This is the fourth article in our “Meet the Team” series! Feel free to check out Stacey, Janelle, and Amy’s articles.
What is your background?
I am a Licensed Social Worker and received my master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University with a Certificate in Aging. My 1st internship in graduate school was at a Senior Resource Center in Princeton and from that point on I knew I wanted to dedicate my professional career in social work to the older adult population. I have been working in the field since I graduated Rutgers in 2009. I was hired by Generations own, Stacey Padva, at Cedar Crest Continuing Care Community in 2011 and worked in Independant Living as well as Long Term and Sub-Acute skilled care. I joined the Generations team in 2018.
Why did you become a care manager?
While working at Cedar Crest I had the opportunity to work alongside members of the Generations team who had been hired by residents of the community. The Generations brochure was one I kept in my office and would refer to for either counseling or care management. I experienced firsthand how critical and beneficial Generations work was to my residents and their families. I always had it in the back of my mind that it would be a really amazing path for my career to take, so when I saw a job opportunity, I knew it was one that I could not let pass me by.
What is your favorite thing about working as a care manager?
My favorite thing about being a care manager is the relationships that are formed with my clients and their families/representatives. To go from being strangers to a trusted and constant part of their lives is a really amazing journey to take.
What is the most common problem your clients face?
This a good question. I would say navigating aging in place. Balancing a client’s needs and safety with finances, logistics and personal preference of each individual life circumstances can be a challenge. It is a benefit to have a care manager and supporting team can help bring clarity to different care options that align with our client’s goal for care.
Family owned and operated for over 37 years, Generations Counseling & Care Management, LLC is a full-service geriatric care management firm that provides care management, advocacy, and psychotherapy services with an integrated, professional, client-centered approach to the needs of the elderly, persons with disabilities, their families, and the caregiving community in Northern New Jersey and Rockland County, New York. Our expert staff are available 24/7 and offer a wide range of services that cover all aspects of elder care including: care management, counseling, psychotherapy, elder care planning, transitional service to senior communities & nursing facilities, services for disabled individuals, benefits counseling, assessments, financial services and management, moving and relocation coordination and much more. If you need more information on our services, please call our office at 201-845-7030.