Aging in Place With Pathstones

Most older adults hope to age in the comfort and familiarity of their own home, staying

healthy for as long as possible. This is often referred to as “Aging in Place,” a widely used term that is often misunderstood.

Aging in place requires having both the social and physical support needed in order to live safely and independently in your home for as long as you are able. This requires thinking and planning ahead to ensure that your home can accommodate your future needs and that you can arrange services and support when needed. Furthermore, successful aging in place requires a plan for who will provide the care when needed and a plan for how the care will be paid.

Pathstones by Phoebe helps older adults who want to age in place in their homes. Pathstones combines the key features of care coordination, wellness services, social support, and long-term care insurance to help members navigate the aging process

and remain in the homes they love.

Pathstones members understand that if they are lucky enough to age, they will change. They know that aging changes everyone, no matter how fit they are, no matter how mentally sharp they are, and no matter what their family history is. Instead of being

fearful and denying the fact that they will age, members accept that they will age and put a plan in place to do it gracefully. Members understand that they may eventually need a little help, but they don’t worry about what to do when they need it, because help is just one phone call away.

Pathstones Executive Director Lisa Hoffman believes good outcomes are the result of good planning. She uses her over 30 years of experience in the fields of senior living and insurance to help older adults plan for their future needs. Her experience in the business and finance offices of senior living organizations has taught her how unprepared many older adults and their families are when it comes to the cost of healthcare. Many falsely assume that their Medicare plan will cover these costs.

Additionally, many assume that Medicaid will be available as a fallback plan without understanding how Medicaid really works.

While Pathstones can cover the financial costs of aging, most members agree that having a personal wellness coordinator is the biggest benefit of being a Pathstones member. Pathstones wellness coordinators meet with each member to design a personalized wellness plan. Wellness coordinators visit members in their homes to perform wellness assessments, home safety inspections, and medication evaluations. They serve as advocates for members and their families in the event of an injury or illness. As health care needs change over time, Pathstones is there to help shoulder the burden of coordination that would normally fall to friends and family.

And to avoid the social isolation that may occur when older adults remain in their homes, Pathstones by Phoebe has a membership coordinator to plan events that keep them active and engaged socially, spiritually and intellectually. Activities include bus trips, sporting events, book clubs, picnics, and educational events on topics such as

internet safety and ways to improve balance.

Pathstones by Phoebe offers an innovative approach to aging and is one of only five such programs in Pennsylvania. Pathstones is the first step on the path of aging in place, offering several plan options to meet varying needs. Pathstones is also easily adaptable when your needs change and living in your current home is no longer your preference. It is a plan for life that adjusts to your needs wherever and however you want to age.

Pathstones offers plans that coordinate with whatever plans you already have in place

or may be considering. Our plans coordinate with long-term care insurance as well as with contracts at life plan and continuing care retirement communities to make a very comprehensive plan that covers all your future needs and expenses.

Planning ahead provides you with more quality choices than you may realize. Imagine having all the support you need to age as you wish, remaining independent in your home, wherever you call home, for as long as possible. Pathstones by Phoebe offers everything you need to plan for today and into the future.

To learn more, visit our website at PathstonesbyPhoebe.org or call us at 610-794-6700.