ANNOUNCEMENT... Announcement... Announcement...
We invite you to check out our new website: www.embracecaremanagement.com.
We are so excited about our updated website featuring more information about our services. The need to update our website was especially important with the addition of our Managed Home Care Services. Over the past 3 1/2 years we have focused on providing, quality, Professional Geriatric Care Management (GCMs) services, but many of our clients wanted more and we listened. By adding Managed Care Companions (MCCs) to our staff, we are now able to help clients with daily tasks such as personal assistance with memory support, grooming, medication reminders, meal preparation and much more. Our MCCs work closely with our GCMs to provide the best quality of care. We did not take the decision to add MCCs lightly and strongly felt that if we were going to make the decision we were going to do it right, but we still had some questions. Then one day I happened to see a commerical on TV, an odd place to find inspiration but I did! We solve the problems others choose to ignore - that was it, we were going take our Managed Home Care to a whole new level. The excitement from the whole Embrace Team has continued to grow knowing we are providing a quality, unique and needed service to our clients.

Senior Care, Sheboygan, WI: Coping with an Aging Parent

Well I have to say I have not been as faithful in writing on my blog as I had hoped when I first created it (look at the last date!). Time just simply goes by too fast. It is my hope that I will be better at writing on the blog and look forward to your comments. The last 9 months have brought some changes. My father-in-law has been dealing with some fairly serious health issues. Both my parents and my in-laws have been totally independent up to this point so this has been a new experience. I recently did a presentation to adult children and admitted that I was speaking to them not only as a Geriatric Care Manager but also now as an adult child coping with an aging parent (in-law). The whole experience has given me new insight into the feelings, struggles, sadness and uncertainity that the adult children I work with are likely facing. Caring for an aging parent brings about so many different feelings. I remember one evening when I was staying in a hotel because my father-in-law was hospitalized out of town, I had this overwhelming need to cry; it was hard coming to grips with my father-in-law being in a vulnerable and needy position. And this from me - who works with these situations every day! I tell this story because I think all adult children feel a little foolish for the feelings they are having, whether it be sadness, frustration, anger and/or guilt. But we shouldn't feel foolish; for many of us this is a new experience and we don't have a road map for it or for the way it should make us feel. No matter if the relationship is near perfect or far from it, our relationship with our parents is complex and caring for an aging parent can put a strain on the relationship. Though it hasn't been completley smooth sailing, I have been honored that I have been able to help my father-in-law through these transitions.

Memory Walk 2008

This Saturday, September 27 marks the 3rd Annual Sheboygan Memory Walk. It has been my great honor - and a lot of fun - to be one of the chairs again this year. We have already surpassed last year's total walkers and day of registration hasn't even happened yet!! We have also been encouraged by the great support of local businesses who have donated over $15,000.00. The Memory Walk is one way that everyone and anyone can do something positive for a terrible disease. The money raised in the Memory Walk helps to fund local support and education for those coping with Alzheimer's and other dementias. Alzheimer's is a family disease, whether it be the spouse, the adult children or the grandchildren that are affected. The Memory Walk is our way of giving families a chance to put aside the caregiving responsibilities and take a positive step towards ending Alzheimer's. My family, including my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and in-laws walk in memory of my Mom's Dad, our Grandpa Ed. It is really touching to see families and friends come together for such a great cause. If you would like to take this step with us, please come on Saturday to the Sports Core. Registration starts at 9:30 or call me for more information (920) 451-6228.

Welcome To Our Blog!

I have been toying with the idea of blogging for some time now. I did some research and come up with my answer, which I bet you can guess what it was...yes! In today's technological world this is a great way to share information and guidance to others - especially adult children who are coping with their aging parents. I hope you will look forward to future senior related topics such as, do my parents need help, what is an advance directive and many more. Please feel free to let me know what you would like to see on this blog - I'll look forward to your comments.