The holiday season can raise consciousness of long-term care needs. People visit their parents and may suddenly discover that Mom is asking the same questions, over and over, while Dad is falling down. Bills aren’t being paid.
If you find yourself in that situation with your parents, a first step to consider is contacting a geriatric care manager. (The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, at 520-881-8008, can provide leads to local members.) Typically, the care manager will have a nurse or a social worker go into the elderly person’s home for an evaluation.
Such an evaluation will describe what level of help might be needed, if the elderly person is to stay in his own home. A reputable care manager will conduct background checks on any worker who is sent into someone’s homes, to reduce the possibility of abuse.
