Phoenix area seniors now have a new resource to help them age successfully. Karen Jeselun, RN, BSN, GCM, CSA, with Villa Home Care, recently completed a comprehensive course through the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) and earned the designation of Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®.  SCSA is an international organization that has trained more than 20,000 professionals to meet the changing needs of a growing senior population. 

 “The health, financial and social needs of seniors are different and more complicated than those of any other age group.  SCSA keeps professionals from a wide variety of fields abreast of all these issues by providing education, training, support and communication resources to those of us dedicated to serving seniors,” Karen Jeselun said.
 
The explosion in growth of the senior population is one of the most important demographic developments of the 21st century.  Two-thirds of the people who have lived past the age of 65 are alive today.  In the United States alone, seniors (age 65 and older) number 35 million and will continue to increase (with women being the largest segment), leading an unprecedented shift in the age of the population.  By 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Census predicts there will be about 70 million people who are 65 and older – one in five Americans will be seniors.

This demographic shift requires an educated response in how professionals work with seniors and the challenges and opportunities they face. Karen Jeselun said, “With more people living longer, we are already beginning to see changes in how seniors function in our society, from retirees who choose to start a second or third career, to various forms of alternative senior housing and new approaches to diet, exercise and overall health care for seniors”.
 
As a CSA, Karen will participate in continuing education that emphasizes ethical selling and business practices and volunteer service specific to seniors.

About SCSA
The Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) is a national organization that educates professionals to work more effectively with their senior clients. Founded in 1997, SCSA teaches an integrated approach to the health, financial, and social aspects of aging. Professionals who obtain the designation as Certified Senior Advisors (CSA’s) are able to integrate this knowledge into their professional practices. They’ve learned how incredibly gratifying it is to help seniors achieve their goals, and the seniors they’ve worked with have learned how important it is to work with someone who truly understands their age-related circumstances.

“I don’t know what to do?  My Mom needs help at home and she has some income, but limited savings.  She really needs some help to be able to stay at home.”

This is a common response when families call asking about the services of Villa Home Care.  In fact, while we have seen a significant increase in the number of clients we care for, we have seen a decrease in the number of caregiver hours we are providing to them. 

There are some obvious reasons for this trend.  First of all, older adult’s retirement plans have some very diminished returns.  That money that was going to carry them through their nonworking years just isn’t there.  Secondly, people are absolutely living longer.  We have clients who are 100, 103 and 105.  No one, in their retirement planning, counted on that!  Lastly, we are finding that our older adults are now subsidizing their adult children, who may be struggling with upside down mortgages or lost jobs. 

This is all real life.  So to better serve those callers as above, Villa Home Care has changed our direction.  We now “Preserve the dignity, independence and resources of our clients though a continuum of care”.  What this means is that our Care Managers continue to be the cornerstone of our care.  Our Care Managers complete a complimentary, comprehensive assessment of the older individual’s situation, and make recommendations to the client/family.  Those recommendations may include caregivers, or may not.  Perhaps the services of a Care Manager once or twice monthly would meet the client’s needs.  Or with the use of some technology such as monitors or sensors, the family would be assured of their loved one’s safety. 

Contact Villa Home Care today to schedule your Care Manager assessment.  Find out options for your loved one – while preserving their dignity, independence and resources!
Call 602-957-9300 or contact@villahomecare.com. 

Sincerely,

Karen Jeselun, RN, CCM, CSA

Helping people understand the role of a geriatric care manager

Karen Jeselun, RN, CCM returns on KXXT Radio Phoenix on 08/19/2010. Radio show “Your Long Term Care Show” with Ralph Norman and Michael Anastos.

Click on the link below to listen to the Audio Clip:
Karen Jeselun returns on KXXT Radio Phoenix