Kyra Clements joined Elder Law of East Tennessee in July 2016 following an ELET internship from January through April 2016.  As an Elder Care Coordinator, she helps clients and families manage the challenges of aging and disability.  Kyra assesses clients’ living situations, makes recommendations for ways to improve safety and quality of life, and guides families through sometimes difficult decisions to ensure that elders receive the best possible care.  She provides support for family caregivers, attends care planning meetings for facility residents, and advocates for clients to ensure their needs are met.  Kyra’s career in social services started in the late 80s, when she worked with victims of sexual abuse, troubled teens, and individuals with mental illness.  Following her father’s diagnosis with dementia, she began to shift her career toward addressing the needs of aging adults.  In 2011 she and her husband started their own business, Golden Age Technology, a company specializing in aging-in-place technology solutions.  She is well-versed in using technology to help solve problems.  Kyra completed a Geriatric Care Management certification program in 2016 and completed her MS in Gerontology in 2018. At Elder Law of East Tennessee she has found a place to combine her social service skills and training with her passion for serving elders and persons with disabilities.

Education:

University of Indianapolis, MS in Gerontology, summa cum laude, 2018

Memberships:

National Association of Professional Gerontologists

Certifications:

What is the problem you are best at solving for your clients?

Most of our clients and their families would like to stay in their own home and remain independent for as long as possible.  That can be a real struggle as the elders age and their conditions progress, but sometimes assistive technologies or home modifications can prolong their independence and dramatically improve their quality of life.  Because I know a lot about the technologies that are available to elders and easy for them to use, I can find solutions that allow our clients to age in place while achieving the best quality of life. I help people clarify what gives them a good quality of life and find ways to maximize those elements in their daily lives.

What excites you about your work and the contribution you make to the ELET team?

I love hearing the stories of my elder clients.  I envision them at all stages of their lives, and I know that their life experiences make up the people they are now.  That understanding of the complete person helps me work with the client to create a vision for how we should move forward with addressing their concerns.

What do you love most about ELET?

The diversity of the staff is amazing, yet everyone is unified in their complete focus and commitment to helping clients enjoy the best quality of life they can possibly have.

Where can we find you when you’re not working?

All over the place!  I teach piano, study for my MS, visit with my family in South Carolina, walk our rescue dogs, garden, cook, decorate my home, do crafts (rug-hooking and cross-stitching), and spend time with my fabulous husband.

Fun fact:

My home is a historic landmark, and my husband and I used to run it as a B&B.  The Bushrod W. James Hall of Domestic Science for Young Ladies was the etiquette school at the American Temperance University in Harriman.