Crisis Intervention
What Constitutes a Crisis?
Families of older adults tend to try to support their loved ones, problem solve and manage to the best of their abilities for as long as they can. Nationally Certified Life Care Managers receive calls for “HELP” when families no longer know what to do, their parents are no longer safe, or a health emergency puts their family member in the hospital. Basically, things blow up! An older adult’s medical, cognitive and emotional needs can be quite complex. The health care system and options available in the community are overwhelming in complexity. How can families begin to learn about the options when the crisis is happening?
Step 1: Assessment
A Life Care Manager at Symphony Care will jump right in because that’s what is needed when a crisis is happening. We will:
Listen to the family to learn the client’s history and understand the most pressing problem.
Explain the “system” and then what steps are needed and why. If, for example an older adult is being discharged from the hospital to an unsafe environment, explain what the options are and how you can help.
Step 2: Advocacy
With permission from the appropriate proxy the experienced Life Care Manager from Symphony Care can intervene on the older adult’s behalf using the knowledge and language medical professionals respond to and prevent unsafe discharges from the hospital. Often the Life Care Manager can intervene with well-meaning caregivers who are overwhelmed with caring for their loved one and do not know their options or are fearful of change. Making personal connections and using high level therapeutic and mediation skills, your Symphony Life Care Manager can often make changes that support the older adult’s needs that family members cannot.
Step 3: Creation and Implementation of a plan
The crisis requires immediate steps that need to be put in place. Your Symphony Life Care Manager will explain what is needed to the appropriate parties and respect any and all decisions that are made with clear education about the need for services and the consequences of not acting. As certified Aging Life Care Professionals our code of ethics and standards of practice are mandated by our National Certifying Body. We work only for the older adult and cannot ever benefit financially from any referral we make for the client. We will competently assist with all aspects of implementation of the appropriate and agreed upon plan. This could include bringing to the home one or more vetted partners such as private care agencies, companions, homemakers, transportation services, equipment and more. Your Life Care Manager will assess the level of care needed for safety, coordinate the team and continue to reassess the client’s progress, reporting to the family as they move to stability. Once the crisis has passed Symphony Care Management can continue assist the client and family with longer term planning as necessary through our Aging Life Care Management services.