The focus of the final stage of dementia is completely on comfort care. Physical abilities are so limited at this point that the person you care for may spend most of their time in bed or in a chair. Language abilities are also impaired, and they are not likely to be able to interact much. Keeping the person with dementia clean and content is the highest priority. Death may be postponed with interventions such as artificial feeding. But it will not be beat. Having come this far, your loved one will probably pass from the condition causing their dementia.
One of the biggest challenges of the final stage is making healthcare decisions. The body may have been generally healthy, but the mind is so impaired that your loved one is losing their ability to function. Frequent infections and an inability to eat result in a terminal condition.
And just because they have dementia does not mean they may not have other conditions as well. You may be called upon to make treatment decisions about cancer, COPD, or heart disease. Hopefully you will have had discussions in the early stage of dementia about your loved one’s life-support preferences. At this stage, quality of life—what brings comfort and joy—tends to take priority. The long-term benefits of treatments such as chemo, which causes pain, nausea, and deep fatigue, are not something your relative can understand.
If you would like more information or assistance with decision making, give us a call at 928-300-0172.
The final stage is very much like the late stage, but with more problems accumulating. In particular, their immune system, digestion, and balance will get worse. The last few days will be similar to the last few days of anyone dying of natural causes. If you have never been present to care for a person who is dying, it’s useful to know what “normal” looks like.
Final-stage signs and symptoms include the following:
Multiple infections. As the immune system declines, your loved one will get more infections. Pneumonia (infections in the lungs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common.
Unable to move around on one’s own. The person you care for will likely spend most of their time in a chair or in bed. They will require assistance getting up and walking. As a result, they will need the presence of a caring adult twenty-four hours a day.
Nonverbal communication. At this point, they can’t usually speak or understand words spoken to them. They do understand tone of voice and caring intentions. Gentle physical affection, a smiling face, and love in one’s eyes are often well received.
Difficulty eating. The swallowing process is a very complex coordination of muscles. Your loved one may forget how to swallow and as a consequence, often choke. They may forget to be hungry and outright refuse to eat. (People in the last few weeks of life often refuse to eat. This does seem to be a natural response as the body starts closing down.) If the person you care for is diabetic, talk to the doctor about adjusting medications to appropriately reflect changes in eating.
Weight loss. With no appetite, your loved one will lose weight. They will become more frail overall.
If they still had control of their bladder and bowels earlier, it will completely go away in the final stage.
Sitting up may be difficult without assistance. The muscles of the neck can become weak. They can’t hold the head upright.
Losing the ability to smile. The loss of facial control is difficult to witness. You have to rely on other signs, such as squeezing a hand, to know that they are comfortable and without pain.
Last few weeks and days
Temperature changes. You may notice signs of feeling too hot (trying to remove covers) and feeling too cold (shivering or curling up into a ball). As the heart works harder and harder to keep beating effectively, circulation will be weak. Hands and feet will be cold and may turn blue.
More time “sleeping.” In the last few weeks, people who are dying spend a lot of time “away.” It’s like sleep, but deeper. It’s possible that they can still hear, so be careful what you say around them. Kind words and a loving tone of voice still seem to make it through the clouds of the dementia. Conversely, talk of death and dying can result in signs of fear or agitation.
Fragile skin. Thin skin and frequent bruising are common. So are bedsores, especially at bony pressure points such as hips, shoulders, heels, ankles, and tailbone.
Agitation. They may become more restless and fidgety. Picking at a blanket or thrashing in bed. Toward the very end, many people often seem to reach upwards, as if to be picked up.
Hallucinations. The person you care for may already have been seeing things you don’t see. Toward the end of life, this becomes especially common. If they are still talking at all, they may murmur the names of relatives who have already died.
Irregular and noisy breathing. The last part of the dying process includes the lungs filling with fluid. This causes a gurgling sound with each breath. It does not seem to be distressing for the person who is dying. But it is often uncomfortable to hear. Breathing will eventually become more shallow and irregular, with longer pauses between. And, at some point, the person simply will not draw another breath.
The experience of those in the final stage of dementia
Using the analogy of dementia as turning back the clock, think of this final stage as when one loses the learning of the infant. Letting go of continence, letting go of feeding themselves, letting go of language. People in the final stage of dementia become entirely dependent and simply seek physical and emotional comfort.
It’s difficult to truly know what the final stage is like for the person with dementia since they lack the ability to speak. It’s probably a continuation of the late stage, but with the added experiences of the body closing down. Those without dementia who can still talk during their last weeks and months often describe extended periods of sleep as comforting. The body is having a difficult time, so they are tired. Staying alert and awake is a lot of work!
They don’t seem to experience hunger. In fact, many prefer not to eat. They have no appetite. It’s just too uncomfortable and too much work to digest. In biological terms, the body is focusing all its efforts on breathing and keeping the heart beating.
If there is another condition besides dementia, then likely they will be experiencing some of those problems. For instance, cancer often brings pain. Heart disease comes with great fatigue. COPD results in difficulty breathing, with a type of anxiety called “air hunger.”
The person you care for doesn’t have the ability to understand these other conditions, so they may become scared and withdrawn. They certainly don’t understand the purpose of treatments. Tolerating the side effects of chemo in the hope for a cure is far too abstract a concept.
Their days seem to revolve around how they are feeling at this moment now. Are they comfortable? Without pain? Judging from the closing down of their body systems, as well as their thinking, they do seem to be slowing down as they prepare to go.
How family caregivers can help someone in the final stage of dementia
The ways to help in the final stage are much the same as for the late stage, but a little less verbal. This doesn’t mean you can’t talk. It’s just unlikely the person you care for will understand the content. They very much do understand your tone of voice, body language, and your facial expression!
Think always in terms of what would be the most soothing at this moment. Usually simple routines with minimal complexity. A few other thoughts:
Use all five senses
Both your touching of them (holding hands) and their having comforting objects to touch and hold: A soft blanket. A stuffed animal.
Play favorite music, especially music that is soothing. Sounds from nature are often very calming.
Looking at soothing picture books, old photos.
If they enjoyed fragrances in lotions or flowers in the past, continue with that. (Putting lotion on hands, arms, and legs is also a nice touching activity.) If there are scents they disliked in the past, they probably still dislike them, so best to avoid those.
Favorite drinks might be an option. Remember that swallowing is difficult and people in this stage of dementia often lose interest in eating.
Pay attention to nonverbal signs of pain. If the person you care for has other conditions, such as cancer, you want to be extra observant. Even if you ask them if they are feeling pain, they likely won’t be able to answer. Instead look for these signs:
A furrowed brow
Groaning
Fast breathing
Fidgeting (repetitive plucking at the edge of a blanket)
Frequent urination (may be a bladder infection)
Inability to be soothed
Simplify medical treatments. Especially if the person you care for has been taking medications for cholesterol or has had exercises for physical therapy, if you haven’t stopped by now, consider doing so. Talk to the doctor about what can be dropped versus what might be best reduced. (Insulin, for instance, may still be needed, but maybe not in the same quantities as before, when the person was eating.)
The last few days. In addition to late-stage dementia, the person you care for will at some point start actively dying. This is a normal process at the end of life. There are things you can do to ease common difficulties:
Provide physical comfort
Pain management. Address any pain you believe they are experiencing. Ask the doctor for medications.
Relieve breathing problems. A humidifier may help. Also raising the head of the bed higher than the heart and feet. (Rent a hospital bed or use “bed risers” for the legs at the head end of the bedframe.) Have a fan handy or open a window if it’s not too cold and not allergy season.
Care for the skin. It will get very frail and thin. Keep your loved one clean and dry. You may need to put lotion on them several times a day. You will also want to be mindful of bedsores on bony parts of the body (hips, shoulders, ankles, heels, tailbone). Turn them to a different position every two hours so there isn’t too much pressure for too long in any one of these places.
Don’t force foods or fluid. Digesting food is too much work for the body in the last few days. The person you care for has probably already lost their appetite. As for fluids, the body is already fighting to get rid of fluid in the lungs. Giving your relative more to drink just makes that harder. If they have a dry mouth, let them suck on a wet washcloth or give them ice chips to crunch. Use lip balm or oil to sooth chapped lips.
Temperature fluctuations. Toward the end, the body’s internal thermostat stops working at some point. Look for nonverbal cues of discomfort. They may shiver if cold, or curl into a ball. If they start throwing off blankets, it may mean they are too hot.
Address mental and emotional needs. Most people spend the last few days in a sleeplike state.
Hallucinations are common. They are not a problem as long as your relative is not distressed. People who do not have dementia may murmur the names of folks who are already deceased. It’s even quite common for them to be reaching upward, as if to be picked up. There’s nothing you need to do about this. It just seems to be part of the natural process of dying.
Soft, calming music can help ease agitation.
Limit the number of people in the room. And keep your voices low. (Be careful what you say to each other in front of them. They may still be able to hear you, even if they seem to be asleep!) Hold their hand. Talk to them in a loving and reassuring voice. Share positive memories. Your calm presence is a gift.
Support their spiritual needs. If your loved one is religious, then praying or singing hymns would be very helpful. Have a faith leader in their congregation come administer any end-of-life rituals.
You don’t have to do this alone. Consider hospice.
This is a free service 100% paid for by Medicare. It is designed to help people who understand there is not a cure for their relative’s condition. It is for people who simply want to have a natural, pain-free end of life. If you believe this is what your loved one would want, it’s very much worth exploring.
Most people think of bringing hospice in just a few days before death. In reality, hospice can provide support for up to six months before the patient dies. No one has a crystal ball, of course, but most families end up wishing they had called hospice sooner than they did. The help had been invaluable. If you think your loved one is entering the final stage, give hospice a call. They do not provide twenty-four-hour care, but they do offer ongoing visits from a team of professionals trained in end-of life care:
A nurse’s aide for bathing your loved one several times a week
A nurse for assessing and managing pain and other forms of distress. Hospice nurses visit weekly and can get prescriptions as needed from the medical director. They can also coordinate services and arrange for a hospital bed and other equipment and supplies to make daily care easier.
A volunteer for weekly companionship. They can sing with your loved one, or read to them. Or simply be present for a few hours so you can take some time off.
Family members tend to be more positive about the overall quality of the medical care their loved one received when hospice was involved (52% report great quality of care with hospice as compared with 41% of those who didn’t have hospice support). Also, people on hospice are less likely to undergo distressing transfers to the hospital. Most people prefer to die at home. Hospice provides care and support wherever the patient lives, so there is generally no need to make a transfer. Hospice can help your loved one have a peaceful passing at home. A care manager can help you choose the hospice provider best suited to your loved one’s needs.
Ask the doctor if hospice is an option for your loved one.
Self-care for family caregivers of persons in the final stage of dementia
Your own experience of the final stage. You will probably have a wide range of emotions as you recognize the end is near. There may be grief and sadness. But relief is also common and natural: For your loved one’s release from suffering, and for your own release from all the responsibilities, care, and worry. Some people feel guilty that they look forward to the relief. Or that they don’t feel particularly sad. If this is the case for you, you probably started grieving months and years ago as the disease began to steal your loved one’s personality away. You have come to accept the loss of the relationship you once had.
It’s not uncommon to feel lost and isolated during the final stage. So much of your energy has been spent supporting the person you care for, you have lost touch with the person you used to be. It’s important to start reinforcing that you still belong in the land of the living. You can accompany your loved one to the door of death, but it’s not your time to cross. You need to stay here. It’s time to start investing in your future.
If you have not been keeping up with your own health, do so now. Too many family caregivers sacrifice their own medical appointments to care for their loved one. Then upon their loved one’s passing, their own health issues arise. In addition to doctor visits, pay attention to getting enough sleep and to eating well. Ideally you would also take time for some sort of exercise or movement. That can be stretching at home or better yet, walking outside with a friend or in nature.
Get help. In order to do this, you have to get help. That can be in the form of other family members pitching in, or hired caregivers. Respite can be in short spurts throughout the week, or a more permanent shift to 24/7 care. At this point, your loved one may not really know who you are. It’s time for some soul searching as you consider the best use of your energy. Do you really need to be the one providing all your relative’s care? It might be better done—and literally more effectively done—by caring professionals who aren’t so exhausted. This can give you time and energy to focus on providing emotional support all the way through your loved one’s passing. You might decide to hire a caregiver to come to the home at night so you can get some sleep. Or a memory care center may be most appropriate.
Consider memory care. Ninety percent of families who have spent five or more years caring for a relative with dementia ultimately decide that long-term care in a memory care community is now the best choice. Think in terms of what will provide your relative with the best physical support and comfort. If you are exhausted, not getting any sleep, or are emotionally drained, the wisest and kindest decision might be for your loved one to be attended to in a memory care facility. The staff is trained in the care of people with dementia, including end-of-life care. They work in shifts so your loved one has a fresh team of support people several times a day. Especially if you live alone with your relative, you may realize that you’d rather be with them for emotional support but let professionals be responsible for addressing the needs of their failing body. You might also prefer that others are around at the time of death so you do not have to manage that by yourself.
Consider hospice. If you have not signed up for hospice already, it’s worth considering for the final stage. This form of home-based support is 100% paid for by Medicare. They do not offer 24/7 in-home caregivers. But you will have assistance from regular home visits by
a nurse (to manage pain and any distressing symptoms)
a nursing assistant to give baths two or three times a week
a volunteer for a few hours a week to give you a break
a social worker and chaplain as needed for emotional and spiritual support
The focus is on comfort care for patients who prefer a natural death over one with tubes and a lot of heroics. Quality of life—keeping the daily experience a positive one—takes priority over quantity of life. They pay attention to physical, emotional, and spiritual distress and support both the patient and the family members.
Some hospices also have inpatient facilities. If you decide that day-to-day care is more than you can do, look for a hospice in your community that has beds available. You and other family members can visit any time. Even spend the night. The staff are fully trained in end-of-life care. They manage pain and other symptoms. They also provide your loved one with food, bathing, and incontinence care. You get to be there simply as a family member with no responsibilities beyond your kind and loving presence.
Get support for end-of-life decisions. During the final stage, review your relative’s advance directive. It should give you a sense of what their wishes would be if they could speak for themselves. Difficult as these decisions are, most people feel better knowing they did their best to follow what their loved one would have wanted. If family is in disagreement, consider the assistance of a care manager. They can help get everyone on the same page. They can also provide informed guidance concerning decisions about life support. If you are enrolled in hospice, a social worker can assist with a family meeting and also assist with decision making.
Funeral preparations. If you have the time and energy, it might be a good idea to start making funeral plans. It’s easier to do the preparatory work in the weeks or even months before the death. Trying to arrange for the disposition of the body and any ceremonies on short notice just adds avoidable stress to an already difficult time.
Reach out for spiritual support. If you are part of a faith community, now is an excellent time to talk with the leader of your congregation. You are likely to have many questions about the meaning and purpose of life, and why this process is as hard as it is. Faith leaders are faced with these questions regularly and can help you come to your own resolution. If you do not have a faith leader to turn to, hospice does provide a chaplain, free of charge, to families of their patients. These are faith leaders who are trained to assist even those of other faiths or no faiths. They won’t provide specific answers, but they are skilled in asking questions to help you find your own peace with the situation.
Reach out for emotional support. As a family caregiver, you have been through a very tough journey. If the emotions of the final stage feel overwhelming, reach out for professional help. A care manager can help you find a counselor experienced in end-of-life issues. If you are signed up with hospice, you can request free visits from a social worker. You don’t have to shoulder this all by yourself.
Think about the final few days. Do you want to be present when the person you care for passes? Will it be too hard to have your relative die at your home? Where would be a good place? Who else would you like to have with you? While there may not be much by way of conversation with your loved one, there is a tender sweetness that frequently occurs as family members each recognize this is the last time to say things like “thank you,” “I love you,” “forgive me,” “I forgive you,” and then finally, “goodbye.”
Arizona Care Management solutions is an exceptional resource for elders. I have referred to this company for decades because they are ethical, knowledgable and reputable. For families and their loved ones they offer safe, personalized and secure solutions that are essential for families and their loved ones during periods of transition. They are familiar with local resources and will find the right solution for your unique needs. Beware of inferior company’s claiming to be elder care advisors. They may lack the expertise, credentials, ethics and knowledge that families need in a time of crisis. I highly recommend Bonnie Shimko and her team! Sincerely, Mary T. Pearson owner, Harmony Home Care
I owned an assisted-living home in Prescott Valley, for eight years and I had many clients who unfortunately did not have family local to help them with their finances or did not have the knowledge needed to properly prepare and budget for the outrageous cost of Care needed for a loved one or themselves. AZ Care Management helped several of my clients navigate challenging systems like long-term healthcare insurance, in-home care and The most complicated Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS). Bonnie and her incredibly compassionate team were always there for the client no matter how small or how great their needs were they truly were there until the very end, ensuring a peaceful transition with support and guidance for the families through every step. I would highly recommend AZ Care Management services to anyone who needs help navigating the complicated system of healthcare while aging.
Our family of 5 children was beyond frustrated. We could not convince my mother to move to the facility she herself had picked out and home was no longer a safe option. Stephanie was an angel who formed a caring relationship with mom and maintained her dignity and self esteem during the transition. She went above and beyond what was expected, and we all heeded her advice. I honestly don't know what we would have done without Arizona Care Management! (And I am a nurse!)
I have both professional and personal experience with Arizona Care Mngmt. Their team is excellent from the first phone call through receiving services. Each team member displays professionalism, respect and an obvious care for those they work with. I strongly recommend trusting this team with your own care and those you care for.- Bonnie Pond, Occupational Therapist
Amazing service!! Always willing to help and all caregivers I worked with were very nice, respectful and knowledgeable. Bonnie is a wealth of knowledge is all things related to this business of caring for elderly. My last caregiver assigned to my Aunt was Rick!!! He is amazing and very accommodating. He went above and beyond to help us both while on hospice services. He always communicated with me and kept me informed of any changes in Joyce's condition.
Gina has been extremely helpful in managing difficult situations with my mother who insists on aging out of state, far from any family members. She keeps my sister and me informed and allows for our peace of mind. She truly cares about my mother's well-being!
ACMS and Bonnie Shimko are literal dreams come true and I can't overstate that. This group of humans are truly everything. Looking after two ailing parents by myself for a while, I'd daydream about finding a competent and kind group to help me navigate that ever-complicating world. I was in charge of meds, safety, doc visits, clinic visits, short term/long term health goals and a hurricane of worries too numerous to mention. I searched everywhere, I tried different places... in every single outfit, caregiving was a task prone to slip-ups like any profession. However, my parents health is not a task to be completed- it's a living, changing reality. It's a newborn that requires constant monitoring and adjustments. Bonnie (as well as Leoni & Andrea) are so far beyond competent and kind that it makes my head spin on a weekly basis. Each one is as engaged as a family member. They attend every doc, hospital or clinic visit, they organise & automate meds and they're prompt & lovely. We had some recent ER and hospital stays and they showed up like my parents were the most important people in the world. I can't say enough about these folks, obviously. I love them. I would ABSOLUTELY spend my days worried if I didn't have them in my corner. If you'd worried you'd never find the kind of care your parents deserve- congratulations, it exists. The craziest part? I'd sell my stuff to look after my dad... yet I can't believe how modestly they charge for this level of care. I tell ya... dream come true.
My sisters and I were struggling with living in different states than our parents, and wanting our parents to continue living in the home that they built together. Our father is experiencing dementia and our mother is his caretaker, but is also declining in health. Bonnie and her team have been instrumental in allowing them to continue to stay at home by coordinating care for our mother. They attend appointments, assist with transportation, and communication for us. Bonnie is a fabulous resource for knowing providers, home care agencies, and other resources in the community. During Covid she was instrumental in getting our mother treatment in the hospital and being her advocate we none of our family was able to be with her. Bonnie has gone above and beyond several times. I truly don't know what we would do without Bonnie and her team. I don't think mom and dad would be able to be in their home. I could not recommend Arizona Care Management Solutions more.
When it became clear my mom was rapidly declining due to alzheimer's, and in an unsafe living situation, finding Bonnie from AZ Care Management Solutions was a literal God-send to our family. For months, we were beating our heads against a wall, as we had no idea how to proceed, searching for answers, as we were battling a very controlling/abusive husband as well. When we finally found Bonnie, she took a personal interest in my mom. She listened to our issues. She gave us direction, advice and calmed our hearts with her care and expertise. The very next day she was at my mom's home assessing the situation. She then took the time to work with us on a rapid plan of escape for mom. Bonnie then coordinated, and was on scene with us with APS and PD during the rescue. After getting mom to safety, Bonnie directed us to excellent legal counsel for mom's finances, getting her the best care possible, and ensuring all was legal from her escape to conservator/guardianship. Bonnie's knowledge, experience in this arena and love for others made her and AZ Care Management Solutions a literal life saver for my mom.Since my mom needed 24 hour care, we put her in a very nice care home, and hired Gina from AZ Care Mgmt Solutions as an advocate, who also has a heart for others, and has been seeing my mom twice a week to check on her status, entertain, play games, paint fingernails, coordinate outings, etc. This take tremendous pressure off of us, who can't get there as often. Gina also has natural ability and experience to relate and connect with alzheimer's patients that we don't. My mom loves Gina, and would not have adjusted nearly as well to the change without Gina's help.Thank you and God Bless all of you at AZ Care Management Solutions.
I have been with Arizona Care Management Solutions 6 years and I love the company, my caregivers have been great and so helpful going out of their way to help.
AZ Care Management Solutions sponsored a caregiver day of renewal on 5/6/23. A vendor fair, chair massages, and presentations along with a light breakfast, lunch and giveaways were included. Thank you!
After my mom fell and broke her hip, I was alone in trying to figure out how to best care for her in this maze of what is the senior health care industry.I had been trying to pull together what felt like 1000 pieces of disparate information......places to see, insurance companies, doctors to call, forms to be filled out, questions to answer. I was completely overwhelmed and under much stress.I am so incredibly thankful that I finally called Bonnie and scheduled a consultation. She was clear, knowledgable and so understanding. She immediately started making phone calls to find out the answers to some of my questions, and knew the answers to the other ones.I ended up asking her for further help and I will be forever grateful I did.She helped me move through a very difficult time with her knowledge, presence and help. She was there when I needed her and she knew exactly what to do. And she is fair, compassionate and has great integrity.My mom is now in a perfect place for her, and it all happened with as much ease as was possible.Thank you Bonnie, and everyone else we interacted with at AZ CareManagement.I don't know how I would have managed this journey without you.
Bonnie and Bob at Arizona Care Management went way above and beyond in helping me place my sister in a care facility to live out her last few months. Bonnie set up a medical transport from Newport Oregon to Arizona so that my sister could spend her final days looking at the beautiful scenery she cherished so much as a park ranger. The home in Cottonwood was well staffed and professionally managed and Bonnie and Bob made sure everything ran smoothly as I am on the east coast and care coordination was difficult to manage for me. Thank you both again for all you have done for my sister and our family during this difficult time.
Professionally, ACMS has such integrity in the services they offer. Care Managers are service oriented. This has been a positive experience in the world of senior health care!
I own two assisted living homes in the area and have worked with Bonnie, Bob and their staff several times. They always have the best interest of their client in mind when finding a long term solution for the family. It has always been my pleasure to accept one of their clients into my home. They continue to stay in touch with the family and assist them with any need they might have.If you are in need of an Elder Care advisor, I wholeheartedly recommend Arizona Care Management Solutions! If you live out of our area, you can count on them to fill in when you can't be here in person!
I live in Massachusetts and my 92 year old dad lived in Sedona. I was called in to take over his care because he could no longer live independently. I literally did not know where to turn. A social worker recommended Bonnie and her team to me. What a relief. They helped me get the necessary paperwork to handle his affairs while also finding him a safe and loving environment where he got the care he needed. He thrived there for nearly 6 months. During that time, I was kept abreast of his health and care by Holly. He enjoyed his visits with her and the treats she brought with her! I highly recommend Arizona Care Management to anyone needing help with their loved ones. They are excellent and I’m so glad they were recommended to me.
As the owners of GENERATIONS SENIOR LIVING LLC, we have the opportunity to work with Bonnie, Bob and the rest of the team at AZ Care Management Solutions with some frequency. Bonnie is absolutely the hardest working person we know! She has the knowledge base and the support team behind her to truly advocate for your loved one and they do a very good job! From assisting with POA paperwork, in-home care, assisting with MD appointments, or actual placement of your family member into a facility...... these guys can get it done!!! We highly recommend them.... Josh and Jamie Elliott
Most of us do not have any experience or training on how to make decisions or select assisted living accommodations. This group was a life saver in selecting a care giver, legal restructuring and finding a home. This was my first time dealing with dementia and I was guided down the path with their professional staff.
When I was having a hard time getting my dad's assisted living place to respond to his needs Gina stepped in with a firm hand and made things happen on Dad's behalf. She is kind, dedicated, tenacious, and extremely experienced and knowledgeable in this field. Bonnie has helped facilitate communication between me and a family member from whom I am estranged to make sure that all family members have access to the information about Dad that they want to have. AZ Care Management has been absolutely VITAL to me in helping me get difficult things done for Dad. I can't imagine navigating these challenging waters without them.
When our daughter was moved to Cottonwood for more extensive care, my husband and I were not able to travel for frequent dr. visits. We were not able, because we are both in our 80s, to visit as frequently as we wanted. AZ Cares takes her to appointments. They also provide very personable and capable assistants who take her on outings to provide social and emotional support for her in our absence. I cannot praise them enough for the support and help they have given our daughter and us. They are a blessing to us!
Arizona Care Management Solutions did a great job keeping my mom as safe as possible in her home for the last year. Once Gina came on board, she managed to do what I thought would be impossible - she convinced my mom to transition to living arrangements that would provide the care she really needed! Gina held her hand every step of the way, even through some VERY challenging situations. This lady has a heart of gold and can get things done!
As a Geriatrics/Internal Medicine specialist I relied on Bonnie and staffto find the best outpatient care for our patients. Her heart is passionate for the care of our seniors, and regards that as her mission in life. And I wasalways confident that Care Management Solutions would find the bestoptions for our families. God bless her! Dr. Paul C. Hanson of Cottonwood Internal Medicine
Bonnie, Bob and the team at AZ Care Management Solutions simply go above and beyond as advocates for seniors. Whether you may need assistance coordinating care, evaluating local facilities for placement, creating a plan for aging well or many other elder care services, you will find no organization more qualified or prepared to assist you than AZ Care Management Solutions. As a local Medicare insurance broker for several years, it is paramount that my clients have the right people in their corner. I have - and will continue to - recommend Bonnie and Bob and their team to any of my clients without hesitation.