Helping Mom and Dad Age Safely

Thompson On-Air

Thompson On-Air
Helping Mom and Dad Age Safely
Aug 13, 2026
Thompson Health

In this episode of Thompson On-Air, Matt Janczak, vice president of long-term care at Thompson Health and administrator of the M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center, and Melodie Kolmetz, a physician assistant with the University of Rochester Medicine Geriatrics Group, join host Dave Carro to help families recognize when mom or dad needs extra help and how to choose the right kind. They explain the small, easy-to-miss warning signs - from unpaid bills to skipped activities - and how simple home changes like grab bars, better lighting, and clearing clutter can support safe aging in place. Matt and Melodie also walk through the full continuum of care, from in-home support and independent living to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and how palliative care differs from hospice. They address the caregiver side too, including guilt, burnout, respite care, and how Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance fit into paying for it all. Above all, they explain why starting the conversation early and completing a healthcare proxy are among the best steps a family can take to protect a loved one's safety and dignity.

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