October 21, 2020
Earlier this year, we had a discussion within our team about Our Why. Why do we do this job? Identifying and remembering our individual, unique “whys” helps keep us authentic, purposeful, and motivated in our work.
Being an Aging Life Care® Professional may seem somewhat straightforward: assess a client, determine their status and needs, provide solutions and resources. It seems like you just need to know the aging resources and dole out answers. But it is not always that easy. We are often working with people with dementia and must persist in the face of denial and refusal. We step into and navigate challenging family situations. We sit long hours in the emergency room and get up in the middle of the night when clients fall. We are sometimes unwanted or challenged by other parties involved. We are a shoulder to cry on and an ear to vent to. We build relationships with our clients, learn their stories, and fight for their quality of life, but inevitably lose them. It is much more challenging than it first appears. At different times it can be mentally, physically, and emotionally draining. So why do we do it?
As we went around our conference room with this discussion, employee to employee, they confirmed to me why we chose them to work for us in the first place. Their answers? To make a difference. To be impactful. To support the vulnerable. To provide comfort. To identify needs. To bring joy. And (perhaps most telling) who else would do this, be there for these people, solve these problems, if not for me? We must keep our why present in our minds to keep us resilient, determined, and empathetic as we do our work.
While our job is hard, it is also greatly rewarding. We have provided peace of mind, prevented crises, mended relationships, kept spouses together through care transitions, and been there when no one else was. Thank you, families and clients, for trusting us and giving us the opportunity to be in your lives.
Here are a few of our employees’ why in their own words:
Barbara:
I love being supportive to families and knowing them is a bonus!
My Why for this job and business is quite varied. I have passion for our clients because of my personal experiences, I love supporting and knowing our clients and families, I’m intrigued with brain function, and I feel a calling for entrepreneurship and professionalism in this industry.
Being one of the older of eight children, I had a teacher instinct and earned my undergraduate degree in early childhood education. I have always been intrigued with brain development and brain function. In my current role, I help people retain and even gain as much brain function as possible through their elder years, especially those diagnosed with any type of dementia. I’m fascinated with current research and staying up to date with practices we can implement to preserve cognition.
I gained much of my elder care experience by caring for my mother-in-law through the 90’s. She had complicated health issues and later developed Alzheimer’s Disease. I utilized the Alzheimer’s Association as a resource through my years of being a family caregiver and in 1999 I began working there, helping families challenged by dementia issues. I found the part of the job I liked and did best was listening, identifying challenges people were facing, and guiding them to solutions and resources. I decided to further my education in this new field I was in, and attended the University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies to earn a Master’s in gerontology.
While in school, I discovered the field of Geriatric Care Management, now known as Aging Life Care®. I immediately recognized the need for this type of support based on my experiences with my mother-in-law. In one example, we were waiting to check into a local medical clinic and observed an older gentleman being wheeled up to the desk by a transportation company. As they tried to check him in, it became clear the gentleman did not know why he was there or what physician he was to see and neither did the transport helper. Just because people do not have family nearby, does not mean they cannot have a local support person. As an elder care advocate, I connect people with what they need and am there for them when they need someone. Because of my personal experience, it’s important to me to honor our clients’ dignity and expand their choices as they age while collaborating with the family on their concerns. I appreciate the opportunity they give me to know them and impact their lives. To me, it is a joy to work with the families, being creative with solutions that are acceptable to all and improve quality of life for all. I have listened to hundreds of stories through the past 20 years of my involvement in the elder care industry and now understand how to help people through the journey, providing hope where sometimes there is none.
When I started All About Aging in 2006, I became certified and joined the only national association for care managers (at the time called NAPGCM, now ALCA), wanting to be part of a large group of experienced professionals who share their knowledge and encourage each other’s growth. Becoming an Aging Life Care Professional has given me the opportunity to continue to develop knowledge and experience to help individuals and their families. As the Boomers are aging, so are their parents and there continues to be a need for understanding aging and dementia related care. I am proud to be developing a team of educated and certified care managers, offering a good variety of support to the community.
Stacy:
I enjoy making a difference in the lives of others.
I’ve always known I wanted to be in a career where I was touching people’s lives in a personal way and that my work was making a positive impact on others. As an Aging Life Care Professional I feel like I get to live this out on a daily basis. It is very rewarding knowing that my involvement in the life of seniors with dementia helps to make their lives safer, healthier, and more meaningful. My work is also valuable to their family members as well, many of whom live at a distance from their loved ones and worry about their wellbeing daily. My presence in their loved one’s life gives them peace of mind and reassurance that someone is caring for and managing their daily needs, as well as keeping them informed about how their loved one is doing. If I could adopt them all to be my second parents I would!
Katelyn:
I want to be a resource of support to clients and their families!
Our clients and their families are looking for solutions, creativity and support through the aging process. Every client’s situation is different, but we’re available to help them navigate the process and offer resources and advice. I enjoy helping people to thrive daily and improve their quality of life. For those without loved ones nearby, there are many times that I perform a task and later think “who would have done that if not for our service”. I enjoy continuing my professional development and networking with professionals who are also dedicated to innovative solutions.
Angela:
– Aging can be challenging
– Aging can bring freedom, peace of mind, resilience, and a healthy outlook if we choose to respond instead of react
– Aging can be inspirational
– Aging can be discovered
– Aging is a part of life
I have observed many Older Adults that fight getting older. And I have also observed others who embrace aging. As our bodies age, it can be challenging. Some of us don’t move as smoothly, have muscles that don’t stretch as much and bodies that don’t heal from sickness or injuries as quickly. However, aging can also bring about the freedom to pursue a new hobby, a new career, or travel. The freedom is in the choosing. For some aging brings about a sense of resilience having completed a first career, raising a family, participating in community or church activities. Another choice is to have a healthy outlook regardless of the ‘snaps, crackles and pops’. The wisdom gained in the formative years can be utilized by choosing to respond rather than react.
Aging can be inspirational. Healthy aging can be discovered. And aging is a part of life… We can’t escape it but instead we can learn to cherish the moments we have created and those we seek to create by choosing well.