Aging in Place: Helping Loved Ones Stay Safe and Independent with Kimberly Akers

Aging in Place: Helping Loved Ones Stay Safe and Independent with Kimberly Akers

Most people want to stay independent as they get older. But staying safely at home often takes planning, honest family conversations, and the right support.

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad talks with Kimberly Akers, co-owner of Amada Senior Care Phoenix and the East Valley, about what families can do to help aging loved ones stay safe, comfortable, and independent.

Kimberly shares how her career took her from 18 years as an eighth-grade science teacher to entrepreneurship and senior care. Her own family experiences—including having caregivers for her grandmother and helping her mother care for a stepfather with dementia—gave her a personal understanding of the challenges families face.

Kimberly explains five important areas families should consider when planning for aging in place: housing, transportation, finances, socialization, and health and wellness. She also shares some early signs that an aging parent may need more support, including difficulty preparing meals, doing laundry or other household tasks, changes in personal hygiene, and problems managing medications.

Tim and Kimberly also discuss why these conversations should begin before a crisis happens. Kimberly shares how she and her mother have tackled difficult aging topics together through their podcast, Walks with Mom, and how those conversations have actually brought them closer.

The conversation also explores the different levels of in-home care, from companionship and help with everyday tasks to personal care and more intensive support. Kimberly explains why professional caregivers can also provide much-needed relief for spouses and adult children who are caring for loved ones.

Kimberly also shares the story of a longtime Amada client whose family was able to achieve its goal of keeping their loved one at home. For Kimberly, this illustrates an important part of senior care: helping one aging adult can have a positive impact on the entire family.

Finally, Kimberly and Tim discuss questions families should ask when choosing an in-home care company and the role long-term care insurance can play in helping families pay for care.