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Over the past year, our website has reflected how Generations Counseling & Care Management, LLC supports individuals, families, and caregivers across New Jersey through education, advocacy, and hands-on care management services.

We provided local educational programs and supported community events in Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Morris, and Rockland counties. We helped families better understand the care management process and prepare for their loved one’s changing care needs. Topics often tied directly to the services we provide, including care coordination, healthcare advocacy, aging-in-place planning, transition support, and long-term care planning.

One of our most popular programs in 2025 was “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, a joint effort with some of our care partners from The Alliance of Senior Services of New Jersey (TASS). This two part program helps attendees decide whether they should continue to live at home or move into a senior living community. We took attendees through all of the resources that can let you age in place as well as what is needed should you choose to live in a senior community. We covered everything from health care resources like care management and home care to different types of senior living communities and what is and is not covered by insurance.

Another 2025 highlight was our Hoarding seminar for local township employees called “The Clutter Dilemma: Understanding What’s Behind the Mess Webinar”. Recognizing the difference between a hoarding disorder and dangerous clutter can be difficult without understanding the nuances between them. Our company handles extremely difficult cases and we have a lot of experience in handling situations that involve a hoarding disorder.

Our programs were designed to reduce stress, strengthen support systems and show how our services can help caregivers stay ahead of a medical diagnosis and feel supported over time. During these seminars, we also shared how care management works behind the scenes — from coordinating medical appointments and services, to communicating with healthcare providers, to supporting families during hospitalizations, rehabilitation stays, and moves to assisted living or memory care. These updates emphasized the importance of having a knowledgeable advocate guiding families through complex decisions.

As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to keep New Jersey families informed about aging, caregiving, and care management — and to sharing timely, practical information that helps individuals and families move forward with confidence. We believe that education is empowerment and an empowered caregiver who has resources at their fingertips has an easier journey to navigate.

Family owned and operated for almost 40 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.

At Generations, we have a team of social workers who advocate, assess, and help families navigate through the complicated healthcare system. This time of year, we see a lot of families dealing with a healthcare crisis. That could be a fall, a sudden illness, or an unexpected, complicated diagnosis. Our team often wishes that we could have intervened earlier and saved the family some heartache and stress. Most of the time loved ones just don’t know what to look for in order to prevent a bigger event.

There are subtle signs that can indicate changes in health before it becomes a crisis point. As you are visiting your families this holiday season, here are five signs to look for so that you can intervene early and safely.

Decline in Personal Hygiene or Appearance

If your parent appears disheveled, is wearing stained clothes, or seems to have neglected bathing or grooming, it may be more than a matter of comfort or preference. Changes in personal hygiene can stem from physical limitations like arthritis, balance problems, or fatigue — or from cognitive decline, such as forgetting routines.

Weight Loss or Poor Eating Habits

Pay attention to your parent’s weight, eating patterns, and the state of their kitchen. An empty fridge, expired food, or piles of takeout containers can all indicate difficulty cooking, grocery shopping, or managing nutrition. Unintentional weight loss can also signal underlying medical or emotional issues.

Memory Problems or Increased Confusion

Occasional forgetfulness is normal, but repeated confusion about dates, medications, bills, or familiar tasks can suggest cognitive decline. Watch for repeated questions, misplaced items, or difficulty following conversations.

Trouble Moving or Changes in Balance

Watch how your parents move through their home. Are they reaching for walls or furniture for support? Avoiding stairs? Complaining of dizziness or fatigue? These are often early indicators of mobility issues that increase fall risk — one of the leading causes of injury in older adults.

Withdrawal or Mood Changes

Emotional health often declines quietly. If your parent seems withdrawn, less engaged in conversation, or uninterested in activities they once enjoyed, depression or isolation may be factors. The holidays can amplify these feelings, especially after the loss of a spouse or close friend.

Taking Action with Compassion

Recognizing that a loved one may be declining is never easy, but noticing the signs early gives families the best chance to intervene before a crisis occurs.

These topics often need a gentle approach. If you see signs that concern you, start by opening a compassionate, nonjudgmental conversation. Listen first, express concern, and offer support rather than solutions right away. Years of family dynamics can complicate talking to your parents about their care needs. Offering assistance while allowing them to maintain their independence is a delicate balance to strike.

If you need help or guidance, you can always call Generations. Our team of experts offers a client-centered approach to the needs of the elderly, persons with disabilities and their families. We can do a comprehensive, holistic assessment that can be used to create a care plan filled with resource recommendations, professional referrals, care coordination and communication with physicians, specialists, family and much more. With the family’s guidance, we can implement the care plan and take some of the stress from the family. As a bonus, we are also available 24/7 for crisis response. If you need more information on our services, please call our office at 201-845-7030.