When you Just Can’t be There

The call comes in to the NJ home care company on a Friday afternoon before a Monday holiday. A frantic, harried voice says, “My mother has just been taken to the hospital. She had a fall and a neighbor had not seen her at her usual time pruning the roses, so she went to check. The ambulance is taking her now. I am the only family and I am in San Diego with a troupe of cub scouts for a three-day camping trip. Is there anyone who can help me?”

Another call comes in. This one is on Tuesday, and a weak voice asks, “Can you be available to assist me when I come home from the hospital? My doctor wants to runs some tests, and I am afraid he will want to operate. Right now I am taking care of myself, but, what happens if I am too weak to do so upon my return home? My family is all gone. I had no children, and my husband and sister have all passed.”

These are two examples of situations that are now happening more frequently than ever before. In addition to home care, these two callers need a professional to handle just such emergencies and situations: a Professional Geriatric Care Manager. When there is a need, in many instances, when one is sick or recuperating, for someone to coordinate services and to run interference with the medical and social helping professions, and the home management needs, more than a caregiver is needed, a professional who is familiar with resources and can serve as ad advocate for the client is also needed when there is no family.

There are so many tasks that are so difficult to perform if one is not mobile and clear headed and energetic. Just checking out of the hospital and coming home can be a chore. The house has been shut up for a few days. The food in the refrigerator is spoiled and must be cleaned out and discarded and sorted. The medicines prescribed by the releasing physician are not the same as the list given by the doctor in the hospital, and they do not correspond with medicines taken before hospitalization. Someone has to go through it all, one by one, and get it all straightened out.

The air conditioning unit blows, and it is 90 degrees outside. Someone has to be available to let the technicians in, and to make the phone calls to get them there, and to get a fan set up in the meantime.

The dog was in the kennel, and now needs to get back home. However, it is time for the annual bath and flea removal: a must now that the dog has been in the kennel. Having the family dog around, however, is such a part of life, that it would make one feel better to have him there at home. Someone needs to tend to it.

Recuperating from an operation, or an illness is enough of an energy drainer, that oftentimes there just is not enough time or energy to get everything done. If family and friends can help, that is great. However, there are many times when what one needs is just too much to ask a neighbor or friend to do. Or a family with young children and heavy family responsibilities of their own may not be able to run another household also.

Professional geriatric care management is a level above caregiving services. It is a level of care that is usually performed by a professional social worker, nurse or gerontologist. This person has experience with the resources available in the community, as well as situations that are similar in nature. This person will act as a surrogate family member and do what needs to be done. The care manager can monitor care, coordinate necessary services, pay bills and make sure insurance is filed, update out of town family members on the situation, arrange for repair or maintenance services, and work with the physician to make sure orders are being carried out.

The professional geriatric care manager can monitor and arrange for services that fall into the home management area. Making sure things are fixed and taken care of is a big job in today’s lifestyle. Nothing is easy to arrange or do, and very few businesses will work around anyone’s schedule. When someone is ill or recuperating, life and the household goes on. Someone has to make sure that everything that needs to be done gets done.

Another facet of geriatric care management is searching for resources. As a professional involved in the medical and social network that serves those in need, the Professional Geriatric Care Manager has access to programs and services that are available and appropriate. Knowing what program is better for whom is knowledge that the care manager receives from working in various settings and with various aging issues.

About the Author

Barbra London brings more than 20 years of geriatric experience as SVP, operations and education to Freedom Eldercare (http://www.freedomeldercare.com), the community’s leader in comprehensive eldercare service delivery.

In her first job as a professional social worker, she was responsible for the operation of the first federally funded Elderly Day Care Program in the state that is the model used today. Previous positions held are Assistant Executive Director of a 300-bed long-term care facility in New Jersey and General Manager of a large Marriott Assisted Living community.

For the past six years, she has practiced geriatric care management and is a a foremost educator in geriatric and aging solutions. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, she is a member in good standing with the Academy of Certified Social Workers. London holds a Masters in Social Work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work and a BS from American University.

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Kennels In Nj

are there any clean, reputable dog kennels near Cape May, NJ?

So far I've only found two that seem to be potentials, but have mixed reviews (Clermont Country Kennels, and Windrift Kennels). Can anyone with personal experience comment on other Kennels in the area (within 30 minutes) and recommend a place? Thanks in advance.

no there is not

Kennels In Nj
Highland Kennels, Howell, NJ

Kennels In Nj

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