AARP Bulletin Features the Expertise of SeniorBridge's Susan Fleischer in Helping Families Prevent and Respond to "Caregiving Crises"

SeniorBridge's Susan Fleischer, LCSW, DCSW,CSWM, CMC, CMFSW, Executive Director of the SeniorBridge Care Management Network and President of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers was featured in AARP Bulletin, one of two magazines with the highest circulation in the United States. 

Below is an excerpt of the article.  You can view the entire article by clicking here.

The phone rings at 2 a.m. Your mother's voice shakes as she tells you your father has been rushed to the emergency room. You have so many questions, most of which your mother cannot answer. If you live nearby, you head to the hospital. If you don't, you have to decide whether the situation is serious enough to make a trip.

Either way, you're in the midst of a caregiving crisis. It's stressful. It's overwhelming. But it can be managed. Here's how...

"Some people think better when they're in a crisis," says Fleischer. "And some people become so scattered." Figure out who in your family performs best under pressure and designate him or her as the one to interact with doctors, nurses, social workers and other hospital personnel.

If no one is up to this task, or you're a long-distance caregiver, Fleischer suggests hiring a geriatric care manager (GCM). A GCM, which costs between $50 and $200 an hour, can coordinate information between doctors and help you figure out the next step after the hospital stay, whether it's establishing supports necessary to return home or choosing the best assisted living or nursing home for your parent's needs. For long-distance caregivers, a GCM can also help you determine whether you need to hop on the next plane or you can wait a couple of days. Some employers provide GCM services as part of their benefit packages, so call your provider and ask what elder care services are offered.