Managing your elder loved one's care can be very difficult especially if you are living out-of-state. There are several issues that can surface just when you think everything is taken care of.

Some of those issues include:

Monitoring care to make sure what was ordered is, in fact, being delivered. Monitoring whether the caregiver visits when they are scheduled to, if at all. Changing agencies or facilities if you are not satisfied with the care. Checking on loved ones, while in facility, and making sure he is getting the appropriate care. Emergency situations such as Mom falling and needing to be rushed to the hospital. Mom or Dad needing a ride to and from Doctors office. Medication monitoring - Awareness of how medications are affecting your parent and the need to get them adjusted.

If you are one of those who have the time (and finances) to fly out and take care of these issues for your parent, then that's great! But for the rest of you, fortunately there is another answer. There are professionals called Geriatric Care Managers (GCM) who function as a "surrogate" family member when the actual family is absent, far away, or simply busy with their own family and/or work schedule. They are experienced in the eldercare industry and can virtually take care of all the issues related to your loved one's care. However, it doesn't mean that you have to use the GCM on a full-time basis. You can choose to use their services however best fits your needs and financial allowance.

Geriatric Care Managers
Geriatric Care Managers (GCMs) function as a "surrogate" family member when the actual family is absent, far away, or simply busy with their own family and/or work schedule. They usually hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree or substantial equivalent training in Gerontology, social work, nursing, or counseling. GCMs have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of services in the local community which is important to educate their clients in order to make the best choices.

If a seniors is wishes to continue to live at home, a GCM can order and manage the appropriate care so that the senior is able to live safely in his or her environment of choice. They will also track the care to make sure the senior is getting what is needed and whether it is satisfactory enough to continue. In addition to health care needs, GCMs can help seniors take care of every day necessities ranging from grocery shopping, trips to the doctors and paying bills to ordering a plumber or gardener.

If the individual begins to require a higher level of care or no longer wishes to live at home, the GCM will locate appropriate placement for the senior, coordinate the move, and continue to monitor his care while he is there. Additionally, GCMs work as the liaison between the client (or client's family) and elder law attorneys, financial planners, trust officers, physicians, and other professionals, and are thus able to manage all aspects of a patient's care.

Payment for a GCM's services are private and usually cost between $50-$150/hour depending on the services offered and geographical area. The initial assessment is usually more costly because the GCM spends significant time collecting accurate and complete information about the individual in order to ensure a better quality of life at home or in an adult community. This is a one-time fee ranging from $100-$500, depending on the time frame and geographical area being served.

Call Seniors First for a Geriatric Care Manager serving the greater Placer County area.