Professional Care Management Services
Expert Guidance to Help You Live Your Best Life
Helping an older loved one maintain independence isn’t easy. You need to find answers to the many questions and problems that keep you up at night, such as:
- How long will Mom and Dad be able to live safely in their own home and if I need to move them, how will I handle that?
- How do I deal with a new diagnosis of dementia for my dad? I work full time and I just don’t know how I’m going to juggle his appointments.
- I’d like to get my will and estate planning done and planning for my end-of-life care but I just don’t know where to begin.
- Dad and I just don’t see eye to eye on how long he’s going to be able to live in his house and continue driving. How can I get him the help he needs?
When A Loved One Lives Far Away From You
- A professional to serve as your eyes and ears
- Make arrangements for and accompany to medical appointments
- Follow up and monitor for health and safety
- Handle and oversee household management
Want to Stay In Your Own Home?
- Coordinate and monitor caregiving services, safeguarding the senior’s personal safety and financial matters
- Help coordinate and arrange additional support
- And much more
Getting Started With Care Management Services
At Independent You, our Aging Life Care Professionals (ALCPs) are trained in assessing, planning, coordinating, monitoring, and providing services for older adults.
We are members in good standing of the Aging Life Care Association™.
One of our ALCPs can meet with you and your family member in a home, hospital room, nursing home or other facility setting to perform a comprehensive assessment. During this time, an ALCP will assess the older adult’s:
- Physical and mental health
- Functional status
- Environmental safety
- Abilities to meet daily living tasks
- Financial and legal issues
- And more
Once concerns are identified, we will provide a comprehensive written care plan with recommendations and referrals for solutions to address each need. This will include information to coordinate services such as medical appointments, transportation, or caregiving needs.
In collaboration with you and any loved ones, we will provide ongoing monitoring and support of the plan of care.
Our Team
Aging Life Care Professionals
Joanne S. McCarty
RN, BSN, CMC
Co-Founder & Executive Director of Clinical Services
Joanne knew from a young age that she wanted to be a nurse, as both of her parents were involved in the medical field. She graduated from Adelphi University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and completed classes towards a Masters in Nursing Administration at New York University (NYU). While living in NYC, Joanne worked at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in a telemetry/cardiac step-down unit as a staff nurse and Nurse Manager.
After Joanne and her husband relocated to Fairfax, Virginia, Joanne became the Nurse Manager of the Post Coronary Care Unit (PCCU) at George Washington University Hospital, where she assisted in the merging of two units to form the Intermediate Cardiac Care Unit. Realizing that home healthcare was the wave of the future, Joanne then became the Managing Director of Firstat Nursing Services (a pediatric homecare agency). While raising her children, Joanne served as a substitute nurse at her children’s school to keep her nursing passion alive.
Joanne has been with Independent You since 2013, bringing her dedication to nursing to her position as the Executive Director. She is involved in the national association for Aging Life Care Professionals as the local NOVA unit co-chair and serves on the Mid-Atlantic Board and Membership Committee.
In her spare time, Joanne enjoys traveling, walking, and spending time with friends and family.
Kathleen Budzynski
RN, BSN, CMC
Kathy brings to Independent You an extensive background working with chronically ill and mentally disabled adults in a variety of settings, overseeing their day to day care and planning for their long term needs. She enjoys getting to know her clients and their families in order to determine how to be an effective advocate. Kathy is a dedicated care manager relying on her community health experience to provide exceptional, consistent care.
Kathy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree from Rush University in Chicago, IL., and a Master of Education from University of Illinois. Kathy is a member of the Aging Life Care Association.
In her spare time Kathy enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. She is a fitness enthusiast who loves walking and yoga!
Diana Gilbert
RN, BSN, CCM
Diana has over 35 years of nursing experience in the Northern Virginia area and over 13 years as an Aging Life Care Professional. Diana understands the role and importance of being a member of the client’s health care team, striving to promote cohesiveness and communication within the team to best serve the client. She finds working with seniors very enjoyable as they “have great stories to tell.”
After earning a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree from George Mason University, Diana worked in acute care in the hospital setting on a variety of specialty units. She then joined a skilled home health and hospice agency, working as a Visiting Nurse. There she visited home bound patients, overseeing their care. Later, she managed clinical teams as Director of Nursing and Clinical Supervisor in skilled home health and home care.
In 2008, Diana launched her Aging Life Care Professional career at Care Options, being mentored by two well established Geriatric Care Managers: Ann E. O’Neil and Judy Grumbly. She earned her certification as a Certified Care Manager in 2013 and has maintained her certification at the advanced professional level.
In her time away from her work, Diana enjoys being outdoors, especially in the mountains. She plays bluegrass mandolin and loves spending time with her family and friends.
Kelly Halteh
LALA, CMC
Kelly has over 30 years of experience in senior care and she is passionate about helping older adults and their families navigate their care options for a better quality of life. During her extensive senior care career, Kelly has worked in home care, hospice, and most recently assisted living settings. Kelly spent 13 years of her career as the director of admissions with an assisted living facility in Falls Church. During that time, Kelly earned her license as an Assisted Living Administrator, as well as her certification as a Geriatric Care Manager. She is a member of the Aging Life Care Association.
A native Washingtonian, Kelly grew up in Fairfax, Virginia and has lived in the Northern Virginia area her whole life. She attended Northern Virginia Community College and earned an Associate’s Degree in Nursing.
Kelly lives in Falls Church with her husband and two sons. She is active on the McLean High School athletic board and loves watching her boys play sports. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, her yellow lab, Harley, and relaxing at the beach.
Helen Hipps
RN, BSN, CCM
Helen has over 35 years of nursing experience and has remained a certified care manager (CCM), specializing in geriatric care management, for over 23 years. Helen’s compassionate, calm presence and advocacy promotes independence, dignity, and quality of life for clients and families.
Helen graduated from Rock Valley College School of Nursing in 1975 with an Associate Arts in Nursing degree; and 15 years later, became a George Mason University graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. Her nursing experience includes rehabilitation, psychiatric, geriatric and hospice care management. Other experiences include hospital nursing at The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, worker’s compensation care management, telephonic medical care manager, and hospice nursing.
Simone Ampaah
Associate Aging Care Professional
Simone has a passion for working with seniors and helping them live full and independent lives. She began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) providing hands on-care. While working as a CNA, she studied and graduated from University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Services. Simone transitioned from a CNA to the Director of Activities at a local rehabilitation facility, where she most enjoyed creating activities that provided feelings of independence and vitality. She also enjoyed when the opportunity allowed her to bring seniors out into their community. Seeing their happiness provided Simone with the feeling that she had made a fulfilling career choice in working with the older adult population.
Simone has joined the Aging Life Care Association and is working towards her certification as a Certified Case Manager through the two-year mentor program with Independent You.
In her spare time, Simone enjoys volunteering with her church and spending time with her son and her grandparents.
Helping Hands Professionals
Cathy Moore
MSW
Cathy genuinely enjoys getting to know her clients and helping them and their families navigate issues that will enhance and ensure quality of life. It’s these close relationships that first drew Cathy to the social work field and continues to bring her joy while serving her clients at Independent You.
Previously, Cathy has worked locally in hospice care and in long term care facilities. As a hospice social worker, Cathy supported patients and their families with coping, grieving, and end of life care. She collaborated with patients, families, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure the best treatment and care for her patients on hospice. Cathy earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work from George Mason University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University. During Cathy’s time in Ohio, she was able to gain vocational rehabilitation experience while she worked with high school students with various disabilities. Cathy is a native Washingtonian, having been born and raised in the DC area.
In her spare time, Cathy enjoys spending time with her three beautiful children. She also enjoys gardening, and cheering on her beloved Washington sports teams; Nationals, Capitals and Commanders.
Lisa Fiedorek
Lisa has been working as a friendly visitor in our Helping Hands program for more than six years. She enjoys getting to know clients, listening to them talk about their lives and reminiscing about their youth. She enjoys helping clients and their families navigate issues that arise, and works in conjunction with our geriatric care managers to enhance their quality of life.
Prior to settling in Northern Virgina with her husband, Lisa earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her early career was spent working at trade associations in Washington, DC. Lisa credits her love of helping her grandparents and elderly aunts and uncles with her desire to work in the eldercare field.
In her spare time, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family. She also loves the outdoors: hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, yoga and traveling.
Care Management Services
An Advocate for You and Your Loved One
Having an ALCP from Independent You will provide you with an advocate for a senior family member and provide you with the assurance that the older adult will be well taken care of by someone who has their best interest at heart.
A few of the many ways we help include:
Crisis Response and Intervention
You can rest assured that we are on call around the clock to provide you with crisis intervention and support when there are unexpected changes requiring urgent decisions or immediate attention, such as emergency room visits. This provides peace of mind to you as well as the senior you love.
Patient Advocacy
We have the best interest of our clients in mind at all times, and we will advocate for excellent treatment from health care professionals and institutions. We support and promote the interest and welfare of our clients by taking the time to understand their needs, wishes and goals. We can be a senior’s voice when their health care status or changing cognitive status impedes their ability to advocate for themselves.
Accompaniment to Medical Appointments
We provide assistance with managing medical needs, such as:
- Attendance at physician visits or tests
- Facilitation of communication between all involved health care providers
- Ensuring client understanding of and adherence to physician-prescribed medications and treatments
- Assisting with medication management including pre-pouring medication, reordering prescription refills and supervising to ensure compliance with medication regime
- Providing comprehensive, easy-to-understand reports to family members
Health Care System Navigation
We help seniors and families make sense of the confusing maze of physician specialties, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, and continuing care retirement communities. Experience in the community and the health care field provides our staff with special skills to solve the complex problems facing the aging population. With our extensive resources, we can help by knowing who to call and what questions to ask to make sure seniors are receiving the best care available to them.
Community Resource Information and Referrals
We provide trusted and reliable referrals for medical specialists, elder law attorneys, financial planners, and other professionals. We have developed an extensive list of community resources which are continually updated and evaluated for quality of care.
Contact Us Today to Learn More!
Want to learn more about how our care management services in Fairfax County and the surrounding areas can provide you with peace of mind and a senior family member with a better quality of life?
Call (703) 999-3006 to request your complimentary consultation today, and see our Service Area page to see all of the counties we serve in Northern Virginia.