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Comments For "Long Distance Caregiving: How a Geriatric Care Manager Can Help You"
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4 Responses to “Long Distance Caregiving: How a Geriatric Care Manager Can Help You”
  1. saule Says:

    I have been wondering what is the difference between the services a geriatric care manager offers and ones offered by ombudsmen? Is it the same?

  2. Lori Deschene Says:

    Saule,

    I can answer this question. As Arleen can attest, a geriatric care manager assesses a person’s situation and them formulates a care plan based on that assessment. In addition, a care manager can find community resources, assist with placement in a facility if necessary and arrange other services a client might require.

    An Ombudsman acts as an advocate for individuals in long-term care settings—investigating and hopefully resolving health, safety and welfare related complaints and addressing issues with government agencies or other service providers.

    The main difference: a geriatric care manager helps you arrange your care and an Ombudsman helps protect your rights within that care scenario. Does that make sense to you? Do you have any other questions I might be able to answer for you?

    Lori

  3. Elsa Lantzman Says:

    Hi...so glad to find your site. I live in San Diego, California. My mother lives in Peoria, Arizona, in an Assisted Living Home. She has dementia. They take terrific care of her (truly), but she has been deteriorating mentally quite rapidly in the last two weeks. She needs to have her medications reviewed and probably revised. The ALH has arranged for a doctor to make housecalls, but I think she needs more in the way of having someone who specializes in mental health and ALzheimers evaluate what medications are best for her mental condition. I go there often, my father has renal failure and cong. heart failure and lives inthe same home as my mother. Mentally he's fine, but I need help with my mother. Please contact me and let me know what steps to take, or what is available in Arizona.

  4. Arleen Stern Says:

    Dear Ms. Lantzman,

    It is so difficult to be far away, and coordinate care for loved ones. And the pain and shock of changes is magnified at a distance. If it is financially possible, I would advise hiring a geriatric care manager to meet your parents and assess the situation. That person can help put any needed services in place and monitor your parents. A geriatric care manager can also provide counseling and ongoing feedback to you.

    If finances are an issue, I would advise speaking with your mother's physician or an administrator at the assisted living facility about getting your mother a psychiatrist, preferably a geriatric psychiatrist. A psychiatrist along with a physician could aid in assessing, adjusting and monitoring medications.

    You are taking on a great deal. Good luck to you.

    Arleen Stern

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