How do we find good care?
How can we approach our stepmom about our worries?
We think it’s time Mom moved to Assisted Living.
My sister and I don’t see eye to eye on how to proceed.
We have a lot of lists but no advice on what might be best.
There are a lot of sensitive issues within families surrounding eldercare. The first question that arises for most families is when to seek out help or when to take action. The issues are so personal that you may feel reluctant to seek out professional help or advice.
If you are facing these questions, you might want to start by taking a look at our “Warning Signs” handout, which provides some important questions to ask and things to watch for that might indicate it is time to seek outside assistance.
One of the best ways to get started when you have some concerns is to consult with a geriatric care management professional. This is something you can typically do before deciding it is time to make a commitment to ongoing services and can even be done by phone if you are long-distance.
Here are some benefits to family caregivers that might help you ascertain if a care consultation would help you:
- The care manager can be a sounding board for you about how you are feeling, your concerns, what next steps might be wise, and options, especially if all family members are not “on the same page”.
- You can get some immediate advice on tasks you may want to start working on, preparations you can do in advance and places to go for help should a crisis arise.
- The consultation provides you the opportunity to meet a local elder care professional who you can call upon to help now or in the future. It can be a huge relief if a crisis or concern arises to have a trusted professional that you already know who you can call.
- The consultation often reveals aspects of the situation you might not have considered or things that can save you a lot of future headaches–it’s this “insider’s scoop” that can be so valuable in deciding on the right steps to take. It can often relieve your anxieties about whether or not you are doing the right thing and help your family start out on the same page.
If you want to talk to someone one-on-one about whether your situation warrants a consultation, call us at 727-447-5845 or contact us online about Aging Wisely consultations. We can also provide you with referrals to elder care professionals in various areas of the country.