her home and was moved to a rehabilitation facility after a stay in the hospital. We’ll call her Angie.
Angie was never married and had no family. She had recently inherited a large number of properties from her partner and these properties were now under conservatorship with legal counsel. Angie had made some progress in rehab, but she required mobility assistance, using a walker or wheelchair, which she alternated, depending on the distance.
Her discharge plan was to move to a first-floor apartment, significantly modified to include widened doorways, a ramp to the front door, and the installation of a roll-in shower stall. Angie would also require a 24- hour/7-days a week health care aide.
An Aging Life Care Expert contacted Transitions Liquidation Services to outfit the modified apartment with mostly newly purchased items in addition to some salvaged furnishings from the old apartment and to set up a dedicated bedroom for the health care aide.
We worked closely with the general contractor to schedule and monitor the progress of the project. We also reviewed clothing, toiletries, bedding, and towels to determine what was appropriate to keep and move.
Because of ongoing supply chain issues resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic which affected availability and delivery, it was necessary for TLS to shop multiple furniture and furnishing stores – both in-person and online — to obtain the necessary items.
TLS worked with Gentle Giant to be the consolidation point to accept and inspect all shipments, store items as needed, and then load them onto a single moving truck. We obtained a crew for delivery and full set-up of furnishings and décor. Early on move day, we picked up the hospital bed at the rehab center.
Our responsibilities included working with the Comcast representative to arrange for and set up a new service and to install additional outlets – we were even able to retain Angie’s existing phone number which she had for over 50 years!
After a long day and successful set-up, we returned a few weeks later to cull through the remaining items in the upper floors of the old apartment and complete the normal disposition process. This involved making decisions on what to sell, what to donate, and what to dispose of. In addition, we brought in our heavy-duty cleaning crew to complete the clean-out.
During the entire process, the ALCE was updated regularly to be knowledgeable and responsive to the lawyer and client and to feel assured that everything would be accomplished in time for move-in day.
This was a project that included many tasks and individuals. We are proud of our accomplishment and strong partnering and communication skills to bring this project to a successful conclusion.
Case Study #2
TLS has worked with the Aging Life Care Expert who with the family and lawyer, engaged us for this project. The client – we’ll call her Marion – was in her late 70s and had several issues affecting the situation. She was divorced with only a sister who lives 2,000 miles away. Marion was a hoarder and was showing mid-stage dementia, especially around short-term memory. She had a heart attack, and her home was put on an “action list” by the town wellness coordinator as “unsafe” for return.
Marion was told that the “pipes had broken in her home” and she couldn’t return after her discharge from the hospital and rehab facility. (A fib to ensure her safety and explain the necessary move.)
Transitions Liquidation Services was asked to purchase and set up a small one-bedroom apartment in a memory unit. Rather than purchase “hotel-like” towels, bedding, and shower curtain, we splurged on linens in Marion’s favorite color: purple. This includes a shower curtain with purple butterflies and rhinestones … and matching purple butterfly embroidered towels, purple-themed art, purple throw blankets, and pillows! As an extra-added touch, we purchased a fluffy white (luxury hotel-type) bathrobe and slippers!
We furnished the kitchen with lightweight, plastic dishes, glasses, and flatware and stocked the pantry with snacks, breads, and the soups Marion loves.
TLS worked with our ALCE partner to cull through Maron’s clothing in her home to select appropriate clothing – based on fit, washability by residence aides, and function. We boxed them up so they could be brought to Marion a little at a time as she settles in and is comfortable in her new home.
In addition, we worked with the ex-husband and sister to accumulate and remove, ship or deliver items they wanted. We worked through some contention over multiple requests for the same items. Lastly, TLS did our usual disposition of the remaining items and retained a heavy-duty cleaner so we could prepare the home for sale.
Both of these case studies demonstrate how an ALCE and Transition Liquidation Services work together to plan and implement complex moves when special circumstances dictate out-of-the-box thinking and management.
If you’d like to learn more about the Aging Life Care Association, visit their website for information and resources.
Both of these case studies demonstrate how an ALCE and Transition Liquidation Services work together to plan and implement complex moves when special circumstances dictate out-of-the-box thinking and management.
If you’d like to learn more about the Aging Life Care Association, visit their website for information and resources.