Supporting People as the Age
Supporting People who are Aging with Compassion and Lifelong Support
We are increasingly seeing the effects of aging among the people we support at McGuire Memorial. As individuals age, their needs change in many ways. These changes may include physical, emotional, social, and cognitive shifts. While it can be difficult at times to watch people experience the realities of aging, we are honored to be by their side throughout the journey. We always aim to help people live full, meaningful lives with dignity, comfort, and purpose.
To do this, it is important to develop a strong, person-centered approach that supports people at every life stage. This means offering consistent and thoughtful care that helps individuals maintain their quality of life while adapting to their changing needs. We keep in mind that we are caring for lives, relationships, and memories. Every decision we consider must reflect that level of respect and responsibility.
Supporting a Team of Professionals
The direct support professionals (DSPs), supervisors, and clinical team members are at the heart of all we do. They show up every day with compassion, understanding, and a commitment to those they support. Because their roles are essential, we must ensure they have what they need to consider and implement necessary solutions. That means we provide training focused on aging-related topics, such as changes in mobility, memory, nutrition, medical needs, and communication, as well as handling the emotional challenges that often arise. To ensure our staff are well-equipped, we leverage a variety of community resources and professional development tools. These include specialized training through our local Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU), access to a wide array of online courses via the Relias platform, and participation in the E-Badge Academy, a nationally recognized credentialing program through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals. Together, these resources support our commitment to high-quality, person-centered care for aging individuals. We want the teams to feel confident and supported in their work, and the people we serve to feel safe and understood.
Brooke Graff
In addition to our regular care and training efforts, we also hold interdisciplinary team meetings on a frequent basis. These meetings bring together staff from many different roles. This includes DSPs, nurses, behavior specialists, supervisors from the day and residential programs, and others who know the individuals well. Together, we look at the full picture of each person’s needs and gather insight from the various areas of their lives. These meetings help us think through options, make informed decisions, and ensure our support is always tailored to the individual’s best interest.
When More Intensive Support is Needed
Sometimes, as individuals age and their needs increase, we have to take a closer look at whether their current living environment is still the best fit. These decisions are never easy, and oftentimes our team struggles with the option of moving them from their current home. Making changes to a person’s living arrangement is always a last resort. We recognize how emotional and difficult it can be for the individual, their family, and the staff who care about them. However, there are times when a different home may offer greater comfort, more specialized care, and/or better accessibility. When that happens, we approach the situation with much consideration and care. We involve the full team and take every possible step to make the transition smooth and respectful.
Our organization strives to offer continuity of care throughout one’s life. This means individuals do not have to leave familiar support provided in our agency to find a different home that meets their changing needs. Many of the individuals we support have received support from our agency since they were young children. Over the years, our supports and services have evolved around their unique needs. We currently operate a private school, two types of residential programs, and three adult day programs. Offering a variety of services allows us to adjust supports without disrupting a person’s sense of familiarity. Whether someone needs a quieter home, additional medical monitoring, or a day program geared towards different enrichment approaches, we can respond while preserving the relationships and trust built over time.
Through our commitment to provide lifelong care, our investment in staff training, our team-based approach, and our compassionate hospice partnership, we are blessed to be able to walk alongside the individuals we support through every stage of their life.
Adding Support for End-Of-Life Care
As people we support reach the final stages of life, our commitment remains strong to the individual and their family. That is why we recently implemented another service to ensure end-of-life care is provided with compassion and dignity. We partnered with a hospice whose mission and values align with ours. This service brings an extra layer of support focused on comfort and dignity. We provide expert pain management, emotional and spiritual support, and help navigating the final steps of life’s journey. The hospice professionals work closely with the individual, their families, and our staff. They help explain what to expect, answer questions, and offer ongoing trainings so our staff can address issues that arise. This valuable partnership helps us offer thoughtful, respectful care during this emotional time.
We believe every person deserves to grow older with purpose, dignity, and appropriate support. Through our commitment to provide lifelong care, investment in staff training, team-based approach, and compassionate hospice partnership, we are blessed to walk alongside the individuals we support through every life stage. Aging can bring challenges, but it also creates opportunities to show love, compassion, patience, and respect during life’s most significant moments.