Welcome Wisdom

Constructive Conversations: Steering the Driving Discussion

May 1, 2025 — by Felicia Juntunen, MA, CMC, Director of Care Management When it comes to aging families, few topics are as challenging as discussing driving. For many, driving represents freedom, independence, and identity, making it an emotionally charged subject. Care managers often witness families grappling with how to approach this sensitive issue, whether to express concerns or to... Read More

Constructive Conversations: Discussing Declining Health

April 1, 2025 — by Felicia Juntunen, MA, CMC, Director of Care Management As families observe the declining health of their aging loved ones, they may wish to offer support, such as durable medical equipment or medication management. Unfortunately, these offers are sometimes met with skepticism or rejection, leading to frustration and communication breakdowns. Identifying barriers to understanding and seeking... Read More

Constructive Conversations: Advance Directives, Healthcare Preferences & End-of-Life Planning

March 3, 2025 — by Felicia Juntunen, MA, CMC, Director of Care Management Talking about death and end-of-life care is never easy, but it is crucial. Many people avoid this topic, making it difficult to initiate conversations with family members. However, planning ahead and communicating your healthcare preferences can bring peace of mind to everyone involved. The Conversation Project, a... Read More

Constructive Conversations: Let’s Talk about Estate & Financial Planning

February 10, 2025 — by Felicia Juntunen, MA, CMC, Director of Care Management Last month we introduced our newsletter series for the year: turning difficult topics in aging families into constructive conversations. Most people agree that talking about their estate and especially finances is one of the most difficult issues to broach. Our money and how we manage it is... Read More

Constructive Conversations in Aging Families

January 6, 2025 — by Felicia Juntunen, MA, CMC, Director of Care Management Welcome to the new year! Our 2025 newsletter series will focus on turning difficult topics in aging families into constructive conversations. We’ll address issues like planning for the future, medication management, moving, and arranging in-home care- just to name a few – and we will share some... Read More

Wrapping up 2024

December 3, 2024 — by Jason Wu, Owner of Elder Care Management As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude for your unwavering trust, support, and collaboration. It is because of you — our clients, partners, and community — that Elder Care Management has been able to fulfill its mission of advocating for and supporting... Read More

Navigating the Challenges of Aging with Resilience

November 18, 2024 — by Felicia Juntunen, MA, CMC, Director of Care Management In the journey of aging, resilience plays a crucial role in how older adults cope with the complexities they encounter. As highlighted in our 2024 newsletter series, care managers assist with a myriad of challenges while guiding aging individuals and their families. Topics such as long-distance caregiving,... Read More

Serving Our Older Veterans

October 1, 2024 — by Felicia Juntunen, MA, CMC, Director of Care Management This month Elder Care Management will proudly continue our support and sponsorship of the Mission to Honor Veterans event. This is the fourth year that our community outreach coordinator, Maureen Lawrence, has represented Elder Care Management at this event which honors local veterans with a virtual tour of the... Read More

Slow Medicine

September 3, 2024 — by Felicia Juntunen, MA, CMC, Director of Care Management Aging Life Care professionals are familiar with the struggle clients and their families encounter as they determine when and to what extent to pursue medical care. For those living with chronic illness, advancing dementia, or increased frailty, this can be a dilemma. Slow Medicine, a term coined by... Read More

Reducing Rehospitalizations: Insights from a Care Manager

August 19, 2024 — by Felicia Juntunen, MA, CMC, Director of Care Management Imagine finally being discharged from the hospital, feeling a sense of relief, only to find yourself back in the emergency room just weeks later. This frustrating cycle happens all too often for many patients, especially those dealing with complex or fragile health issues. Not only does it... Read More