It’s Official—Your Parents Have Aged

And, there’s a 70% chance one of your parents will need some form of long-term care.

By Walt Kasmir
Certified Senior Advisor

The long-term care or senior living space is complex and always changing. If you’re one of the 44 million adult caregivers juggling your job, your family, and your parents’ care—you’re probably at your wit’s end.

You’re not alone—there’s help right in your back yard

You should seriously consider hiring a professional care manager if:

• You’ve recently become a caregiver and need help
• You’re already a caregiver and are burned out, confused, or unaware of care options
• You have limited time or expertise to deal with chronic care needs
• You need education and directions in dealing with dementia-related behaviors

So, what’s a professional care manager?

Professional care managers have a lot of different titles like geriatric care manager, elder care manager, and case managers, just to name a few. Most geriatric care managers are registered nurses (RNs), but they come from a variety of disciplines like social work or counseling. Regardless of licensure, they’re all professionals who can help reduce your stress and ensure quality care for your parent.

How can a care manager (CM) help me?

Care managers are particularly useful:

1. As a navigator to help you through the maze of senior care services and providers. A geriatric care manager will have trusted service providers on speed dial. It might have taken you days to weeks to sort through a sea of companies to finally find the right fit.
2.  A CM can be the ideal solution if you’re trying to manage your aging parent’s care from long-distance. For instance, a CM can coordinate home aides, home care, and doctors’ visits. CMs who’re also RNs may even attend doctors’ appointments, advocating for your parent and then give you a personal report. Having this type of professional in place often relieves caregivers of the guilt of not being there in person. 

How do I select a care manager?

Ideally, the CM will be well connected in your community. One way to ensure that your prospect is competent is to check their experience and credentials. Some trusted credentials include Care Manager Certified (CMC), Certified Case Manager (CCM), Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM), Geriatric Care Manager (GCM), and Certified Senior Advisor (CSA).

How much will a care manager cost?

Most care managers charge at least $50 per hour. Some also have assessment fees. And of course, Medicare nor Medicaid will not pay for this service. However, it’s a worthwhile expense and time saver for many working professionals.

Don’t wait, start planning now

We’re all aging, and over 70% of people over 65 will require some form of long-term care. The healthcare landscape isn’t getting easier. The savvy person will anticipate this complex challenge and enlist the help of community services including a care manager.

Walt Kasmir is a Healthcare Writer and Data Scientist.  He’s an RN with over 25 years of clinical and writing experience. He specializes in translating medical content—often shrouded in Greek, Latin, and long words—into a conversational style that resonates with readers. In addition to holding a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Akron and post-graduate work in data science from Johns Hopkins University, he’s earned the distinguished Certified Senior Advisor® credential, which verifies mastery of the medical, social, legal, and financial matters concerning seniors and their families.