Family Support Package

Healthy Transitions Counselling is here to facilitate conversations in your family about the challenges that come with supporting an aging relative. 

The Family Support Package is designed to help your family have a focused conversation about a specific issue. It's important that families have these conversations together and have common expectations about what will happen as family members age.

I can help your family work through any conversation, but common examples of issues that families need to discuss are:

• GOALS FOR AGING — Kids often picture their parents' golden years differently than the parents do themselves. What are your family's goals for aging? And how will decisions be made?

• HOUSING — Deciding about housing for an aging relative. Can they live independently? Do they need to move to enriched housing or assisted living? Is a particular family member responsible for assisting with day-to-day support and will they be compensated?

• FINANCES & LEGAL ISSUES — Does your aging relative have the financial means to live the kind of life they want? Do they require financial support from the family? Does the family get a say in their aging relative's finances? Is there a will and who is the executor? Who will make financial and health decisions if your aging relative is unable to make them themselves?

• HEALTH — What health issues affect your aging relative and how will those be addressed? Does health affect their ability to live independently? What support does someone with early-onset dementia need? What will be done to support your relative's physical and mental health as they age?

The Family Support Package includes four key elements.

1 — Introductory session. This is a 60-minute session with one or two family spokespersons to discuss the situation of concern. This can happen in-office or virtually.

2 — Assessment session. This is a 60-minute in-home session with the aging person of concern where I speak with them directly, hear their concerns and desires, and conduct a multi-factor assessment on the issue at hand.

3 — Recommendations. After these two initial discussions, I will produce a written assessment and recommendations document that your family can review together.

4 — A facilitated family counselling session. This 90-minute session is an opportunity for your family to discuss the concern, assessment, and recommendations in a supported way. At this session, I will make room for family members to discuss their feelings, worries, requests, and plans to move forward.

The Family Support Package costs $395 and may be eligible for coverage under your benefits package.

Additional family counselling sessions may be added on to this package at a cost of $190 per 90-minute session.

Individual counselling for your aging relative or for any family members who need support may be added at a cost of $135 per 50-minute session.

Contact me to discuss how a Family Support Package could work for you.