By Shirley Jennett
Are you becoming a member of the “sandwich generation” --
still raising your children yet finding yourself increasingly
responsible for the care of aging parents who are becoming
more and more frail? Are you already lacking the time to
juggle your immediate family and your career obligations
as well? As you are called upon to assist your parent or
parents to manage daily living activities, make decisions
regarding health care, and handle financial affairs, are
you feeling somewhat helpless, unprepared or not truly qualified?
You may be noticing that there are falls or other accidents,
and evidence of poor hygiene or nutrition. You may be seeing
signs that memory may be failing -- perhaps they are forgetting
to pay bills, keep appointments, take necessary medication,
turn off water faucets or the stove. There may be evidence
of impaired judgment, such as unusually-large donations to
questionable charities or becoming victims of door-to-door,
mail, or telephone scams. Diminished eyesight and/or hearing
also may contribute to the parents’ increased inability
to maintain their previous independent lifestyles. If you
live in another state, you easily can find yourself making
expensive, unscheduled trips in order to respond to another
crisis.
The question: “What do I do?”
The answer: “Professional geriatric care management.”
Whether you live near your parents or far away, most likely
you are not familiar with the wide range of resources for
seniors. A Professional Geriatric Care Manager does know
what is available for the aging, and can assess needs, identify
problems, and recommend and arrange for present and ongoing
necessary services that will benefit your loved one. The
Care Manager monitors for continuing appropriateness and
effectiveness of those resources and acts as a liaison to
family members, alerting them to problems and changing needs.
They also can provide assistance with alternative living
arrangements if and when necessary.
Professional Geriatric Care Managers are trained and skilled
to step in and be your eyes and ears, hands and feet. They
are committed to assisting seniors to fulfill their wish
to continue living in their own homes and communities as
independently and safely as possible. The Care Managers can
conserve the time, energy, and financial resources of the
family while helping to maintain the parents’ dignity
and quality of life.
Shirley Jennett, RN, a member of the
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care
Managers, is president of Care Management & Resources,
Inc., (303) 639-5455, a company providing high-quality
care management and screened, reliable and effective
companions, personal care assistants and household
services for adults living in the Denver, Colorado,
area.
