By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-03-23 19:11:23 | Word Count: 664
Are you worried about an elderly parent, grandparent, or other loved one who may need the assistance of a senior care manager? They can help you if these are some of your concerns if your aging parent or loved one:
* May be having difficulty performing everyday tasks such as taking medications, self-care, shopping, preparing meals, bill paying, driving, etc.
* May have Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, or another dementia.
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* Has lost interest in social activities or hobbies.
* Forgets appointments or events.
* Has had a personality change.
* Has had frequent falls, trips to the ER, or recent hospital stays.
The goal of a senior care manager is to make a positive difference in the lives of seniors and their families. Senior care managers strive to assist seniors, elderly adults, physically challenged individuals, and their families in meeting long-term care needs. They work to empower clients in maintaining their independence and dignity while navigating through the very fragmented health care system and service provider network.
A Senior care manager begins this process with a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment of the client’s strengths and weaknesses. From the assessment, an individualized plan of care is developed. A care plan can assist you when you’re needing help with an elderly mother, father, or even grandmother or grandfather. Assessment areas include:
* Social supports: family, friends, etc.,
* Psychological concerns such as depression,
* Financial: possible public services that may be available,
* Legal: Advanced Directives, etc.
* Environmental: Home safety, evacuation plans, etc.,
* Physical: Mobility, medication review â€" compliance, etc.,
Often, a senior care manager’s assessment not only identifies a client’s risk of falling but also has been proven capable of identifying a client’s level of cognitive ability in years and months as well as their stage of dementia. Based on a client’s test or assessment score, a person-centered series of exercises can be administered that may improve cognition by stimulating brain activity. These are some of things identified by a senior care manager in a routine assessment:
* The first step in establishing a personalized care plan is evaluating the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of the elderly client.
* Assessing the physical capabilities, including mobility and ability to function in the home.
* Evaluating the mental and emotional status including, the individual’s memory, ability to make appropriate decisions, and care for himself/herself on a daily basis.
* Determining if the elderly person is able to manage his or her finances or needs assistance.
* Assessing cognitive brain function of Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients.
* Assessing the elderly adult’s interests and social support network. A support system of family and friends enhances the quality of life of aging individuals.
Care Management by a senior care manager includes implementation of the plan of care, regular visits to the client’s place of residence, accompaniment to major medical appointments and or hospital/ER, and telephone availability. Additional services included:
* Consultation â€" Answering questions for the senior and their family members.
* Counseling â€" Assist with support, grief counseling, conflict intervention, end of life planning, as well as navigation through the health care system.
* Crisis Intervention â€" Though we all try to avoid a crisis, a senior care manager will be there for you and your loved one.
* Entitlements â€" Based on the senior’s financial situation, often a senior care manager can direct the senior to public benefits and services that may be available.
* Information/Referral â€" Refer to the best care providers in the area, such as homemaker companion agencies, elder law attorneys, geriatric physicians, etc. The senior and their family may then make informed decisions that best fit their needs..
* Insurance â€" A senior care manager will review Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurance statements for appropriateness, to avoid double billing and over-payment.
* Placement â€" they can also assist in finding the best alternative living arrangement for the senior should the senior wish to live in an assisted living facility or when the senior is no longer safe alone in their own home.
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