“It was pretty evident that my father-in-law wasn’t taking care of himself,” recalled Susan Ward. “We didn’t know what doctors he was going to or not, and what they were saying.”

After spending a week caring for her father-in-law, Susan quickly realized how bad the situation had become. “I started to call different agencies to see what could be done,” she said.

Susan’s frantic phone calls eventually led her to Vikki Dargenio and her medical case management company, A Nurse in the Family. “Vikki really came right at the nick of time,” Susan said. “When we hired Vikki, she knew immediately what needed to be done, and she was able to talk to the doctors and get the right care for Frank.”

Vikki started accompanying Frank to all his doctor’s appointments, helping to eliminate any confusion and ensure that he always had an advocate present. “When I take a patient on, I really become part of their family,” Vikki explained. “I am the quarterback of the healthcare team and my goals are to keep people at home and make sure they get the medical care they need.”

After caring for four of her own family members, Vikki realized that every patient needs an advocate, especially senior patients who are often referred to multiple specialists with limited explanations. “Dr. John Sabatini actually recommended that I start this business after seeing what I had done for my family. He told me that it was amazing and that there was really a need for this,” Vikki recalled.

As a registered nurse with a background in long-term care, Vikki is uniquely positioned to help ailing seniors receive better medical care and remain in their homes longer. Since the initial recommendation that started her business, she has had several medical professionals acknowledge the importance of her services.

“It is very helpful that you come to these appointments. And on top of that, I can tell you really care,” Dr. Daniel LeBovic, a hematologist, told Vikki during one of her many visits to his office with a patient.

For Frank and his family, Vikki’s care and compassion changed everything. The family no longer had to worry about whether Frank was receiving the best possible medical treatment or if he was correctly following the doctor’s orders. By managing all of Frank’s medical appointments and helping the in-home companion caregivers better serve his needs, Vikki made it possible for Frank to continue living at home until he passed away in May of 2012.

“Frank remained in his home, and Vikki was with him until the very end,” Susan remembered. “She was very competent and always knew what needed to be done. She was there whenever we needed her, and she was so good to him.”

With the help of a care manager, Howie and Billie Palmer made a seamless move from their assisted living community in upstate New York to their daughter’s
house in Maryland.

Betsy and her husband invited her parents to come and live with them in their home in Maryland. To her surprise, her father not only accepted their offer but also was ready to move the following day.

“When I asked when he wanted to move, he said tomorrow, and I knew I needed to go back and make arrangements immediately,” Betsy recalled. With no experience with elder care and no idea where to start, she quickly became overwhelmed planning for her parents’ impending move.

When one of her acquaintances recommended that she contact Jill Rosner from Rosner Healthcare Navigation for help, Betsy quickly made the call. “Jill came over and met with my parents, and she clearly knew her way around the medical field,” Betsy said. “She recommended the home care agency we are still using, made suggestions on doctors, and helped troubleshoot any problems we had along the way.”

Since the Palmers have settled into their daughter’s home, Jill has continued to help the family work through various challenges. She visits monthly to perform an assessment and review their care plans.

In addition to her monthly visits, Jill is always available for emergency consultations. “She is there whenever anything comes up,” Betsy explained. “She also always stops by whenever I am out of town to make sure everything is going well. That really provides peace of mind for me.”

As the primary caregiver for her parents, Betsy is extremely grateful to have the assistance and expertise of Rosner Healthcare Navigation at her disposal. She concluded, “Jill’s always there if I need her; all I have to do is pick up the phone.”

John and Anne Eakin are no exception. “We have lived here, in this residence, since 1978, and we just love the community and are happy to be here,” John said.

The Eakin's are still able to enjoy their summer retreat in Camden, Maine thanks to a supportive team led by a Geriatric Care Manager

Of course, as the years have passed the Eakins have needed a little more help to remain at home. After Anne got sick while traveling, John turned to Care Options, a geriatric care management firm offering many services for aging adults and disabled individuals. Those services include a senior care visitor program, a private duty home care agency, a nurse practitioner house call program, relocation services and a specialized activity program for individuals with dementia. From an initial assessment to ongoing care monitoring, Care Options has managed both John and Anne’s changing healthcare needs for almost four years.

John, a native Washingtonian, always knew he wanted to remain in the area. After he married Anne, they moved to their family home in McLean, Va., where they raised their three daughters.

As a young man, John attended Strayer Junior College but longed to get started in his career. He joined the family business early in his life and took over the company when his father became ill. The company, called Eakin Properties, is a commercial real estate and management firm that was founded by John’s grandfather.

John is immensely proud of his family’s business legacy and has only recently passed the torch on to the next generation. “I’m still involved in the business a bit,” he said. “It would run without me, but if they need me, I just want them to know that I am there.”

It is the security of knowing that someone is always there for them that has allowed the Eakins to continue living in their family home and enjoying an active lifestyle. Not too long ago, that lifestyle appeared to be in jeopardy following Anne’s health crisis.

Anne was making her way back home from the couple’s summer retreat in Camden, Maine, when she suddenly became very ill. She needed acute medical care and had to remain in the hospital in Boston, Mass., for several months.

After visiting his wife in Boston, John, who has chronic health issues of his own, knew he would need help managing her condition once she returned home. He called Care Options, and they arranged a home visit to assess the family’s needs. The assessment included an evaluation of legal, financial, medical, spiritual and social needs. This holistic approach led to the creation of a road map to guide care to meet the couple’s needs that can be updated as necessary.

Diana Gilbert, a geriatric care manager with Care Options, explained how the company helped Anne and her family make the transition from the hospital to home. “Anne had so many doctors in Boston, but now she needed duplications of all of them down here,” she said. “I began pulling in resources, coordinating the care that she required and setting up appointments.”

Diana also started going to all of Anne’s appointments. “It was important for me to discuss her care with the doctors, so I could understand what was needed to continue with her care and recovery,” she said. John recalled feeling an immense sense of relief when Diana was present. “She’s always there when we need her,” he said. “Things have worked out very well since my wife and Diana got together.”

After working with Care Options and her new medical team for several months, Anne’s health status stabilized and she was able to return to Maine for her annual visit the following spring. While Anne was enjoying the summer in Maine, her care management services were placed on hold until she returned. During that time, John had a health scare of his own. “He called me from a hospital bed in Fairfax,” Diana recalled. “He had a severe diabetic wound on his foot.”

Care Options and Diana stepped in and helped John navigate his recovery, which included several hospitalizations and a stay in a skilled nursing facility. After about five months, the wound healed. Care Options and Diana have continued to work with John to make sure that he keeps his health conditions under control by managing his medications, attending medical appointments and coordinating all home services.

As the couple’s needs increased, Care Options arranged to have a caregiver in the home and a senior care visitor to help with transportation to appointments and other activities. Josephine Aikens has been helping the couple with daily tasks since 2009. Josephine now provides assistance with everything from grocery shopping to medication reminders. “She just oversees everything; she’s a wonderful help,” John said.

With the help of Care Options and the professionals they have enlisted, the Eakins remain both happy and safe in their long-time home. They have also been able to continue working, participating in activities, and traveling back and forth to their summer home in Maine.

As a seasoned real estate expert, John knows a good location when he sees it, and he spotted his perfect place in McLean more than 30 years ago. Today, both John and Anne are proud to still be able to call that prime location home.