When Adult Children Become Caregivers Geriatric Care Managers Can Help

According to statistics from the National Institute on Aging, there were 37 million people age 65 or older in 2006, that’s 12 percent of the population.  By 2030, as the Baby Boomer generation ages, that number is predicted to rise dramatically.  Projections forecast that approximately 71.5 million people – about 20 percent of the population – will be 65 or older. Alzheimer’s disease currently affects more than 5 million Americans, and strokes, which also afflict millions of people each year, are the number-one cause of adult disability.

Most adult children find themselves thrust into the caregiving role unexpectedly.  Sometimes it starts with a phone call telling you that your parent has had a terrifying diagnosis. Or a debilitating fall.  All of a sudden, the child becomes the caregiver. You find yourself making decisions for your parent that you never thought you would have to make. While the internet can be a powerful tool in assisting you in your quest, it is also overwhelming in the amount of information available. 

While information regarding disease and medical options are easier to find on the internet, finding answers to trickier questions about insurance coverage, how to order a hospital bed, how to find and hire a caregiver and other issues are harder to find. Sites like Caring.com, launched by a son who had to quickly navigate taking care of his mother after a diagnosis of lung cancer, are available to help. He wanted to share some of the things he learned when being thrust into the role unexpectedly.

Geriatric Care Managers can be a wealth of information for families who aren’t sure about where to turn and what their options are. They can help with everything from offering a list of resources in the community, to attending doctor appointments with the client to help navigate the sometimes confusing array of tests and treatment options.  Care Managers can report back to the adult children with detailed reports and/or phone calls to discuss options and to explain things in laymen’s terms.  These services can be billed at an hourly rate, or a monthly fee, depending on the needs of the family and the complexity of the case.

About Cleansing Water, Inc.

Cleansing Water, Inc. is a Warrenton, Virginia home health care agency offering professional geriatric care and serving seniors, individuals recovering from surgery, individuals with long-term disabilities, and other clients throughout Fauquier, Culpeper, Gainesville, Haymarket, Middleburg, Prince William, Rappahannock and other Piedmont Virginia communities. We provide in-home companions, certified nursing assistants, and geriatric care managers to assist with the tasks of daily living, monitor health and medications, and ensure clients are well cared for, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

For more information about Cleansing Water’s short-term and long-term home health care services, Call (540) 341-0212 or our toll-free number, (866) 294-4665, to schedule a consultation and discuss your geriatric care and home health care options. You can also visit CleansingWater.com for more information.