ElderCare Solutions of Michigan

Maybe your dad is experiencing some memory issues. Maybe your aunt is struggling with her mobility. Or maybe you’re the one who needs a little extra support these days. The real question isn’t necessarily who needs help… it’s when is it time to seek help? How do you know when your dad’s forgetfulness merits a trip to the doctor? When your aunt’s mobility makes it unsafe for her to be home alone?  When the changes you’re experiencing call for some assistance in the house? How do you know when it’s time for getting help?

How do you know when it's time to call
ElderCare Solutions of Michigan?

Should mom still be driving?
Is dad still able to shower and dress himself?
Which assisted living facility is best for me?
Do we need to have power of attorney?

Is it just forgetfulness or is it something more?

The challenges of aging come with a whole host of questions that don’t always have easy answers. And when family members aren’t on the same page, determining the best course of action is made all the more complicated.

Our Geriatric Care Managers guide families through these difficult conversations, offering objective and professional assistance to identify appropriate options and help the family move forward with a plan for the well-being of the older adult and the peace of mind of loved ones.

Our experienced, compassionate Geriatric Care Managers will assess your unique situation and, together, you’ll determine how Eldercare Solutions of Michigan can best serve you.

One-Time Consultation

Families often have one specific concern, such as moving or driving, and have identified the problem; they just may not be certain about next steps. That’s where we come in. Our Geriatric Care Managers can meet with families on a one-time basis to discuss strategies, provide resources and clearly define next steps.

Comprehensive Assessment

If family members are unsure of how to help an older adult, a thorough geriatric assessment is often the best way to start. Our Geriatric Care Managers will go wherever the older adult lives and assess their physical safety, nutrition, cognition, medication management, social wellness, legal and financial issues, as well as screen for any depression or anxiety that may be present. From there, we can address any immediate needs and recommend a long-term plan.

Our experienced, compassionate Geriatric Care Managers will assess your unique situation and, together, you’ll determine how Eldercare Solutions of Michigan can best serve you.

The best way to start is with a thorough geriatric assessment to review the older adult’s needs:

Simple modifications to the home can reduce the likelihood of an unnecessary fall. So we review the physical environment of our clients and make recommendations to increase safety and ease of mobility.

Ongoing Case Management Services

The needs of an older adult change over time and family members can’t always be there to observe what can often be subtle shifts. But through monthly visits that feel largely social, our Geriatric Care Managers are tuned in to any changes in your loved one and are always assessing if services need to be adjusted. Is it time for your loved one to move from a cane to a walker? Was her expression one of surprise when we arrived for our scheduled meeting? Let us be the extra eyes and ears you need to ensure the safety and comfort of your family member. Should more intensive support be needed, we can accompany clients to doctor appointments, check in on them in a hospital or rehab setting, and provide advocacy and insight to medical professionals regarding changes in their physical or cognitive condition.

We can help with:

--Finding a caregiver

--Geriatric assessments

--Aging at home services

--Crisis intervention

--Family mediation

--Medical advocacy

--Meals on wheels

--Home modifications

--Transportation

--Moving assistance

Because emergencies can happen well beyond business hours, we’re available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week for ongoing clients. We’re able to go to the hospital and advocate for them until family arrives. And because we have a baseline knowledge of your loved one’s physical and cognitive health, we’re able to clearly articulate symptoms that can often be incorrectly attributed to features of aging.

Whether your loved one is returning home or needing a short-term stay at a rehab center, we can support the family through the decision-making process. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of available facilities and help families understand which questions they should be asking. Once their loved one is able to return home, we ensure continuity of care by meeting with hospital personnel and making arrangements for necessary supportive services.

It can be difficult to process the deluge of information that accompanies a crisis. We’re there to sort through the details, and walk you through the decisions, to ensure your loved one receives the best possible care.

If you’re faced with an emergency and need to speak with someone right away, please call. Even without an appointment we are often able to provide same-day emergency consultations to help families decide their next steps.

Karen Amber, LMSW, ACSW, began her career as a social worker with the elderly in 1970 at Borman Hall, a continuum of care facility in Detroit. She received her MSW in 1975 from Wayne State University. As a student, her training took place at Jewish Family Service, Northville State Hospital and an interdisciplinary medical center in Pontiac, Michigan. She has always had a focus on geriatrics. Karen took 11 years off from working with the elderly to raise her family, and then returned to work as a social worker at the Teitel Jewish Apartments in Oak Park for 9 years. In 2003, Karen began doing private, in-home counseling and she currently works with ElderCare Solutions of Michigan as a geriatric care manager.

Diane Boufford, LLMSW, earned her bachelor’s degree in gerontology from Madonna University and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan. She has always enjoyed her time with older adults, having had both of her grandmothers living with her family while growing up. Diane’s passion is to help older adults and their families maintain the highest standard of living while helping the older adult age in place.

Lynn Breuer, LMSW, CHC, CDP, earned her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Michigan State University and her master’s in social work in interpersonal practice from the University of Michigan.  Currently adjunct faculty at Madonna University, her focus at JFS has been to identify the needs of seniors and raise awareness about the benefits of Geriatric Care Management in the metro Detroit. As a certified health coach and certified dementia practitioner, Lynn currently heads up JFS’s Chronic Disease Management programs, which in addition to geriatric care management, includes cognitive wellness programming as well as individual and group health coaching.

Yuliya Gaydayenko, MA, LMSW, is the Chief Program Officer of Older Adult Services at Jewish Family Service and has been with the agency since 2008. She has worked in the community for the past 23 years, starting as an ESL tutor, refugee resettlement coordinator and day camp director at the Jewish Community Services in Flint, Michigan, where she served as executive director from 2003 to 2008. Yuliya’s family came to the U.S. from Moscow, Russia and resettled in Flint, Michigan in 1995. She was recognized by both Angell Scholar and Maize & Blue Scholar awards by the University of Michigan. She earned her master’s degrees in linguistics and social work from Michigan State University. Yuliya was honored by the Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Award for the Outstanding Professional Service in 2015.

Beth Seelbach, LBSW, MHHS, CDP, graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work and she received her master’s degree in health and human services from Youngstown State University. As a certified dementia practitioner, she has spent the majority of her career working with the elderly population in various settings, such as a hospital, nursing homes, and assisted living communities.  She enjoys helping seniors and their families navigate the challenges of aging, and the many senior care options available to them.

Whether you are seeking answers to questions, or aren’t sure the questions to ask, ElderCare Solutions of Michigan can help. Contact us at 248-592-1944 for more information.

It’s always helpful to hear from people who have been in similar situations. Click on the photos below to hear from some of our clients and their family members.

Doris Holberg
"A Client's Perspective"

Carole Shaw, family member
"Long Distance Caregiving"

Gary Weisserman, son
"Caregiver Stress"

Dolly Weisserman, Daughter-in-law
"Family Concerns"

Gary Weisserman, son
"End of Life Issues"