Life Journeys, LLC Care Coordination

02/10/2023

02/10/2023

I am really proud to announce that I am now partnering with Heroes for Home Care as their director of care coordination.
I have the honor of working with the most amazing women ever as we develop our team.
We listen to our caregivers and help to empower them on their educational Journey.
The clients we serve are typically under Medicaid waivers for supported Community Living services, Consumer Directed attendant care, respite, and private pay.
Through Heroes we also provide transportation to and from Wolf Eye Clinic appointments, remaining at the clinic during their procedure and returning them home safely.

I'm so grateful for this amazing journey and how I have been able to grow and develop and touch the lives of other people in new and different ways.
Spoiler alert !!
Watch for future announcements about how we are creating a collaborative of care support with firefly Creek Ranch and other Integrative Medicine and neurofunctional Medicine Specialists for clients who have experienced head injuries and Trauma.
We are simply walking through miracles and I am so excited to see it all come together as a collaborative effort. Stay tuned for more...

10/21/2022

Girls aged 7-13 are being targeted by criminal s*x predators online.

Ever since this statistic was presented at the Latin America Symposium last week, it hasn’t left my mind. It’s getting younger and younger!!

That’s why this post from and really hit me hard yesterday - K9 Chewie and successfully arrested an online predator who thought he was traveling to r**e a 12 year old child.

LUCKILY, there were police officers to meet him there instead of the 12 year old girl!! What if it was truly a young girl or a young boy?

We need to protect our children and talk to them about internet safety!!

08/07/2022

12/29/2021

Let's talk about some hard stuff....
After enjoying the holidays with your families, are you asking yourself some questions about the possibility of self neglect??
And what is your responsibility if you have a parent making bad decisions for themselves? People who neglect themselves may have a disorder which impairs their judgement or memory. It may be difficult knowing where to draw the line in regards to their safety, the potential risks of self neglect, and respecting their right to make choices and decisions for themselves. Are you seeing signs of hoarding? Failure to take essential medications or refusal to seek medical treatment for a serious illness? Are their signs of poor hygiene? Not wearing suitable clothing for the weather? Confusion? Changes in abilities to do things for themselves that were once easy and are no longer important? Dehydration? Urinary Tract Infections? Falls? Leaving the stove on attended? Getting lost in familiar places? Please reach out to me if you would like to talk about a plan that respects the needs of the whole family.
515-554-5489

07/29/2021

Don't let the name fool you, I just can't change it with FB...
Life Journeys changes the end of the story by making life more manageable and less overwhelming. I am excited to share with the folks who live in Panora and Guthrie Center that we are now available to help with errands, grocery ordering, shopping, and pick up, light housekeeping, and transportation to and from Des Moines for persons who are able to navigate safely in and out of a vehicle. Wolfe eye clinic visits and doctors appointments are one of our specialties. This is a service that has been very helpful to many in the Des Moines metro area and we are now available to help in the Guthrie area as well. Please reach out to me by messenger with your callback number and the best time to reach you.

01/14/2021

We love Firefly Creek Ranch Soups to go...

01/09/2021

05/15/2020

Exactly!

A look at how to avoid "aging fails" and the many benefits of hiring a geriatric care manager.

05/01/2020

The vast majority of nursing homes are full of incredibly talented, passionate and dedicated leaders and team members who are doing the very

05/01/2020

William "Bill" McGinley On their best days nursing homes start out behind the eight ball. Underfunded and understaffed, they care for the most physically

04/05/2020

At Life Journeys we are accepting new patients if they have come from a controlled environment without exposure to COVID 19 over the previous 2 weeks.

This is a time in history when our services to those who are quarantined, but symptom free are more crucial than ever. Keeping our loved ones at home healthy and safe, where we can have contact with them is more important than ever before.

I am privileged to work with an amazing team including Abi Logan, Social Worker Extraordinaire, and the Fantabulous Judy Brucker and Jana Funderburk.

We also partner with other agencies that provide services under Medicare and with Non-Medical Caregiver agencies to make sure that your families needs are met with a balanced approach. Simply said we are Advocates and Sherpas here to help lead you through the muck of real life situations with our aging loved ones.
We are available for phone consultation at 515-554-5489

12/06/2019

Attention busy Mom's and Family Caregivers !
Please tell me what you think of our sample menu.
Would you order a quality Family Meal To Go once a week or more?
How often would you benefit from having an easy meal to pull from the freezer and serve?
Would you order gluten free options?

Ranch Style Family Meals 2-4 servings
Order Ahead Easy Fresh Made Family Meals
that can be popped in the oven to warm and serve.
Fresh bread with real butter

Week 1 Pasta Bar Choices from the Northern Lights Pizza Dash Menu including famous Slammiches & Scooby Snacks
• Meat Sauce Or Graziano Sausage Lasagna
• Fettucini Alfredo,
• Spaghetti & Meat sauce
• Baked Cavatelli with melted mozzarella
• Grinder sandwich-Graziano Sausage, lean ground beef,
Marinara sauce, with melted mozzarella.
• Grinder Baked Mac & Cheese.
• Meatball Sandwich.
• Baked Mac & Cheese with crumb top
• Grinder sandwich with melted mozzarella cheese.
• Mixed Lettuce salad with choice of dressing.
• Ready to bake Chicken Alfredo
• Fresh Garlic Bread with real butter

Week 2 Homestyle Tender Roast Beef Dinner with gravy, Roasted red potatoes, Maple glazed carrots, and/or green bean casserole. Fresh bread with real butter.
or Barbecue Spread. Choice of pulled pork, pulled chicken, and /or beef brisket. Baked potato casserole, Sweet potato casserole, Fresh bread with real butter.

Week 3 Chicken in mushroom sauce over egg noodles Or Chicken Cordon Blue –Breaded Chicken breast with ham & swiss cheese. Steamed Sugar Peas or Maple glazed carrots

Week 4Tenderized Pork Loin Dinner Seasoned with Applewood Rub, side of cinnamon baked apples, Church lady hash brown casserole with corn flake crust Or Chicken & Noodles with real mashed potatoes. Choose veggie sides- Green beans with bacon & onion, buttered sweet corn, or Maple glazed carrots. Fresh bread with real butter.

Week 5 Family Style Turkey Dinner Baked turkey, Real mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, choice of green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole with pecans, Skip’s baked dressing, or Maple glazed carrots, cranberry chutney. Fresh yeast rolls with real butter
Week 6 Soup Bar with Fresh bread and real butter.
• Fire roasted tomato bisque,
• Wisconsin Cheese,
• Homemade Mild Chili,
• Beef Barley & Mushroom Soup.
• Old Fashioned thick potato soup,
• Rotisserie Chicken & Noodle.
Always available-
Loaf of Fresh Baked Bread with Real Butter,
8x8 pan fresh baked Brownies
December-Skip’s Amazing Banana Bread

Dine In Meals at The Ranch by RSVP only-
Let us serve your family or group and then hang out to enjoy each others company over a puzzle or game.
You choose the menu. Call to make reservations for your group

Chef Eli’s Lean & Mean Lunch Combinations
Stock up on easy healthy lunches to take to work
$7 each or $60 for 10
Start with Protein
o 6 oz Grilled Chicken breast or
o 6 oz Grilled Applewood grilled rub pork loin strips
+Add Rice or Quinoa
+Veg Mix Red pepper, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Mushrooms
+Choose Your Sauce
o Avocado Lime Cream Cheese
o Fire roasted salsa
o Pesto
o Garlic Parmesan
o Chipotle
o Sweet ChiliLooking

06/11/2019

As a Nurse Care Manager, I am still a daughter. I have lost both of my parents within the last few weeks. My feelings are of both sadness at times, and joy at others. Their bodies were tired. They were no longer the joyful parents of my youth when they had better health and stamina. They both were longing for the other side and trusted that Jesus had a special place prepared for them. I believe that to be true in the very heart of my soul and spirit.

My father is now standing on two legs as he rides the swells on an ocean worthy fishing boat coming into safe harbor. He sees Jesus leading him from the lighthouse in the distance.

My mom is creating the most amazing sunrises and sunsets, and more. She has an eternity to let her heart soar with endless imagination and creativity.

As their daughter, I tried to honor them both throughout their lives while still honoring myself. That meant I surrounded myself, my dad, and my mom with the very best Physicians, Nurses, and Care providers every step of the way, and there were many steps on this journey. We weathered the changes of aging as every other family does, with both good and not so good moments.

I tried to be an example to my own children to the best of my ability by giving my parents love and respect, while caring for my own well being at the same time. There were times when they had to make me stop and listen to the advise I would give one of my own beloved patients and their families. I am grateful that they made me listen sometimes.

It has been humbling and empowering in ways I cannot even begin to describe. The experience is more valuable than all of the gold and diamonds I could ever imagine.

Every day my goal is to make sure that my family knows that they are the most important part of my life and I cherish who they are.

At the end of the day I will be writing my own care plan, in detail, and making sure that my family knows what is most important to me if I am ever not able to say it.

If it is important to you, put it in writing, because there will be a day when they will want to know what to do next when they are feeling the loss of your vitality. Make it easier for them by beginning the process now. Put your big girl britches on and Face your vulnerability in the eye.

And if you don't have someone you can trust to help you navigate when you are vulnerable, then today would be the day to pay attention to strengthening relationships and building a plan. Aging happens. Building a plan simply gives you more control over your destiny. If you don't plan yourself, you get what others plan for you. It would be good to make sure they know what to do, and that you have made it easier for them to make the plan happen.

Believe me, stubborness doesn't always serve you so well. Making it difficult for your loved ones doesn't help you or them. Be aware, be safe, and most important to remember, Planning is essential if you want choices.

05/24/2019

Moments of truth... We all face them at different points on our journey.

Is the truth that you are experiencing the realization that your parents are aging?

Are they perhaps having more difficulty doing their daily routines and beginning to rely on you more to make sure that they are okay?

How is that affecting other areas of your life and responsibilities to the rest of your family and your job?

There comes a time when you must face the reality that your loved ones go through changes in their health and well being.

You do as much for them as you can, but they may have other needs that are overwhelming you.

You may know that there are things that you can possibly force yourself to let go of, but then you have to find someone trustworthy, and then ALLOW them to do the things that you have always done.

And you may have to allow them to do it differently than you would.

Or maybe your loved one is challenging you to the max because they are simply stubborn and don't want to change, and you know they are on a path towards a "Failure event".

If they don't allow more help you know they will end up in the hospital, and it will be precisely at the "wrong time", like when your daughter is performing in her most amazing dance recital ever.

Or maybe you MUST meet a critical deadline at work or risk losing an important client, or even your job, and your loved one needs to go to the doctor because something is "Just not right".

You know that it all happens at once! How do you keep going with all of these things to manage?

It is really hard to face these changes alone if you don't have a more structured plan in place.

Call me, we can help with these things and help restore the balance to part of your life. At Life Journeys, Registered Nurse Care Coordination we help with these things and more.

I am with you, and your family, in the trenches of your real situation, not just at the end of a phone line giving you yet another number to call.

Reach out to me at 515-554-5489 and talk to me about your situation.

Together we can make a plan that works for you, and your family.

Staying at home when possible, and making a plan for a smoother transition to a higher level of care just makes sense.

But sometimes there are stubborn genes in our families, and facing these changes just adds more chaos and uncertainty.

Together we can help to make a huge difference during the rest of your journey and the changes ahead.

I work together with my clients as much or as little as they need. I also collaborate with other providers of both Skilled and Non-Medical Caregiver Agencies to keep your out of pocket costs as low as possible. I have a great team of other specialists who provide Medicaid services, Financial Navigation, Elder Law, Downsizing and moving, and more! . Call me! 515-554-5489

08/30/2018

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Finding Joy Now Available Learn More Stop Dreaming and Start Living Your A+ Life is Within Reach. Are You Ready to Get Started?   TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP Meet Carrie If your life was divided into semesters, what letter grade would you give yourself for this past semester? Years ago, a friend asked me ...

08/27/2018

Finding Joy Now Available Learn More Stop Dreaming and Start Living Your A+ Life is Within Reach. Are You Ready to Get Started?   TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP Meet Carrie If your life was divided into semesters, what letter grade would you give yourself for this past semester? Years ago, a friend asked me ...