Shirley Kiatta is a registered nurse with 30 years of nursing experience in the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas communities. She has worked as an RN for Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula and Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice.

Shirley is a long time community member with a wide range of professional and personal contacts in all areas of general and elder care. She continues to meet with representatives from community resources with the intention of staying informed about services available.

Shirley received her training as a registered nurse from the School of Nursing at BryanLGH College of Health Sciences in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has extensive experience working with the elderly and their families in the areas of acute care, home care and care management.

The elder years can be filled with complex financial issues, worries about day-to-day living and serious concerns about health and well-being. As an Elder Care Consultant, Shirley meets with each family, conducts an in-depth interview assessment and writes a comprehensive report.

Detailed and comprehensive information is gathered, including recent and past medical history, cognitive and emotional functioning, mobility and therapy needs, nutrition, medication management issues, healthcare provider information, hearing and vision concerns, pain management and an assessment of socialization/ activity needs. Discussion of legal documents, insurance benefits and end of life choices is included in the assessment.

Many elders want to remain in their own homes, but there are times when caregivers, assisted living arrangements or skilled nursing is required. Shirley will help you evaluate appropriate living arrangements based on the results of the assessment.

With easy-to-understand information, the goal is to assist families to navigate the complicated health care system and make informed decisions about the type of care needed.

Shirley has extensive experience working with families from out of the area. Her process can be adjusted to accommodate these referrals. She is also available for presentations to any group or organization that would benefit from Elder Care information.