Hannah Rues is Founder and President of ConciergeCare, Inc. She leads a Care Coordination, Case Management , and Advocacy company. We are proud to bring this important resource to your attention on the very important topic of aging. Hannah will be producing a three part article series  in our newsletter which will end with a seminar on Aging Parents in June. In this first installment Hannah will discuss what exactly her company does to help people who are aging and their family members who are supporting them.
Professional geriatric care management is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing ongoing health challenges. Working with families, geriatric care manager expertise provides the answers at a time of uncertainty. Their guidance leads families to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love, thus reducing worry, stress and time off of work for family caregivers through:
- Assessment and monitoring
- Planning and problem-solving
- Education and advocacy
- Family caregiver coaching
Geriatric Care Managers are engaged to assist in a variety of areas, such as:
- Housing – helping families evaluate and select appropriate level of housing or residential options
- Home care services – determining types of services that are right for a client and assisting the family to engage and monitor those services
- Medical management – attending doctor appointments, facilitating communication between doctor, client, and family, and if appropriate, monitoring client’s adherence to medical orders and instructions
- Communication – keeping family members and professionals informed as to the well-being and changing needs of the client
- Social activities – providing opportunity for client to engage in social, recreational, or cultural activities that enrich the quality of life
- Legal – referring to or consulting with elder law attorney, providing expert opinion for courts in determining level of care
- Financial– may include reviewing or overseeing bill paying or consulting with accountant or client’s Power of Attorney
- Entitlements – providing information on Federal and state entitlements; connecting families to local programs
- Safety and security – monitoring client at home; recommending technologies to add to security or safety; observing changes and potential risks of exploitation or abuse
Local, cost-effective resources are identified and engaged as needed. A care plan tailored for each individual’s circumstances is prepared after a comprehensive assessment. The plan may be modified, in consultation with client and family, as circumstances change.
In our next installment we will be talking about the conversations to plan for caring for an aging parent or family member.
We can be found at www.conciergecareinc.com and feel free to call us at(913) 553-6226.
