Midwest Care Management Services Inc.

09/09/2026

Managing Director Tanya Larson has served as a volunteer guardian since 2002 and a professional guardian since 2017. She has written about the impact of her career choices here: https://www.midwestcareconnections.com/post/why-i-became-a-national-certified-guardian

08/31/2026

08/27/2026

Illinois requires all health care professionals, including social workers, to complete at least one hour of training annually on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

At MIDWEST, we go above and beyond by setting a goal that all employees will receive certification by the Alzheimer's Association to promote best practices in the care of individuals experiencing Alzheimer's and other dementias.

This 3-Year Certification ensures that helping professionals understand
*Person centered care
*Best practices in assessment and care planning
*How to support activities of daily living
*Communication changes that occur with the progression of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

08/05/2026

We'd like to give a big thank you to our amazing interns, Joaquin ( Senior at Jones College Prep) and Isaac (Senior at Lane Tech College Prep), for all of their hard work this summer!

They have helped with everything from transitioning to our new client management software and organizing HR files to updating our tech inventory and processing client mail. But they also got to experience what Midwest Care Management is all about— meeting clients, helping with a nursing home move, introducing sensory items to a client experiencing tremors, and even playing chess and listening to a client's family stories in assisted living.

Thank you, Joaquin and Isaac, for your positive attitudes, willingness to jump in wherever needed, and compassion for the people we serve. We wish you both a fantastic end of summer and an amazing senior year!

06/15/2026

Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. When we think about elder abuse, we think of the obvious signs. But too often we find the quietest, most invisible forms of abuse: isolation, systemic neglect, and undue influence.

Here are 3 things you can do right now to protect the seniors in your life:

1️⃣ Check in often. Isolation is the biggest risk factor for elder abuse and financial scams.
2️⃣ Watch for sudden changes. Sudden shifts in finances, missing items, or a new "best friend" managing their affairs are major red flags.
3️⃣ Know who to call. Keep the number for your local Adult Protective Services (APS) handy. Reporting is confidential and saves lives.

Let’s work together to build a community where our seniors can age with the safety and respect they deserve.

06/01/2026

🏳️‍🌈 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, CHICAGO 🏳️‍🌈

As we dive into Pride Month celebrations, remember that visibility is a hard-won victory. Pride is more than a celebration; it is a debt of gratitude to the LGBTQ+ older adults who paved the way. Many seniors came of age in an era when living authentically meant risking their jobs, their housing, their safety, and their families.

Now, it’s our turn to stand up for them. As our trailblazers age, they deserve to do so with dignity, security, and absolute joy. This month, let's turn our gratitude into action. If you are looking to support local organizations doing life-changing work for LGBTQ+ seniors right here in the Chicago area, please consider checking out, volunteering with, or donating to these incredible groups:

*Center on Halsted (Pride in Aging): They provide crucial housing support, social activities, and meal programs to ensure q***r seniors stay connected and supported.

*Howard Brown Health (Aging Services): They deliver affirming, culturally competent geriatric medicine and wellness case management tailored specifically to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ older adults.

*Center for Disability and Elder Law (Proud to Thrive): They offer free and low-cost legal clinics to low-income LGBT+ older adults to address housing, estate planning, and systemic inequities.

05/15/2026

During Mental Health Awareness Month, let's celebrate professionals who are expanding access to compassionate mental health care in our communities. We’re proud to recognize Jamila Jones, founder of Reclaiming Minds Therapy and Wellness.

Jamila is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor whose practice focuses on healing, empowerment, and culturally responsive care for BIPOC women and families. Through therapy, education, and advocacy, she has created a space centered on compassion, restoration, and emotional wellness.

We are honored to have worked alongside Jamila and inspired by the meaningful impact she continues to make in the mental health field. Thank you, Jamila, for the work you do every day to help people heal, grow, and feel seen.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I want to start it by saying this simply: Your mental health is not a crisis to manage. It is a part of your life to tend to.

How we think, feel, and move through the world is shaped by so much—our histories, our relationships, the baggage we carry that was never ours to begin with. And yet, again and again, we show up. We push through. We perform "fine." We perform wellness.

This month, I'm inviting something different: not just awareness, but honest, compassionate attention. To what you're feeling. To what your body has been trying to tell you. To the parts of you that are quietly asking to be seen.

Mental health is not a destination. It is the ongoing practice of coming home to yourself. We are here for that journey... all of it.

Drop a comment and tell me: What does tending to your mental health look like for you right now?

05/07/2026

Commitment to excellence isn't just a goal. It’s our daily practice.

We are currently running a deep-dive series over on LinkedIn exploring how our team adheres to the National Guardianship Association (NGA) Standards of Practice. From person-centered decision-making to protecting the rights of those we serve, we’re sharing the "how" and "why" behind our work.

If you want to learn more about the guidance we use to ensure the highest quality of care and advocacy, join the conversation on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7457502390313783296

05/06/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! 💚

This year’s theme, "More Good Days, Together," hits home for us at Midwest Care. In our work with older adults and people with disabilities, we see firsthand how much a "good day" matters—and how it looks different for everyone.

Whether it’s finding the right support, feeling heard, or simply feeling safe, we are dedicated to connecting our clients to the resources they need to thrive. Together, we can shape advocacy and education to make "more good days" a reality for every member of our community.

04/02/2026

Our Managing Director, Tanya Larson, recently wrote an article reflecting on the importance of helping aging parents thoughtfully choose a Power of Attorney (POA).

Drawing from both her professional experience and her own family’s approach, Tanya shares why these conversations matter, how families can navigate them with care, and why the “right” POA isn’t always about credentials—but about communication, proximity, and alignment with a parent’s values.

If you’re beginning these conversations with your own family, or revisiting existing plans, this article offers practical guidance and a grounded perspective.

Read the full article here: