Issue 44 | September 2026

Midlife can bring a new kind of health navigation: not only managing our own care, but helping aging parents figure out theirs. The challenge is that many families do not know what support exists, what signs to watch for, or when to start planning. Too often, those questions are left until a fall, hospitalization, or sudden change forces a decision.

 

We met Yelena Kan, RN, MSN, DPS, through the Westfield Memorial Library Community Health event last spring and learned that she is actively offering local education on aging in place, home safety, and the options families have for supporting older adults at home. That made us want to know more about what families should be noticing earlier, what home care can actually look like, and why Yelena believes these conversations should begin long before a crisis.

 

 

Yelena is the Owner and Director of Nursing of Izabella Home Care. A registered nurse with more than 30 years of experience across home care, hospital, and hospice settings, she has spent much of her career caring for older and frail adults. Izabella Home Care is named in honor of her late mother, Izabella, whose final years gave Yelena firsthand insight into the challenges families face when a loved one needs additional support.

We asked Yelena what she wishes more families knew before they needed home care.

 

A: It could be anything from frequent falls or injuries at home to difficulty getting up and walking, to difficulty getting in and out of the bathtub or shower. Watch out for unexplained bruises: aging parents often do not report falls to their children.

 

Sometimes a family member who doesn't live with the aging parent visits and notices stacks of unpaid bills or no food in the refrigerator; they might ask a parent, “Well, what did you eat? What did you have for breakfast?” “Oh, I had cereal,” but there is no cereal at home. Check the refrigerator for spoiled or expired food: a sense of smell decreases with age.

 

Many times people do not admit needing help, and it's understandable. Nobody wants to be dependent. Steer the conversation from “you” to “I”. “I would feel much better if I knew someone was coming to check on you and help with cooking, cleaning, and laundry every day or a few days a week for a few hours. I can come over on the weekends, but at least I can work and care for my family without worrying about your wellbeing.”

 

A: I interview my aides one on one in person. I don’t do any phone interviews. I don’t do any video interviews. I want to see the person. I want to see how the person presents. I want to see how the person themselves move.

We verify their licenses. We run their background check. If there is a need for them to drive people, we also run their driving records.

Yes, it is a stranger, but no, it is not someone just off the street walking. I’m not sending someone to someone’s house.

 

A: They don’t know options. They don’t know what the options are.

The first thing I’m sure that comes to a lot of people’s minds: it’s expensive. Care is expensive, and it’s not cheap. However, there are different options that a lot of people either are not aware of or did not pursue because they’re not aware, or they’ve heard different things and they thought, ‘Oh, that’s not going to work for us.’ 

But you don’t know until you get into the details.

 

There are options which a lot of women do not know about, simply because it’s not something they see every day. It’s not something they research. They don’t even know where to research or how to research a specific situation.

 

A: It’s not only about the skill. Very often it’s about a personality. It’s very often about a match.

 

It’s kind of like matchmaking, if you wish, because an aide can be very skilled, but personally, she may not match with a specific client for whatever reason.

I always try to find the best match, and what I tell all my clients: if something isn’t working for you for whatever reason, please let me be your first call.

That is what I am trying to do, is to match the best possible aide with the client so that it all works together.

 

A: If I was talking to those women or sons, daughters or sons of someone who is even 70, 75, who had maybe just retired, and maybe in great shape, physically, mentally sharp, everything, go to their house with the thought that their health may deteriorate, and it may deteriorate slowly or fast.

 

Look at the living conditions with the idea that you are not dealing with a sharp 75-year-old anymore; that you’re dealing with someone who has arthritis or already had a fall and a broken hip, who is 85.

 

What do you do then? Think about it. Maybe the house needs to be rearranged. Maybe there are some modifications that need to be made.

Just consider it. Who is that person? Is there support? Is there a professional support available?

 

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