Specialists can help older adults navigate challenges of holidays

With health experts still cautioning against travel and indoor gatherings of non-household members for people at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19, many older adults now face the daunting prospect of spending the winter holiday season alone. Families must weigh many variables to determine the best and safest ways to celebrate.

Certified Aging Life Care Managers can help find ways to safely connect with older loved ones this holiday season. Experts with health and human services training, Aging Life Care Managers offer different levels of service, from one-time consultations to ongoing care coordination and health care advocacy. Aging Life Care Association members must meet the organization’s stringent education, experience and certification requirements, and all members are required to adhere to a strict code of ethics.

“Aging Life Care Professionals are problem-solvers, and we understand through our education and training the needs of older adults. We can assess what is going well for a client and where the problems areas are and come up with a plan to get them the services and support they need, including during the holidays," said Betsy Evatt, a licensed clinical social worker and director of clinical services for Windward Life Care. The aging services firm provides Aging Life Care Management, in-home care, and skilled nursing services.

Aging Life Care Managers can assist families in weighing the risks of an in-person visit; discuss depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues related to isolation; identify the symptoms of grief, especially important this year for families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19; plan special deliveries and drive-by celebrations; introduce clients to technology solutions to help them connect with family and friends; and arrange for professional caregivers to fill in for absent family members.

Windward’s interdisciplinary professional team is composed of leaders in the Aging Life Care Association. Visit windwardlifecare.com for more information.

COURTESY PHOTO This holiday season, families must weigh the risks of gathering with older relatives in person.