Welcome to NEXT STEP! Although my website is a "work in progress", I want to give you some information about me and the services I provide. I am going to assume that you came to my website because you have a challenge facing you that involves a loved one and some facet of Long Term Care.

The challenge you face may be as simple as learning how "Nursing Home Medicaid" works or what an "Aid and Attendance Pension" is or as complicated as moving a loved one to the Texas Hill Country from another state to the most appropriate long term care setting. Or maybe you live out of state and are concerned about a loved one living here in Austin, Texas.

The good news is I can help you.

In Texas we know there are many roads that will eventually lead you to your destination but some are smoother and produce a whole lot less stress than others. My job is to know the roads that help get you there quicker and with less frustration.

As a Certified Senior Advisor I subscribe to a stringent CODE OF ETHICS and assure you my recommendations will only be what is in the best interest of you, the client.

I have the expertise to help you navigate the Senior Care maze in order to take the NEXT STEP. I have worked in the "Senior Arena" for the last 14 years ever since I retired from the military. For eight of the fourteen years I worked for the Capital Area Agency on Aging as the Regional Ombudsman. In that capacity I spent thousands of hours working with families to help them understand the "Continuum of Care" and how to pay for the different phases such as Home Health Care, Adult Day Care, Assisted Living, and the Nursing Facility.

Also as part of my duties I visited 70 Nursing Facilities in a 10 county area advocating for the best care possible for the residents. I wore many different hats from Educator to Facilitator to Mediator and learned what to look for to obtain the best care. In addition I visited the Assisted Living Facilities in those areas as well as the Home Health Care and Hospice organizations. I consider all of that information critical when formulating a plan of care. Additionally, for 24 years I taught Business at the college level as an Adjunct Professor, first for the University of Maryland in three overseas assignments and most recently here in Austin for Park University. Because of my business background I am very familiar with Medicaid and am certified by the American Society on Aging to train on Medicare. Likewise, I can do a very thorough "Financial Needs Analysis" and can bring in other subject matter experts to assist as needed.

Additionally, I am licensed by the State of Texas as an Insurance professional although I do not sell any insurance products. My training in Insurance allows me to understand the pluses and minuses of Life Insurance, Medigap/Supplemental Insurance, Part D Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, and Annuities and know where they fit best into a well thought out Care Plan.

My Care Coordination and Management philosophy is to take a "Holistic Approach" to each case. By that I mean I look at not only the Financial aspects but also the Medical, Social, and Legal ones as well. Just like the game of "pick up sticks" you cannot look at just one stick but have to consider all the sticks otherwise the plan will be flawed. In my approach I see myself as "the Generalist" or the "family doctor" where I can bring in "specialists" as needed. These specialists may include a Master Degreed Social Worker to do an Assessment; an Elder Law Attorney for a Will, Medical Power of Attorney, or Durable Power of Attorney; an Estate Planning Attorney for a Trust or a CPA to handle the tax issues or a reputable Insurance Professional for Long Term Care Insurance. In other words, if we need the additional expertise we go to trusted colleagues for their trusted advice.

So why should you select me as your Care Coordinator?

Because you are looking for an honest, well informed professional who has the knowledge you need to make the very best decisions.

Just give me a call and we will work together to determine "the Next Step".