Bridging Generations

One of the clinical skills necessary for good care management is professional interviewing ability.  I ”listen with the third ear”.  I listen before I advise.

1.  I meet the frail elder personally, along with interested and responsible family members.

2.  A functional and interactive assessment is conducted to determine the older person’s mental abilities, social style, physical limitations, ability to purchase services if recommended, and family support system.

3.  A plan of action may be implemented immediately or over an extended period of time.  Choices such as employing a home care worker, enrolling the elder in a day program, transitioning the elder into congregate living are options, as is implementing a PERS (Personal Emergency Response System).

4.  Sometimes additional information needs to be gathered through medical testing, consultation with the family attorney, or a conference with the accountant.

5.  Cost and performance expectations are discussed between the care manager and the family members…geriatric care consultation is always an interactive process.

6.  Once a plan is in place, the care manager may be retained to monitor the progress of the plan.  On the other hand, immediate action is sometimes refused by the frail elder but the care manager can help the family wait for a chance to intervene.

7.  At Bridging Generations, I aim to be available “24/7” to support families and their frail elder(s).