Supporting People as the Age
Supporting People as They Age: A Guide for Using Charting the LifeCourse
Direct support professionals (DSPs) are the backbone of support for people with disabilities across the lifespan but DSPs’ role becomes especially powerful as people age. With time, support needs can become more complex. Health concerns may grow. Family dynamics may shift. Individuals may begin to ask: “What does my next stage look like?” This is where DSPs step in—not just as caregivers, but as trusted partners who listen, reflect, and support people in shaping what aging with dignity and intention can look like.
Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) is a framework that professionals use every day to support people in thinking about their lives in a way that is personal, flexible, and rooted in what matters most to them. For DSPs, CtLC offers tools that help guide real conversations, not just about services, but about what brings meaning to someone’s day, what they want more of, and what concerns them about growing older.
For DSPs, Charting the Lifecourse offers tools that help guide real conversations, not just about services, but about what brings meaning to someone’s day, what they want more of, and what concerns them about growing older.
The CtLC Aging Life Stage guide is one of our go-to resources when supporting people through transitions. The guide helps identify the common questions and experiences that come with aging: things like changes in health, housing, retirement, relationships, and end-of-life planning. More importantly, it gives DSPs ways to start these conversations without overwhelming the person. It’s not about checking boxes. It’s about noticing what’s shifting and asking: What does a good life look like now? What does this person need to feel secure, included, and in control?
The Charting the LifeCourse Integrated Star
We often use the Life Trajectory to help people think about what they want next, even if they’re not sure where to start. Some people may be thinking about retiring or spending more time with family. Others might want to volunteer, reconnect with friends, or stay active in their community. Mapping out what they want more of and what they want to avoid can bring clarity and direction. Then we use the Integrated Star to explore how to make that vision possible by looking at all types of supports, from technology and relationships to local resources and formal services.
As people age, health conversations become more common. CtLC’s health and decision-making tools are especially helpful for DSPs who are supporting someone through medical changes. The Exploring Decision-Making Supports tool , for example, helps individuals communicate where they want support and where they want to stay in charge. We’ve seen how this tool helps DSPs feel more confident and aligned with the person they support, especially when appointments, medications, or big decisions come up.
DSPs are often the first to hear comments like, “I’ve been feeling more tired lately,” or “I wonder what it would be like to slow down.” These moments are invitations.
You don’t need to wait for a planning meeting to use these tools. Some of the most powerful conversations happen during the in-between moments on a walk, at lunch, or driving to an appointment. DSPs are often the first to hear comments like, “I’ve been feeling more tired lately,” or “I wonder what it would be like to slow down.” These moments are invitations. Charting the LifeCourse helps turn them into opportunities for deeper understanding and gentle planning. At Nexus, we say that CtLC is not a program; it’s a way of thinking. For DSPs, it’s a mindset that recognizes the depth of your relationship with the person you support. You notice the shifts, you listen to and experience the stories, and you are often the one who walks through change with them. CtLC doesn't replace that; it helps bring even more meaning and direction to what you're already doing.
If you’re new to CtLC, just try one tool. Print a Life Trajectory and explore it together. Ask someone what they hope for as they grow older. Then listen. The tools don’t lead the conversation—the person does. And that’s exactly the point.
You don’t need a new title or more credentials to support someone through aging. You’re already doing this work with so much care. Charting the LifeCourse is here to support you with tools, connection, and a community that values what you do.
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