Monthly Archives: September 2018

Elder Care, Nancy Oriola

Is It Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment?

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Aging Life Network pic
Aging Life Network
Image: aginglifenetwork.com

With experience in financial planning, business, and social work, Nancy Oriola is the president and CEO of the Aging Life Network, which helps families navigate the care needs of their loved ones as they age. As part of her role, Nancy Oriola helps educate families on the unique challenges of aging, such as understanding the difference between dementia and mild cognitive impairment.

Dementia generally refers to cognitive impairments that cause significant difficulties in one’s everyday life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for up to 80 percent of cases of dementia, but it could also refer to rarer forms like Parkinson’s disease. These more serious disorders tend to get progressively worse over time.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) indicates that there are issues with memory, communication, and other brain functions, but it does not necessarily indicate early signs of a more serious disorder. It does increase the person’s risk of progressing to other disorders, but in some cases, diet and lifestyle changes can slow or reverse MCI.

In some cases, MCI is caused by a vitamin or mineral deficiency, depression, or an underactive thyroid. These can be treated medically when the problem is properly diagnosed. A healthy diet including plenty of plant foods, especially dark leafy greens and berries, and limiting saturated fats and meats has been shown to help some people slow cognitive decline. Exercise, which means 30 to 60 minutes of activity that breaks a sweat three to five times a week, can also help support the heart as well as the brain.

Elder Care, Nancy Oriola

Selecting a Fiduciary as Part of an Elder Care Plan

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Fiduciary
Image: investopedia.com

As the CEO and founder of Decades, LLC, an elder care service provider in New Mexico, Nancy Oriola and her team provide personalized financial plans for older individuals and their families. Leveraging over three decades of experience in comprehensive senior care, Nancy Oriola may oversee the management of her clients’ personal financial affairs as an appointed professional fiduciary.

There are a number of reasons why a fiduciary may be appointed. Elderly people who are unable to manage their own financial matters may not be able to pass this responsibility on to their family members due to distance or strained relationships. In these cases a professional fiduciary may be given power of attorney over a senior’s financial decisions. Professional fiduciaries often have backgrounds in law, financial planning, or accounting.

Ideally, a relationship with a trusted professional would be initiated by the individual before he/she becomes incapacitated. However, family members can also appoint objective fiduciaries to avoid potential conflicts within the family. Once awarded authority, a fiduciary is responsible for a number of activities, including paying bills on the client’s behalf and overseeing the execution of his/her will. Since they exert a considerable amount of control over a client’s finances, it is crucial that family members and fiduciaries have a relationship built upon trust and respect.

Elder Care, Nancy Oriola

An Overview of Service Tiers at the Aging Life Network

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Aging Life Network pic
Aging Life Network
Image: aginglifenetwork.com

Nancy Oriola leverages decades of experience in elder care and case management as the CEO of Decades LLC, and president of Aging Life Care Management, LLC, in New Mexico. A member of the Albuquerque LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Nancy Oriola also founded the Aging Life Network, where she serves as CEO.

Founded in 2017, the Aging Life Network is made up of professional certified care managers, nurses and social work professionals with expertise in elderly care. The organization strives to help families navigate the aging process with practical solutions and relevant information. An on-line calendar connects you to aging experts located throughout the United States who offer one-on-one consultation calls when you need help with an emergency situation. Aging Life Network also offers a subscription program with premier services free for thirty days, after which time clients can choose to take advantage of discounts on consultations and many engaging ways to access live professional help and up to date information.

The Aging Life Network program is unique in it’s ability to provide affordable access to professionals and experts in the field of aging. The service includes insights from experts via podcast interviews and access to resources such as skill building articles, resource sheets, and elderly care questions and answers.

In addition to a discount for one-on-one consultations, you can join in on a monthly conference call with care managers, educational webinars, and access to a private Facebook community and archived resources. The monthly coffee hour to stay current on relevant topics is lively and engaging. At a cost of $25. per month, Nancy Oriola and her national team of certified care managers are committed to offering those caring for a loved one an affordable and easy way to obtain the most accurate and timely information available so that families can provide the best care possible.

Elder Care

NACCM Certification

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National Academy of Certified Care Managers pic
National Academy of Certified Care Managers
Image: naccm.net

A prominent figure in the New Mexico elder care industry, Nancy Oriola brings more than three decades of experience to her leadership positions with three senior care related companies. Nancy Oriola also stands out as a member of a growing professional group called Aging Life Care (TM) professionals who are certified through the National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM).

A professional organization based in Arizona, NACCM serves the care management field by developing standards and coordinating outreach initiatives that empower consumers, educate health professionals, and advocate for the industry. In addition, NACCM maintains a certification and recertification program for qualified care managers.

Recipients of NACCM certification must pass a rigorous standardized test and demonstrate proven supervised work experience in the field. To ensure certificate holders are up to date with best practices in the field, recipients must renew their certification every three years. To learn more, visit www.naccm.net.