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Caring for Elderly Parents

A Geriatric Care Manager Can Help Long Distance Caregivers

Jul 21, 2008

Long Distance Elder Care is Possible, Morguefile.com

Caring for elderly parents from a distance can sometimes seem impossible. One option to consider is enlisting the services of a licensed Geriatric Care Manager.

A Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) can be a social worker, nurse, or other health and human service professional who is specifically trained in issues related to aging and elder care. Some GCM’s work privately and some are associated with agencies. One way to find a GCM is through the National Association of Geriatric Care Manager’s website.

How Geriatric Care Managers Help Adult Children Care for Elderly Parents

The GCM does what a family caregiver would do if he or she was checking up on parents to determine how they were getting along, in addition to providing expert advice. The GCM will:

visit the parents in their home
assess the situation
determine what types of services may be helpful, such as help with housekeeping or meals
advise on safety issues
determine whether or not the elderly parents are receiving proper medical care
determine if non-medical help is needed like errands, housecleaning, etc.
advise on whether or not the parent(s) can live alone or if more care, such as in-home aids or an assisted living facility is needed
arrange for additional services

The GCM will keep in touch with the adult children to make recommendations and answer any concerns. In addition, he or she can arrange for the additional recommended services, if any. For example, the GCM can help hire in-home aids or find an appropriate assisted living facility in the area you designate. The GCM may also be able to suggest ways adult children can help from a distance.

Cost-Effectiveness of Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager

Many GCM’s charge between $80 and $200 per hour. The cost may seem high, but if the alternative is taking time off from work and bearing the costs of traveling to visit parents to provide help more frequently, the fee paid to the GCM may seem like a bargain.

The GCM is not a substitute for family visits. However the GCM is an expert who can make recommendations and lessen the need for “working visits” to family, where the sole purpose is to locate resources, make arrangements for help, and do tasks. In addition, some GCM’s can be called to help in the case of an emergency.

Getting Parents to Agree to Meet with the GCM

Often parents do not feel that they need help and would not be open to the idea of a visit with a GCM. However, if parents are relying on their adult children for help or in emergencies, the adult children are entitled to provide that help in a way that they themselves are comfortable with. At the same time it is important to respect parents desire and right to be as independent as possible. Rather than trying to get parents to accept help they do not see the need for, it may be wise to enlist them as helpers instead by explaining that it is not comfortable being so far away and that it would be helpful for you to have someone in their town you can rely on to help you help them.

The Problem of Long Distance Caregiving

At times the long distance caregiver feels guilty and unsettled. He or she may be worried about the condition of the elderly parents and have a gut instinct that they should not be left alone. Yet the caregiver is unable to be in two places at one time or to observe them on a daily basis. A Geriatric Care Manager can be the eyes and ears of the caregiver.

The copyright of the article Caring for Elderly Parents in In-home Senior Care is owned by Lisa C. DeLuca. Permission to republish Caring for Elderly Parents in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.