I like to think I have a way with words, but boy do I get tongue-tied when I’m asked, “What exactly do you do, Wendy?”
Private geriatric case management is still a new concept in Canada, although it’s getting more traction with our aging population and rising demands on family caregivers. Simply put, family caregivers and seniors use our services to ensure seniors are receiving the right type of support at the right time.
We can provide advice and help navigating a healthcare crisis or age-related transition and/or offer ongoing support and management to coordinate the broad range of services needed. We are the “keystone” — the service that connects and supports clients to the various, but related, parts of eldercare.
We can help when your Mom is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and needs more help to stay in her home safely but you don’t know what needs to be done or where to find the information you need. Or when your Dad suffers a stroke and doesn’t have other family available to care for him when he leaves hospital. Sometimes you just need someone to coach you in your new role of caregiver — including how to initiate uncomfortable conversations with aging parents, how to navigate the complex social and health care systems and where to find support.
Another question that comes my way is, “How are you different than a public case manager?”
A public case manager works on behalf of the local health authority and their mandate, whereas families or seniors hire us directly to work solely on their behalf. Private geriatric case managers can be more creative with solutions and are able to support families and seniors with a broader range of services.
We assist family caregivers with numerous issues, including:
- Ongoing case management, observation and assessment of seniors
- Acting as a liaison to oversee the care and support for seniors with out-of-town families; assisting in system navigation
- Accompanying clients on medical appointments to ensure their needs are communicated clearly and medical directions are understood
- Screening, arranging and monitoring in-home help and other non-medical services and support
- Providing crisis intervention
- Assisting with moving clients to or from medical facilities, independent living facility or long-term care home
- Organizing and maintaining key support documentation, such as emergency contact lists, medical and functional health, power of attorney, advanced directives, etc.
- Helping with applications for benefits or entitlements
- Referring community resources and servicesEssentially, I’m there to help seniors and the people who love them.
Wendy Johnstone is a geriatric case manager specializing as a consultant in family caregiving issues, seniors’ health promotion and issues surrounding the aging population. If you are looking for more information regarding caregiver tips and advice, would like to book a consultation or subscribe to Wendy’s weekly blog visit: http://www.keystoneeldercare.com/.
For more useful tips and tools for family caregivers check out Wendy’s new book,”Get Your Eldercare Affairs In Order:A Planning Organizer for Seniors and Family Caregivers” in either softcover or a pdf ebook.
Can be purchased at www.keystoneeldercare.com/books/GetYourEldercareAffairsinOrder/
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