Helping people understand the role of a geriatric care manager

Karen Jeselun, RN, CCM returns on KXXT Radio Phoenix on 08/19/2010. Radio show “Your Long Term Care Show” with Ralph Norman and Michael Anastos.

Click on the link below to listen to the Audio Clip:
Karen Jeselun returns on KXXT Radio Phoenix

This next statement may surprise you, especially coming from the owner of a homecare company with a large staff of caregivers. Families who call us for help may not always need caregivers. In fact, often, families call looking for professional expertise to help manage a situation in which they have no experience.

We have positioned Villa Home Care to be that expert – to partner with our family members and their loved ones – and walk alongside of them through the continuum of the aging process.

Initially that older adult may only need bimonthly visits from the Geriatric Manager with ongoing communication through our secure on-line family portal. These visits may or may not include medication management, accompanying the individual to physician appointments or other necessary activities.

As the continuum moves along, the GCM’s ongoing assessments may pick up on a decline in the functional abilities of the client, perhaps physical or mental abilities. In these situations, the GCM would be in a position to recommend the implementation of technology or some assistive devices. Perhaps a few hours of caregiving might be appropriate at this stage.

Lastly, as the client’s deficits increase, outside resources may be utilized such as hospice, home health or alternate care settings, such as assisted living facilities or group homes.

We are finding that this approach helps to conserve precious financial resources and yet meets the need for independence and dignity for our older clients.

For more information on our continuum of care, call Villa Home Care at 602-957-9300 or 888-880-6588. Email us at contact@villahomecare.com.

AI would venture to say that many of us are aware of older adults who could benefit by some assistance at home but refuse. The reasons given vary. “I don’t want a stranger in my home.” “It costs too much.” And the most frequent reason – “I don’t need any help!” As adult children of aging parents and as professional Geriatric Care Managers, we would like to provide an easy answer to this dilemma, however there isn’t one. Often what must happen is that the older person has to fail living at home independently. That sounds a bit harsh, and we don’t want them to fail by getting injured or harmed. But they have to come to the realization themselves that in order to remain in their own home, they must have assistance. Sometimes that assistance can be as little as one hour once or twice daily, or six hours once a week. Once a “foot in the door” is accomplished, trust is established, and a positive relationship begins with the Caregiver, services can be enhanced to better meet the needs of the individual and achieve their goal of staying at home!

Karen Jeselun, RN, CCM, CEO