Jane woke up and knew this was going to be a tough day. Her father was just admitted to the hospital with a stroke. She is the only adult child who could help him and was just promoted at her job. Her life’s stresses had already been piling up and now this. How could she possibly help her father perform well in her new job and still have her own family life with her husband and three children? After a couple weeks and many sleepless nights, Jane talked with her best friend who suggested that she hire a geriatric care manager. Jane made the call for eldercare the next day and it was the best thing she ever did.
A care manager or geriatric care manager is a professional who helps to establish stability in your chronically ill or older adult parent’s life. Usually the care manager is an RN or social worker knowledgeable in the field of long-term care services, diseases, living options, insurance and the best part – critical thinking. They encourage the adult child to consider many facets of care, creating solutions and a plan that matches the older adult’s needs and wishes.
Many families think they can coordinate the care themselves, but what they find is that the eldercare world is complex. With all the time it takes to coordinate all areas of care, hiring a care manager can actually be more cost effective. The benefits of this service to the adult child are invaluable.

What a Care Manager can do for you:  

• Assess the level of care needed and develop a tailored care plan
• Take steps to implement the care plan
• Make sure care is received in a safe environment
• Resolve family conflicts and other family issues relating to long-term care
• Become an advocate for the care recipient and the family caregiver
• Conduct ongoing assessments to monitor and implement changes in care
• Oversee and direct care provided at home
• Coordination of key support systems
• Provide personal counseling
• Arrange for services of legal and financial advisors
• Provide assistance with placement in assisted living facilities or nursing homes
• Assist with the monitoring of medications
• Find appropriate solutions in times of a crisis
• Coordinate medical appointments and consolidate medical information
• Assist families in positive decision making
• Develop long-range preventative planning

Article Provided by:
Mary Lynn Pannen, RN, CCM
Sound Options Care Management &
In-Home Care
800-628-7649
www.SoundOptions.com

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