Position Paper
Care Management
Aging Life Care Professionals® … coordinating services to optimize health and quality of life.
The Aging Life Care Association® (ALCA) is an organization of practitioners who use a holistic, client-
centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing ongoing health or other
challenges of aging and/or disabilities. ALCA is committed to maximizing the
independence and autonomy of clients and strives to ensure the highest quality and
most cost-effective health and human services. Members help clients and their families
cope with challenges faced by people with disabilities and older adults through
education, advocacy, counseling, and service delivery.
Care Management
Aging Life Care™ management (sometimes referred to as geriatric care management)
is the process of planning and coordinating the care of older adults and/or people with
disabilities to improve quality of life and maintain independence for as long as possible.
Only members of ALCA can use the term Aging Life Care Manager®, Aging Life Care
Professional®, or Aging Life Care Expert®.
Following a consultation and/or assessment, a customized care plan is prepared. The
care plan can be modified based on the client’s evolving needs and preferences and the
Aging Life Care Manager’s (ALCM’s) monitoring of the effectiveness of the components
of the care plan. ALCMs accomplish this by combining a working knowledge of health
and disability, psychology, human development, family dynamics, crisis management,
residential options, public and private resources, and funding sources while advocating
for the individual throughout the continuum of care.
ALCA supports:
- The term Aging Life Care is used to represent a professional relationship guided
by ALCA’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice to work in the client’s best
interest.
- Efforts to expand home-based programs and services, which will enable older
adults and people with disabilities to continue to live as independently and safely
as possible. Initiatives that will expand the availability of Aging Life Care
management services.
- A funding level for maintaining older adults and people with disabilities in
community settings which at least equals the funding level that would be required
to maintain these individuals in institutional settings.
- The promotion of public education on the scope and the availability of Aging Life
Care management services that are consistent with a personalized and person-
centered approach, with the flexibility to adapt as the individuals’ needs change.
- The development of innovative community-based approaches to help older
adults and people with disabilities remain in the community and to ensure smooth
transitions in care.
Resolutions approved by the NAPGCM Board of Directors October 11, 2001.
Reviewed, changed and updated by the Public Policy Committee September 8, 2008.
Reviewed and approved by NAPGCM Board of Directors October 23, 2008.
Reviewed, changed and updated by the Public Policy Committee November 15, 2012.
Reviewed and approved by NAPGCM Board of Directors January 25, 2013.
Reviewed and approved by the ALCA Board of Directors July 14, 2022.