In-Home Care Company in Ann Arbor Michigan Celebrates National Geriatric Care Manager Month

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - May 3, 2014 - PRLog -- Put yourself in Lucinda’s shoes. Mom, who is recovering from a bungled knee surgery, fell at the hospital, shattering her ankle. Mom is currently in a rehabilitation facility, but wants to return home . . . NOW. As the only sibling in the area, Lucinda has drained all her vacation/sick leave to help her mother. The medical, insurance, financial and home care questions spin in Lucinda’s head as her stress heightens. Who can help Mom stay safe as she recovers at home? How much would that cost? What does Medicaid cover? How do I keep up with her insurance complications? Do we have any legal recourse with the neglectful surgeon? How can I juggle all the communications with her doctors and physical therapist?

Inundated by the logistical tsunami, Lucinda found answers in one person: a professional geriatric care manager. Specializing in aging and elder care issues, a geriatric care manager is a health and human services professional who helps guide and advocate for families caring for older relatives and disabled adults. May is National Geriatric Care Manager Month, and Right at Home of Ann Arbor, an in-home care company in Metro Detroit Michigan, is celebrating by spreading information about the impact they have on aging adults and those with disabilities.

Geriatric care managers are educated and experienced in care management fields, including nursing, gerontology, social work and psychology, with a focus on assisting older people, people with disabilities and family caregivers. Geriatric care managers help families make sound decisions and take appropriate actions to ensure best-quality, safe care for elderly loved ones.

“We look forward to National Geriatric Care Manager Month as a way to honor the geriatric care managers across the country,” said Charles Williams, President and General Manager of Right at Home of Ann Arbor. “These tireless health professionals relieve so much stress and worry for families who often feel overwhelmed with how to plan and problem-solve all the dynamics of caring for their older loved ones and other family members facing health challenges.”

Williams notes that America’s baby boomer population is expected to climb to nearly 87 million by 2050, and as more and more individuals prefer to age in place with at-home care, professional geriatric care managers will prove increasingly beneficial. The care manager is the central link between the senior’s family and friends, primary physician, healthcare facilities, in-home care company, pharmacy, attorney, and any other facet of the client’s care. Geriatric care managers provide a holistic approach to a client’s health needs, assisting in a broad range of services including:

Medical management—facilitating communication among doctors, client and family; attending doctor appointments
Home care services—evaluating in-home care such as Right at Home of Ann Arbor to secure the safety and well-being of the client; assisting the family in overseeing the services
Financial oversight—monitoring bill paying or consulting with the client’s accountant or power of attorney
Legal concerns—consulting with or making a referral to an elder law attorney; in court, sharing an expert opinion for determining the appropriate level of care

The country’s professional geriatric care managers are certified by a specific care management organization (e.g., the National Association of Social Workers) and they belong to the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, which was formed in 1985 to advance dignified care for senior adults and their families. For more information about National Geriatric Care Manager Month or to access a nationwide directory of professional geriatric care managers, visit www.caremanager.org.

About Right at Home

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers home healthcare and companionship and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. Local Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with franchise offices located in 42 states nationwide and throughout the world. For more information on Right at Home, read the Right at Home caregiving blog at http://www.rightathome.net/blog.

About Right at Home of Ann Arbor

The Ann Arbor Michigan office of Right at Home is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., providing in-home care to the communities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Belleville, Plymouth, Chelsea, Dearborn, Canton, Dexter, and beyond. For more information, contact Right at Home of Ann Arbor at http://www.rightathome.net/washtenaw or by phone at (734) 971-5000.