Geriatric Care Management Blog

It may surprise you to learn that as many as one in five caregivers are lending their help to an older adult who is still working a nine-to-five job.  A lot of my writing has been about what we sometimes call the old-old, that is individuals who are advanced significantly above our traditional cut-off of 65 years of age defining someone as old.  But there has been a steady advance over the past two to three decades in the portion of the labor force that is 65 years of age or older.  In 1985, fewer than one in nine workers was over 65, but that figure has increased to almost one in five workers now who is over 65 years of age. So much for the talk about taking care of a frail, elderly parent.  Yet, older workers can benefit every bit as much from a caregiver’s help as someone who fits the more classic picture we have of taking food to an elderly shut-in.  As a caregiver, encourage the following adaptations to the workplace: At least every two hours take a short break to stretch and flex the...

    If you will be heading home for any of these seasonal holidays you will find that it can be a wonderful trip back in time as you revisit your own family history in the context of your mom’s or dad’s house.  But when you visit, take a closer look at how safe that house may still be for your older parent living there.  Some parts of the home interior landscape may be just like you remember them, but they may now pose hazards to your older parents.     Start with electrical fixtures.  Check for where the cords to lamps or telephones and other household appliances are.  If they are in the flow of traffic, consider arranging furniture differently.  Also, remember that extension cords are really only meant for temporary use, so it is a good idea to move fixtures to be closer to outlets.  If you must use an extension cord, place it against a wall to reduce the trip hazard. If there are electrical cords under furniture, check for wear on the insulation to avoid fire risks.  Cords under...

    We are fortunate to have a new contribution from a good friend and colleague, Julie Northcutt of Caregiverlist.com.  Julie offers a caution in this contribution about the scams that seek to prey on older adults, so please give her warning a read...      “Holidays are a magical time, but unfortunately they are also a time when law enforcement sees a spike in online and telemarketing fraud, especially directed against the elderly. According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 25 million Americans are victims of consumer fraud each year. Senior citizens continue to be a rapidly increasing segment of the population. Why are seniors especially vulnerable? Seniors are seen as easy marks with “nest eggs” that make them attractive to con artists. According to the F.B.I., “people who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Con artists exploit these traits, knowing that it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to say "no" or just hang up the telephone.”...

It has been over a year since my first posting when I started this blog by talking about why a person should call a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM).  Since I have answered this question with almost everyone of the calls I get from people looking for our help, it seemed like a good idea to revisit our “job description.”  GCMs are:

Local professionals who know what resources are appropriate for your older loved one and which are most appropriate.  What I often tell people is that we are “option-makers” for the decision-maker.” 

Eyes and ears that can help long distance caregivers be aware of any changes that may affect an older parent’s independence or well-being.  The long distance family caregiver may have bought mom the walker, but the local GCM can be there to see whether mom is using it.

Bridges to help an older family member make life transitions from fully independent living through home assistance and ultimately to assisted living at the appropriate...