I have a wonderful company to lead and we always refer to ourselves as the “team”. No matter what you do or what your job description is, you work for a common goal. In our case, it is quality of life for elders and peace for families. We acknowledge that the journey of aging can be stressful and very hard for individuals and families to seek help. We all think we should be able to do anything alone – forgetting we can’t excel at all elements of life – we just can’t be objective when it concerns someone we love. We turn to doctors, lawyers, accountants, and we should also turn to those who have expertise in any area we find challenge or dilemma.
One of the values for families using Eldercare Services Professional Care Managers in the San Francisco Bay Area is that we resource each other when looking to solve a problem or find an appropriate resource/service for a client. This means that the “collective wisdom” of 20 very experienced, well prepared and certified care managers is sourced for every challenge the family faces. This is the reason many families choose our company over others who may have limited professional expertise.
Adding a Geriatric Care Manager to your family’s team gives them the ability to use objective eyes to see with clarity what they can’t because of past history, unrealistic expectations and sometimes just denial. The professional Care Manager will help the family see, in their own time, what they need to see, will guide them in the options available, help them with challenging decisions and act as an advocate when or if needed. They are the “quarterback” on your family’s team – making calls that will meet the goal of winning, when it comes to peace, during a crisis or challenging decision.
Sometimes a family only needs a map on how to get from base to base and other times they need a coach, a trainer and a shoulder to lean on when the process is tough. Teams need leadership but the leader should always take into consideration the value and goals of the client. That is what we do on our team at Eldercare. We make recommendations based on past history, client values and existing resources. The client (older adult) is our primary focus; however, the entire family is always in the broader picture.