Relationship Building and Care Monitoring
Foundational Services

The key to the success of Family Link's assistance is building a relationship of trust with you, your loved one and the staff of the assisted living facility through ongoing involvement and the physical presence of a concerned party. You will be assigned a specific staff member, your Link, who will give your family member one-on-one attention. This fosters trust and comfort so that if an emergency arises, the Link who arrives is familiar and reassuring. The Link also intimately knows your loved one's medical history, specific needs and can advocate on their behalf from a position of familiarity.

​Family Link provides weekly visits, a thorough chart review and regular interaction with the facility staff, Your Link will act on your behalf to coordinate care with the visiting physician so you are aware of changes and can have input on the care being given. We then send you a detailed report after each visit which will always include any changes to your loved one’s environment and demeanor. This weekly update helps you sort out changes that otherwise appear to be "out of nowhere".

Engaging Our Services

We want to hear your story, because each family and situation is unique, and we want to help in the areas you need help. So, our initial consultation is free of charge. Tell us what is going on and we will tell you what we can do to come alongside you or refer you to services in the area that are the right fit. Our client is typically the Power of Attorney (POA) and/or Healthcare Surrogate of the person living in the assisted living facility. Once we determine together that Family Link is the right addition to your care team, we send you a letter of engagement detailing the services to be provided as well as a HIPAA release for you to sign.

Our standard commitment includes up to 4 hours per month of contact with your loved one, you and the facility staff, but that can be tailored based on the circumstances. The monthly retainer fee is paid at the beginning of the month of service. Any hourly services can be approved by you in advance and billed at the end of the month.

Healthcare Companion and Specialized Assistance
Medical Appointments

Is your loved one an accurate self-reporter of their own health? Most elderly are not. They don't remember timelines or sequences of events, they don't attribute causality accurately, and they tend to minimize anything they believe will put them in a bad light. Family Link will meet your family member at the doctor’s office and make sure the healthcare provider has all the documentation and input they need to make treatment recommendations - the current medications list, any relevant reports or lab results, as well as anecdotal information from the person who regularly sees your loved one. We will help fill out paperwork and attend the visit to take notes, ask questions and provide details based on facility input as well as our own observations gathered during weekly visits so that decisions can be made with a more complete picture.

​We will write down what the doctor recommends so no one is relying on your loved one's memory and provide follow up for the facility regarding recommendations, orders and subsequent appointments. Then Family Link will send a detailed summary of the visit to the family. We can facilitate communication with the provider for family, facility and other care providers as needed. We will also reinforce behaviors by reminding your loved one what the doctor said while we were at the appointment together.

Emergency Response

No one wants to get the call that their loved one is being taken to the hospital due to a fall or other emergency. But if you are a long distance caregiver, there is a unique stress of hearing your phone ring and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Our services can alleviate some of that tension and anxiety. We will meet your loved one at the ER, where things can be scary and hard to understand. We will be the familiar face and voice that comforts and keeps your loved one company through the long hours of waiting. We will make sure the hospital staff understands any special needs your loved one has including drug allergies, medical history, hearing aids, etc. 

​We will keep you informed of what is going on and can get you on the phone right when the doctor comes to assess or order tests so you can have input on what is being done.  We will make sure you have an accurate picture of the care plan – will they be released the same day back to the facility or admitted? We will make sure the facility is aware of any follow up that needs to take place. You can make a rational decision about whether to jump on a plane, knowing there is someone trusted on the scene from the start. We know not everything involves a trip to the ER, so we are here for you in any urgent concerns that arise at the facility as well. 

Assistance with Final Arrangements and Document Organization

Paperwork associated with aging can involve tough conversations and complex decisions. Family Link has developed a system to help you get your loved one's affairs in order and facilitate the process with those who will be responsible for your loved one if something unexpected happens to you. We have developed checklists and strategies that ensure that all angles of situations are considered so that your loved one's wishes can be properly documented before your family members are in an emotionally charged situation.

Researching and Recommending Resources

New decisions need to be made all the time for your loved one. Let us do the research to narrow down resources, devices, providers, etc. so that you can make an informed decision without being overwhelmed by the options. We will do all the legwork and phone calls to figure out what will be most beneficial for your loved one’s specific needs. We will summarize them for your review, making recommendations as appropriate.

Events and Special Occasions

Perhaps your loved one just wants to get out a bit but needs some one-on-one attention that the facility cannot provide during an outing. We can meet the family member at the venue and make it a good experience. Or attend gatherings at the facility, so that they (and the staff) see there is someone who cares and is involved even when you can’t be there.

Maybe you can’t be here for birthdays and anniversaries, but you can send someone who will spend time and reminisce and acknowledge them on their special day, and maybe even deliver a gift or token from you.

​Most elderly cannot take full advantage of technology on their own. We can facilitate video calls so you can see for yourself any changes in your loved one, and they can enjoy seeing you and your family even when you cannot be here in person. 

Emergency Contact When You are Unavailable
Respite Coverage

Whether you travel for your job or just want to get out of town on vacation, Family Link can be your stand-in. We can visit your loved one while you are away and be on call for emergencies. Everything else need not stop because you are a caregiver for your family member. Let someone who understands their needs as well as yours share the demands. We can decide together what frequency of communication you need to feel comfortable about being away and yet make sure you relax because you know Family Link is handling issues that arise with your loved one.