Third Age Consulting Services for Lifespan Transitions

As each of us are different in our likes and dislikes and we have different expectations based on our life experiences, so does the older population with developmental disabilities. One only has to listen to what an older person has to say to understand what is important to them as individuals.

There are many new options and choices awaiting the emerging aging population with developmental disabilities that offer the chance to determine what is needed or what is enjoyable. The community offers new experiences that may provide the one thing that encourages growth and new interests. For the aging population facing new challenges, there are many resources that may provide the necessary supports to remain active and involved in their personal lives and not have to relocate to different environments.

Third Age, Inc. has contracts for services in Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Texas.

Third Age, Inc. clients have included:

• National Partners in Policymaking Program;
• Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities;
• Res-Care, Inc.;
• Normal Life, Inc.;
• Access, Inc.;
• Comprehend, Inc.;
• Sertoma Center, Inc.;
• Outwood, Oakwood, and Excepticon ICF/MR;
• Oklahoma Association of Residential Providers;
• National Institue of Lifetime Planning;
• KYPLAN;
• Dignity by Design, Inc.;
• Special Research Interest Group on Aging and Intellectual Disabilities; and the
• Alamo Area Agency on Aging.

Third Age Provides Geriatric Care Coordination

Assistance for Families

It was in the 1980's when the phrase "sandwich generation" was first heard. The sandwich generation is defined as families who have children living at home and parents who need assistance. Now in the 1990's, many working families have neither the time or the skills to seek out assistance for parents and aging relatives who are experiencing a decline in physical or mental skills and abilities. Many times just trying to help parents or other family members due to distance, time demands, or getting lost in the maze of agencies and systems requirements may create unnecessary stress and strain that could impact job and work productivity and family relationships.

Third Age Resources

• Supportive staff have experience in the health care field, hands on care giving with older family members, and with medically fragile family members in declining health stages.
• Access to on-line computer resources and networks offering quick response for information and resource collection for dissemination to care givers and family members questions and inquiries.
• Proven experience in housing and community living options, income strategies and linkages to generic support services in the community.
• Service collaboration in Kentucky, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Mississippir for information and making referrals for families with relatives living outside the local area.
• Referrals made to all states through professional membership in the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.

The staff of Third Age, Inc. is trained and experienced in the following services:

1. To assist the growing number of families to help aging relatives sho are experiencing the impact of aging to live their later life years to the fullest extent possible.
2. To guide families in accessing different community supports necessary to help older relatives to remain in their own homes and community.
3. To educate care givers and other family members on aging effects and impacts on the family, the individual, and other relatives and friends.
4. To offer choices in problem solving and aquaint families with the array of services and supports that may be necessary during the life course.
5. To assist aging persons who do not have relatives or others to provide the necessary support to remain in their homes and neighborhoods.
6. To faciliate cooperation between care givers, aging individuals, and the available support services to maintain quality of life and to reduce family stress.

Assistance to Employers

Third Age, Inc. offers assistance to companies to provide thier work force the opportunity help their older family members and to remain as productive employees. Staff will assist employees at the worksite or in thier home. Using Third Age staff as an additional job benefit may cut down on absenteeism, leaving worksite to assist in care giving, and reduce work related stress because of family situations. This assistance includes:

A Report on Managed Care, Long-Term Care, and Developmental Disabilities

The Research Report offers 325 pages of materials presented in eight sections represent the most recent information available from literature and the Internet in the spring of 1996, and provides:

• Information on where the leadership in the MR/DD field is concerning managed care.
• Information on early experiences of some states developing managed care-Tennessee, New York, Colorado.
• The early efforts of other national and local organizations that have some experience in managed care and their reactions.
• Individual stories of people and families who had less than positive experiences.
• Access to the views of national organizations and some of their suggestions and cautions in dealing with managed care & advocacy.

Order Form

Number of Reports:________@ $85.00 each (S&H included) Total Amount $________

Send Report(s) to: Agency Name:____________________________ Street Address:_______________

City: _____________________ State:____________ Zip:__________

Third Age accepts checks, agency purchase orders, or American Express cards.

___ Purchase Order # _________________________

___ Amercian Express Card # __________________________ Expiration Date: ________