Caring for an elderly person can be overwhelming, confusing, and stressful. Many people have no idea where to start, what questions to ask, what resources are available etc. To get help and relief consider hiring an aging care expert. They are typically called Geriatric Care Managers. Their experience and knowledge about senior care issues and local resources are especially helpful when you’ve run into a difficult or complex situation with your family or older adult.
APG Eldercare Services provides local geriatric care management and social work consultation in the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey. The eldercare system is a maze and very difficult to navigate. People struggle every day without proper guidance that can lead to costly and inappropriate decisions.
Anne Grogan is a licensed social worker and certified care manager. She has over 30 years of experience working in the field of aging. Her goal is to improve your older adult’s quality of life and reduce caregiver stress. She can help you navigate the eldercare system, advise you on caregiving decisions, connect you with proper resources, supervise your family member’s care, and mediate family issues.
Planning is key in all life transitions. You don’t want to wait until a crisis occurs to try and put a plan into place. It’s best to start talking to your family now, be proactive, and develop a plan. When a geriatric care manager meets the older adult she assesses the physical, social, psychological, functional and safety areas of the person’s life. A client care plan is developed to help guide everyone in the resources available to meet the goals and needs of the older adult.
Examples include:
If the person wants to age in place, what home care agencies are in the area, cost, services provided?
If living at home is no longer an option, what level of care is necessary, what facilities are available, costs?
What if I can’t afford care? What are financial options?
What resources are available to help relieve caregiver stress? Adult Day care, respite, caregiver support groups.
What are the decisions that need to be made in end of life care?
A geriatric care manager can be especially helpful for long distance caregivers. Families can consult with the care manager in person or by phone to discuss concerns and options. Care managers can meet with older adults at medical appointments, advocate with the healthcare professionals and report back to the adult child who lives out of town but wants to be active in the parent’s care. Working with a geriatric care manager can give you peace of mind knowing that you have a professional to contact with questions/concerns. A person who understands the complex needs of an older person, an objective set of eyes and ears that can help in a crisis and become the calming force in a stressful situation.
Adult children in the caregiver role often will say:
“You’ve given me so much valuable information.”
“I don’t know where to start and what questions to ask. Everything is so confusing.”
“My mother won’t listen to me when I try to help her; she’s very resistant to care. What do I do? Do I have to wait until there’s a crisis?”
“Living far away from Dad is so hard when I have to coordinate his care. Your knowledge about resources and long term care options has made the journey less stressful.”
For information about APG Eldercare Service contact Anne Grogan at
610-392-0667 or email anne.grogan5@gmail.com. Visit apgeldercare.com to learn more about the services offered and caregiver resources.