Arleen Stern has been working with the elderly and their families for over twenty...read more
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- When to Consider a Geriatric Care Manager
Geriatric Care Manager: A. Stern
When to Consider a Geriatric Care Manager
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Welcome, readers. In this first column, I discuss what a geriatric care manager like me does, and when to consider using a care manager. My following missives will be guided by your feedback, so please be in touch!
Caring for an elderly loved one can be confusing, frustrating and overwhelming. There are many emotional pulls and no single easy solution to any situation you may be facing. Even if you feel you are moving in the right direction, other family members and/or friends may disagree on a route or decision even as a situation moves into a crisis mode.
Ask Yourself:
How do you choose the best form of long-term care, the right living situation?
How do you find the time to make phone calls, contact government agencies and visit alternative living facilities?
How do you know which local facilities have a good reputation and whether they might be a good match for your loved one?
Where Do I Begin?
We have all been novices in learning a new craft or job, or in moving into a new phase of our lives. Like those skills, the many aspects of caring for an elderly loved one can be learned. You may be thinking, “Well, I am learning how and feel fine making decisions, and I am coping.” If that is the case, great—and kudos to you.
Others of you read the above questions and think, “Yikes! Help me, and fast!” Or, “I could figure this all out, but I would rather not. Let someone else give me a hand.” If these responses sound like you, consider calling in a geriatric care manager to work with and guide you.
And those of you in the first group might consider a consultation to help determine if there are other angles or aspects of the situation you are involved in that could be considered.
What Can a Care Manager Do For Me?
A helpful care manager acts as a consultant, problem-solver, and advocate. She will meet with you and your loved one and sensitively and thoroughly assess his or her overall situation. She will look at the whole person, addressing quality-of-life concerns as well as practical considerations.
She will then develop a plan that will enable you to choose the optimal form of care, and make the necessary contacts for you.
She can arrange for care at home or accompany you as you visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities and arrange for placement. A good care manager will coordinate your loved one’s care and act as a liaison with family, friends and health care providers, now and in the future. She also provides counseling and support for you and the family, as well as for your loved one, as you deal with these difficult and stressful transitions.
A good geriatric care manager will be there for you and your loved one every step of the way, helping to make your lives as stress-free as possible, while ensuring the best and highest quality of life possible at all times. It is my pleasure to meet each and every one of you. I look forward to getting to know each other through our struggles and triumphs.
Be well,
Arleen
Posted in Caregiver Burnout, Caregiver Support, Caregiving, Elder Care, Essential Resources, Geriatric Care Management, Geriatric Care Management: Arleen Stern, Geriatric Care Managers: How They Can Help, Homecare 101
Arleen,
I wish I had know about you went I went through all this stuff with my dad. I lived in another state and SO WISH someone would have mentioned the idea of a geriatric care manager. I used to fly back and forth on the weekends and my husbnd and I depleted so much of our savings getting homecare during the week.
Now my friends are going through the same stuff and I was right there “screaming’ (well not quite screaming) how hiring a care manager would really help them out. I’ll definitely be pointing them in the direction of your blog.
Would love to hear you speak to how hiring a care manager can actually save you money in the long run. I don’t think they believe me.
Thanks for all the helpful info!!!
It’s hard to see spending more money than we already are. I would have to be convinced that hiring someone would save me money in the long run. I can certainly see the need for someone like this if the family members don’t live close to each other, though.
Dear Shirley B,
Thanks for your kind words. You are absolutely right. Long-distance
care giving does complicate things, and a local knowledgeable
trustworthy geriatric care manager stepping in can make a tremendous
difference. Can this save you money? It well might. Think about all
those last-minute plane fares, lost work, meals on the run, etc.
And even if there is a financial cost in the end, it is still worth
considering. There can be great cost in physical wear-and-tear and
psychological exhaustion caused by the stress of caring for elderly loved ones—particularly when they are in crisis or you are at a distance. The stress is exacerbated by the rest of your responsibilities, such as holding down a job, taking care of children or a spouse or a friend—all of life’s details often require your attention at the same time.
We Americans often think we must do it all ourselves. Let’s re-think
here. We can all use help. All of us do better with a team around us
helping and advising. That’s what friends and professionals are for.
We’re all holding each other up in this world.
Be well,
Arleen
Hi there,
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. Some of you out there are naturals and feel a satisfaction in holding together the many pieces involved in caring for a loved one. But as I noted to the person who first responded to my blog, the costs of care giving are often times greater than any dollar amount, even if you live just around the corner and especially if you’re care giving from afar.
And here is another thought. A care manager who knows the resources can often get information quickly, saving the time and aggravation of making many phone calls and visits. This can ultimately mean a savings of dollars and more importantly of sanity!
Be well,
Arleen
When I first learned that care managers existed, I thought the same thing that Dirty Butter thought. Why would I spend the money on something I could probably do myself?
After hearing so many horror stories about families wasting thousands of dollars looking for resources and then making costly mistakes along the way, I soon learned of their importance - especially a good one!
There is no way everyone could afford them, but I think they are worth their weight in gold. I’m going to pull part of our text from Gilbert Guide, Chapter 1. It speaks to the importance of getting a care assessment (at the very least) by a qualified GCM.
“A care assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that identifies the care needs of an individual. The objective of an assessment is to draft a plan of care, which is based on the health, social, emotional and physical needs of that person. There are two sources for obtaining a care assessment: case managers and geriatric care managers (GCMs).
Case managers and geriatric care managers are trained to recognize telltale signs in your loved one that indicate specific needs—signs that are clear to trained professionals, but which you may not be able to recognize yourself. A care assessment ensures that you will be focused on what to look for. In the long run, this will prevent frustrating wrong turns, save you time and money, and ensure that your loved one receives the appropriate care.
Getting a professional care assessment up front is one of the strongest recommendations Gilbert Guide can make. The average cost of an assessment runs between $300–$900. Care managers usually charge by the hour, and the cost of an individual assessment depends on the amount of time it takes to conduct.”
We at Gilbert Guide recognize financial constraints, however, we feel compelled to point out solutions that will ultimately save money in the end (and hopefully eliminate hours and hours of frustration and heartache)…Jill
My sister and I live nearby our parents but are looking at an assessment. There is so much conflict as to what type of care they need/don’t need. To bring in someone objective, with no emotional ties to the situation, is the best thing for us and them.
I’m ready for more help with and for my husband, and want to be prepared with an Alzheimer Care Home. Now that I’ve spent the most of the past 36 hours reading, I feel more educated and realistic. Getting help from a geriatric care manager seems like a no brainer. Now, must choose one of the many.
Mommis,
If you are in one of the areas we’ve reviewed already, I suggest you search our database for Geriatric Care Managers that have been awarded the Gilbert Guide Seal of Excellence @ http://www.gilbertguide.com. We also have listings of Alzheimer’s Care Facilities.
If you happen live outside of those areas, you should visit the National Association for Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) website @ http://www.caremanager.org. Good luck with your search….Jill
Great, and good luck in your search. Keep in mind that hiring a care manager is like hiring any employee. Look for competence and a good fit with you and your family. Feel free to ask for references—and ask those references about your particular concerns and listen carefully. All the best to you.