TMB E75: Tess Mew and Angelica Valenzuela; Assisted Living Ramifications

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This episode delves into the world of Assisted Living and its ramifications and a lady that focuses on finding the right facility for her clients within these facilities. Both with excellent reputations they give a comprehensive overview of assisted living in Tucson.

About Angelica Valenzuela

Owner/Caregiver of Truval Assisted Living Home. A true professional with an extensive career in Public and Nonprofit Management helping vulnerable populations: Homeless, HIV/AIDS, women, and children impacted by HIV/AIDS. For the last eight years, I have focused my mission to serve the elder population through assisted living in Tucson, AZ.

I was born in Mexico and educated in the United States. I obtained my bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and a master’s degree from California State University Northridge University.

When I moved to AZ to be closer to my aging parents, I began looking for a new mission and everything pointed to helping elders as my next move to serve others. I began getting educated about the Assisted Living business in Arizona, got certified as a caregiver in the three levels of care (Supervisory, Personal and Directed).

I formed Truval Management Services and I started Truval Assisted Living, about eight years ago. Truval Assisted Living is a residential care home in the Catalina Foothills on 4445 North Pontatoc Road.

We care for elders that cannot live independently or that their loved ones cannot longer care for them at home due to their need for assistance and care with all their daily activities. Truval is certified by the Arizona Department of Health to care for a maximum of 10 residents at any given time. We care for elders who suffer from any or a combination of aging diseases such as Dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, among many other ailments.

Our work is non-stop; we provide loving care for elders 24/7. Depending on their level of care we provide as much care as is needed throughout the day and night. We manage their medications, provide their three meals and snacks, shower them, do their daily laundry, and engage them in daily activities, among many other things we do.

Many individuals in our community do not know that Assisted Living Homes exist. They know of the large Nursing facilities. But, Assisted Living services constitute a large segment of the community and a large number of caring individuals that serve our aging population in Tucson.

Our work is the collaboration of many people and entities in the community to serve the elder population with dignity and respect. We partner with the AZ Department of Health to maintain compliance with State regulations and to maintain our certification and license as an assisted living home.

We also partner with Placement Agencies such as Southern Arizona Placement Agency (SAPA) for referral of new residents and also by word of mouth from previous relatives of residents we’ve cared for. We also partner with Home Health agencies for Medical Care at our facility and to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations; and with Hospice agencies, to help us with palliative care at the facility during their last stages, so they can pass with dignity and love.

Truval Assisted Living Home
4445 N. Pontotoc Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85718
Ph. 520.338.2261 / Fax 520.338.2263

About Tess Mew

I was raised in Tucson AZ. I attended Pima Community College and attended and graduated from the U of A with a BA in Psychology and sociology. I worked with the at-risk substance use and mentally ill population while raising my two boys while attending college for 8 years.

I worked at Codac Behavioral Health with at-risk populations including aging clients with substance abuse and mental health disorders. Codac created a specific position for me to be able to work closely with clients specifically in residential treatment homes and programs in the Tucson community.

It was during this time that I became interested in the relationships required to place clients in homes that matched their needs. When I left Codac I assisted a startup company that was interested in doing senior placement referrals. Two years later I decided to start my own company in order to add pieces I felt were missing in this particular industry.

Southern Arizona Placement Agency is dedicated to providing seniors and their families with a broad range of options and resources in order to locate quality services for our seniors in southern Arizona.

We specialize in identifying the most appropriate and cost-effective level of care. We have close relationships with assisted living communities, assisted living homes, hospice companies, VA benefits, respite care, day programs, in-home care, Arizona long-term care, movers, Medicaid specialists, and many other resources.

Website: https://azplacementagency.com
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/tessmew-4146862a
Phone: (520) 345-0297
Email: siraphim@yahoo.com

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