Silver Linings

<p>Episode Title: Silver Linings – Interview with Laura Vaillancourt, LMHC.</p> <p>Intro: Laura is the founder of Eldercare Counseling and Guidance Services.</p> <p>Laura provides elders and their caregivers with resources and help as they navigate through the healthcare system.</p> <p>We’ll listen as Laura talks about the ways she calms the chaos in herself and especially her clients who are at increased vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic by seeing “Silver Linings” in the dark clouds of isolation and helplessness.</p> <ol> <li>The work Laura does <ul> <li>Providing counseling, care management and resources to the aging population who are either in skilled nursing facilities, or receiving care at home from loved ones.</li> <li>Working with those who are caring for an aging person with Elders and how she is managing the chaos of increased vulnerability in her elderly clients during COVID-19</li> </ul> </li> <li>How to work with elders and caregivers and give them the support they need when all parties are feeling the effects of continued efforts at quarantine, separation increased isolation? <ul> <li>In “Normal Times,” Laura provides: <ul> <li>Counseling: support and resources to the elder populations and their caregivers</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ol> <ul> <li style="list-style-type: none;"> <ul> <li style="list-style-type: none;"> <ul> <li>Care Management: A team who act as surrogate family members to educate them</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li style="list-style-type: none;"> <ul> <li style="list-style-type: none;"> <ul> <li>Consulting: Laura consults as an expert in the aging population, meeting with families, defining problems and exploring solutions</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li style="list-style-type: none;"> <ul> <li>Since COVID-19, Laura still does this, but has gotten creative due to limitations on personal contact with clients.</li> </ul> </li> <li>“It happened overnight” and COVID-19 ran rampant in a skilled nursing facility in Seattle, near where she works in Wash