3 Elder Care Services Check on Your Assisted Living Facilty
These 3 Elder Care Services can help you to be sure that mom is doing okay.We have all heard horror stories. Even the “best” assisted living home can sometimes fall short on the care your aging parent receives. Is she getting what you are paying for?
You do your best to check on her but, is it enough? Sometimes it pays to have an extra set of eyes on mom and the assisted living facility she is residing in. An outsider visiting Mom may be able to see things you may not notice and the right person can get mom to open up and let you know what is really happening.The following elder care services will send in professionals to can visit Mom regularly. They will be able to let you know what is happening and what is not happening at the assisted living home where mom lives.
Geriatric Care Manager/ Aging Life Care Manager
This is usually someone with a nursing or social work background. Their primary goal is as an advocate for your mom. They are also able to access, plan and coordinate services with other medical professionals. They will often be the liaison between the doctor and the family. A Geriatric Care Manager can help you make decisions on healthcare choices for an aging loved one. If you do not live in the same town as your loved one or may be away a lot on business, it may be wise to hire the services of a Geriatric Care Manager.
How they work-
Most Care Managers require a retainer fee up front. Expect to spend $1000 or more. They will usually charge an hourly fee for services provided. Fees vary depending on your area but expect over $100 per hour. You can hire them to handle everything related to your loved one’s care or just the services you need. Go to Aging Life Care Organization to find a Geriatric Care Manager.
Senior Care Auditors
This is a relatively new profession in the elder care services arena. It was born from a desire to make sure that seniors in facilities were being cared for properly and to notice cases of abuse. The people working in this field come from all walks of life and often have a strong passion for helping the elderly. There are several companies that offer this service. They train the employees to notice a variety of different things in the community. An auditor will spend about 20 to 30 minutes and will assess the facility for safety, cleanliness, supplies, and caregiver observations. This service is great for someone who lives out of town or just needs reassurance that everything is going well at Mom’s assisted living home.
How they work-
Auditors can visit weekly, monthly or twice a month. Prices start at $129 depending on how often you need services. Per visit price goes down when more visits are requested.
Licensed Massage Therapist
Many families hire massage therapists to come in to relieve the pain of arthritis or to help calm an anxious senior. A massage therapist is like a fly on the wall in an assisted living facility. Unlike when a Senior Care Auditor or a Geriatric Care Manager enters the building, when a massage therapist visits, the staff will continue their normal routine. They know the auditor or care manager is looking at what is going on and reporting back to the family, but they do not realize the massage therapist is also paying attention and reporting to the family. In other words they don’t try to make things look better than they are.
Because of the nature of their work a massage therapist who comes every week or two will get to know your mom on a deep and intimate level. Touch is a very strong connection. As they develop this connection, mom may confide concerns she may have. The therapist is also in a good position to notice physical and mental changes or signs of abuse. They are able to alert the family of anything they notice.
Look for a therapist who has been in the profession for at least 10 years, is trained in geriatric massage or has worked in a hospital or rehabilitation setting with elderly people. Texas massage therapists must be licensed. Check your state for requirements. Ask friends for recommendations. Need a therapist in Houston? Send an email
How they work?
Most are independent and will charge will be $30 to $40 for a half hour massage. Hire one weekly if possible so they can develop that relationship and trust. Refer them to others in the building and they may even give you a price break.A small price to pay to relax mom and give you peace of mind.
All of these professionals can be there when you cannot and will be able to give you an unbiased opinion of what is really going on with mom. Even the best assisted living home may fall short in some areas. read my previous blog Is your Assisted Living Home Forgetting Something? These elder care services are available in other settings, such as a nursing home.
Author- Kathryn Watson
Like many today Kathryn Watson was thrust into the world of Eldercare with little knowledge or understanding of the industry. The challenges she overcame led her to write Help! My Parents Are Aging and Help! I Can’t Do This Alone and to create a web directory for Houston families. Find Houston Senior Care offers both resources and information to help you navigate the elder care world.