Senior Care in Brevard, NC

Our mission is to serve the local community by promoting the health, safety and comfort of individuals desiring personalized, attentive care in their own homes. The purpose of Home Carefree is to facilitate the highest possible quality of life within a home setting for individuals with varying life circumstances. Our Home Care services are coordinated and supervised by a Registered Nurse, and care is provided by screened, trained, and qualified Certified Nursing Assistants and In-Home Aides. We develope a personalized plan of care based on the individuals needs. Because each case is unique, our fee is flexible depending on the needs of the client. Caregiver Information Caregiver Skills Include: Ethics, Patient Transfers, Stress Management, Family Communication, Communicating with Dementia Patients RN on staff: Yes Caregivers available 24 hours a day: Yes Available to assisted living facility: Yes

A Geriatric Care Manager is a qualified healthcare professional that assists individuals and families to manage their current life circumstances. This can include making care decisions, locating resources, facilitating and planning for implementing resources, benefits and Medicaid application assistance as well as provision of support in the spirit of maintaining a person's or family's quality of life. Older adults are happiest when they can continue an independent lifestyle, making their own decisions about daily living. However, there may come a critical time for older adults when illness, memory loss, disability or simple problems of aging arise. These new challenges can have significant physical, social and emotional impacts on older adults and jeopardize their well-being. For family members who live out of state, this creates tremendous worry about their parent(s) concern as to what to do next. A professional geriatric care manager can be the solution to this dilemma by helping the family to develop a coordinated plan of care to assist the older adult. Geriatric care managers specifically assist seniors and their families by providing a thorough assessment of a person's level of social, emotional and medical factors, then coordinating a variety of services to meet the unique functional and care needs of the older adult. This can involve working closely with Trust Officers, Guardians and Estate Planning professionals on the client's behalf. The care manager becomes an integral part of this process by building a trusting relationship with the older adult, acting as both advocate and friend and is readily available as a resource for the family to evaluate needs and services as well as to help develop a long range plan for care. These plans may include personal care, arranging for and monitoring in-home services, facilitating long term care placement, connecting clients to financial assistance/community/government programs, and acting as a liaison between the person with dementia and their local and/or long distance caregivers. This coordinated plan of care helps older adults meet the challenges of daily living and maximizes their quality of life. It also offers reassurance and peace of mind for the family member that may reside many miles away. A Geriatric Care Manager can be as involved in a client's life as the client or family desires. This is often dependent upon the needs of the senior. A Geriatric Care Manager may simply provide guidance regarding needs at home, or an upcoming move to a facility, or may be asked to make weekly visits to provide peace of mind to the client and family. For a person with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, a Geriatric Care Manager is often able to assist a family by monitoring the progression of the disease and make recommendations to implement appropriate resources as symptoms intensify. This role of the Geriatric Care Manager can be particularly important to family members that live far from the clients as well as to local family caregivers who feel they need additional support in making care decisions. Costs for a Geriatric Care Manager vary based on needs, but usually includes an initial assessment, an assessment evaluation and written report with recommendations. The initial assessment may require more than one meeting, particularly if out of town family is to be involved. If hired by the client or family, subsequent fees are based upon an hourly rate that can be discussed in person or by phone, fax or email. Geriatric Care Management Services provided for an older adult may include: Psychosocial, emotional and medical assessment of the patient Referral and follow-up with appropriate in-home services Weekly visitations to see clients in their home/care facility Monitoring client care plan with staff within a care facility Crisis intervention to coordinate and assess all medical emergencies Coordination and supervision of in-home caregivers and other support services Weekly medication management Supportive counseling and emotional support Assist with Medicare, Supplemental and Long Term Care Insurance Issues Coordinate and attend medical appointments; doctor evaluations Confer with doctors regarding health concerns, medications & compliance issues Assisting family and client with legal and medical directives Educate family regarding long range planning options for their loved one Weekly reporting to family member or responsible person Liaison with primary care physician, medical specialists & care professionals Assistance with research/selection of senior living facility Assistance with filing a Medicaid nursing home application Provide bookkeeping and bill paying services as needed Act as Healthcare Surrogate if requested by client when there is no other family Work with Trustee(s), Guardian, professional Estate Planners as necessary Ron Kauffman, Geriatric Care Manager Areas of Practice Areas of Practice Include: Assessment, Placement, Education, Counseling, Referrals, Care Management, Fiduciary Services, Family/Professional Liason Willing to aid in the Medicare/Medicaid process: Yes

If you are recovering from illness, injury or surgery, our skilled medical team of caregivers will create a safe, supportive and professional environment in your home. As America's leader in home health care, we pledge to maintain the highest quality standards in the delivery of our care. We are dedicated to your full recovery and return to a fulfilling life with services that include skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, medical social workers and certified home health aides.

Making health care decisions can be confusing. We provide medically licensed support so you can feel confident about you or your loved one's health. Patient Advocates focus on guiding patients through the ever-changing world of healthcare and empowering individuals to make the best decisions possible for their health. They are experts in information gathering and ensure clients have the information they need to make individualized healthcare decisions. Navigating the Health Care System Is Tough! Health changes become overwhelming as you and your loved one face great uncertainty. Communication from health care organizations is sparse or confusing. Distance and flexibility cause challenges in meeting the needs of your loved one. Finding a trusted health care expert that will work for you only, to give you and your loved one peace of mind is difficult. Choosing an individual that can manage the care of you or your parents’ needs is daunting. How Whitley Patient Advocates Help Our expert knowledge in health care can quickly assess your situation and help you prioritize your needs. We will promptly develop a plan that is individualized and flexible to optimize your needs. We are not influenced by the bottom line of health care organizations or insurers. We focus only on your needs. We offer consultative support to large groups and organizations through individualized presentations while having vast knowledge and experience to support you as facilitators, coaches, and educators for patient advocacy. Medical/Navigational assistance: coordinate care among physicians and other health care providers that are treating you. Background Research: Diagnosis, treatment options, second opinion options. (Information regarding possible options will be documented and given to client/patient and family). Hospital bedside or travel accompaniment to appointments: Aid in preparing of questions to ask health care providers. Extensive documentation of all encounters with medical providers (copies to client/patient or other designated individual) (per hour, free travel up to 50 miles from Morehead City). Prevention: prescription drug review (maintain a current list of medications while considering medication options to reduce risk of error), health/wellness coaching, weight loss, Immunities, etc. End of life planning: living will, health care power of attorney, advance directives, palliative care, hospice Meet our Team Marilyn Whitley, MSN, RN, NE-BC, BCPA David Whitley, BSRT, CRT, RRT, BCPA Our goal as patient advocates is to make ourselves available to you at any time to provide you with the appropriate and informative services possible. To empower you to quickly get through the maze of health care services giving you the best result in life. Preventing suffering and supporting your quality and quantity of life is important to us as advocates.