#United States #Senior Care #liveWELL #Baldwin County #Fairhope

Transforming Senior Care on Alabama's Eastern Shore

In Baldwin County, Alabama, a significant shift in how seniors are cared for at home is unfolding, led by liveWELL Senior Living Services. This innovative company is addressing the complex needs of aging adults and their families, particularly during challenging transitions that often accompany the aging process.

Brian Booth, the company’s president, reflects on the catalyst for this initiative, which stemmed from a personal experience with his mother. After she suffered a fall and began facing cognitive challenges, he recognized a glaring need for a thorough, in-home care solution. Booth's journey led him to coordinate her care, uncovering numerous gaps in existing support systems for seniors.

"It’s a relief to have all services handled by a single provider—everything from grocery shopping and meal preparation to medication management and housekeeping," shares Lane Edwards, a family member of a liveWELL client. This integration of services, often referred to as the ‘house-call’ model, ensures that seniors and their caregivers have direct, immediate access to skilled medical professionals whenever necessary.

Understanding the landscape of senior care, Booth collaborated with an array of healthcare professionals, including social workers and hospital staff, to gauge how often non-medical home care was discussed during medical visits. He found that this critical conversation often remains unaddressed, prompting many families to react only after a significant medical event occurs, such as a fall or stroke.

When Booth first started liveWELL in 2022, a large portion of initial clients came through referrals from hospitals. Families needed assistance arranging care for their loved ones once they returned home, especially after health crises. His findings revealed that many hospitalizations could have been avoided with appropriate in-home support for patients managing chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.

Dr. Regina Felkner, an internal medicine specialist in Fairhope, emphasizes this issue, noting, "Doctors might not realize the changes happening in their patients' health between appointments, and the same is true for family members who only visit intermittently." This situation underscores the urgency of having care solutions that bridge those gaps in oversight.

According to Dr. Felkner, liveWELL has effectively become an extension of her medical practice. Their caregivers are equipped to connect directly with medical professionals when patients have concerns, potentially avoiding unnecessary trips to clinics or emergency rooms. For patients feeling unwell or in need of immediate attention, a Nurse Practitioner can visit the home on the same day, streamlining care delivery.

The commitment of liveWELL extends beyond mere immediate medical assistance; it encompasses a holistic approach to senior care. "We partner with families, healthcare facilities, and senior living communities to provide a groundbreaking in-home care experience," Booth notes. This includes ensuring clients understand the necessary types of care, quickly dispatching caregivers, and supporting seniors through various stages of recovery or long-term care, in the comfort of their own homes.

With an impressive statistic highlighting that 80% of seniors prefer to remain in their homes as they age, liveWELL is on a mission to improve this living arrangement along Alabama's Eastern Shore. They have already delivered over 100,000 hours of high-quality care and earned a five-star rating on Google, establishing themselves as a leading provider in this space.

The company’s growth trajectory appears promising, with plans for expansion towards Florida's Emerald Coast by 2026. For further information about their services or to explore how liveWELL can support older adults, visit livewellseniorservices.com. This initiative not only represents a commitment to enhancing the lives of seniors but also reshapes the narrative surrounding aging and care in contemporary society.