Care Coordinators: The Unsung Heroes of Elder Law

Caregiving
Written By Amelia Crotwell, JD

You want the best care for your loved one, but you are overwhelmed and are not sure where to start. There’s so much that goes into long-term care planning which is why our care coordinators make up an integral part of our team at Elder Law of East Tennessee. Our care coordinators are a wealth of information, an incredible resource, and a support system for caregivers. They advocate for your loved ones to ensure they are getting the best possible care. Our care coordinators truly take the time to get to know your loved ones and decipher their needs on every level to give them the best quality of life. Here’s a sampling of what they do:

Provide support to caregivers. 

Our care coordinators are there to coach you through every step of the way. Whether your loved one is going through a transition from a home to an assisted living facility, using new assistive technology, or you are trying to navigate through the mountains of paperwork in front of you, our care coordinators are there to explain every process and answer all of your questions.  

Assess living situations. 

Through in-home assessments, changes to the home can be planned to improve your loved one’s safety.  Our care coordinators are up-to-date on the latest assistive technologies that can prolong your relative’s independence and will make the proper recommendations, which may also include alternate living arrangements. 

Search for placement options. 

If your loved one does need to make alternate living arrangements, our care coordinators are a wonderful resource for figuring out what facilities would be a good fit.  

Attend care planning meetings.

If your loved one is in a facility, our care coordinator will be part of the conversation at the care planning meetings. This allows them to advocate on his/her behalf to ensure needs are being met and make the proper recommendations regarding their care. 

Address financial concerns. 

Our care coordinators are very knowledgeable when it comes to eligibility for public benefits.  They work with our legal team to prepare successful applications. With our care coordinators by your side, you will feel confident in making the tough decisions regarding care for your loved one. 

Meet our amazing care coordinators 

JILL SHOFFNER, LCSW

  

      

 

KYRA CLEMENTS, GCM, CPG

         

CINDY HUTSON, RN

        

Amelia Crotwell, JD

Amelia Crotwell, founder and managing partner at Elder Law of East Tennessee, has guided families through long-term care and special needs challenges for nearly two decades. Specializing in Life Care Planning and special needs trusts, Amelia also collaborates across all areas of elder law, including wills, trusts, Medicare, Medicaid, probate, and veterans benefits planning. Certified as an Elder Law Attorney since 2011, she is president-elect of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association and co-chair of their strategic planning committee. Amelia is deeply involved in the Special Needs Alliance and a prominent member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She played a key role in founding the Tennessee chapter of NAELA, serving as its first president. A member of the Tennessee Bar Association and past chair of its Elder Law Section Executive Council, Amelia also dedicates time to pro bono work and community education. She earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law and teaches Elder Law there as an adjunct professor since 2018.

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