The words Professional Care Manager may seem a bit daunting when your goal is getting your parents help yet your aging parents are resisting help.
It may seem impossible to convince your family members to seek guidance even though it is evident they are in desperate need of assistance. The truth is, investing in a Professional Care Manager for your loved one is beneficial to everyone involved and is not as difficult as it may seem.
This is an email I received from a client not long ago:
My dad is 85 and mom is 83 with dementia and hearing loss. Dad has some arthritis, cardiac issues managed with medications, but is mentally very sharp. Dad is beginning to complain about his lack of sleep. Mom is waking up in the middle of the night convinced it is time for breakfast. My dad tries for over an hour to get her back to bed, which leads to my father struggling to fall back asleep. It seems like an endless cycle leaving both of them exhausted.
It is common for older couples to try and care for one another without a Professional Care Manager’s expertise. This amount of stress takes a toll on both their emotional and physical well-being. The adult children offer to help, but are often turned away by the care-taking parent. The care-taking parent might say, “I am doing just fine.” Or, “I don’t think your mom would want anyone in the house, she would send them away.”
If the well parent does not get some respite from caregiving, or a short-term break from the daily responsibilities, bigger problems can arise.
They are at a very high risk for clinical depression, other serious illnesses or even death. Families need to step in and design creative interventions.
This is where the Professional Geriatric Care Manager becomes your coach and mentor – leading everyone in the family to a place of peace.
Your dad is right; mom is going to send a caregiver away if we don’t design just the perfect plan for her. Gentile nudging can be given to help mom deal with the slight change in her routine. Once a relationship is made with a Professional Care Manager it will give Dad the respite time he needs.
Every family and situation needs a different approach or plan. Calling a home care agency to get a few hours of support once or twice a week is not the answer. The best solution is to come up with a creative plan that takes into consideration the person who needs care, their mental status, care needs, personality, life-interests, and values.
Call us at Eldercare Services today. We want to help you get your parents the help they need.
When we as Professional Care Managers design a care plan they are created with success in mind. Approaching the situation in a specific way, starting slow and building up to the goal of 4 hours 3 times a week, if that is the needed and desired plan of care.
The healthier spouse can often have feelings of guilt as the main caretaker. Having the pressure of being in charge of it all can cause large amounts of stress and worry. A Professional Care Manager can offer support groups in the area for those in stressful caregiving roles. We have a monthly support group in our Walnut Creek office. If you live out of our area, we can direct you to a group offered in your community.
Give the well parent the help that they need by bringing in a “neutral” third party. A Professional Care Manager has the expertise to gain trust with the client. Often presenting a rational reason why it is important to pay attention to self-care. We help them envision what will happen to the ill spouse when they are not around. This is usually a big motivator to try some intervention and get them back to their much-needed relaxing pastime.
We have a staff of 8 Professional Care Managers with advanced degrees, certifications and years of experience with clients just like your parents. Give us a call today at (866) 272-3769.
