Worth Magazine Spotlights SeniorBridge’s Dr. Eric Rackow and Claudia Fine in a Story About the Benefits of Hiring a Parental Care Consultant (or Care Manager)

A leading bimonthly magazine with a reputation for providing advice about financial, legal and lifestyle issues spotlights the role of an elder care coach in improving the lives of elderly people who have chronic conditions and their family members and offers expert perspectives from SeniorBridge’s Dr. Eric C. Rackow, Claudia Fine, LCSW, MPH and other experts.

The article offers strategies for selecting the right care manager – including selecting one from an agency with CHAP accreditation, available data about the rate at which clients are admitted to the hospital and visit the emergency room, an on-call nurse to answer questions in-person and by phone 24-hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays – all attributes SeniorBridge offers. 

Below is an excerpt from the article. To read it online, click here.

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10 Questions for Your Parental Care Consultant

Parents and grandparents are living  longer than ever  - but longevity comes with challenges.

1. What is a parental care consultant and why should I hire one?

Parental care consultants organize and implement healthcare plans for aging parents with chronic conditions. They can also help ensure that the logistics of parental care don’t overwhelm loved ones.  “If you offer help, then everyone does better – the patients and the families, says Dr. Eric Rackow, president and CEO of SeniorBridge a national elder care company.

2. Why do I need a parental care consultant as opposed to just a nurse?

A care manager can oversee all the issues regarding your parent’s health, from coordinating communication between doctors and patient to making sure that a caregiver’s debit card has enough money to pay the grocery bill.  “A manager coordinates the right person for the job and often saves the family money,” says Keith Klovee-Smith, national manager of elder services at Wells Fargo Bank.

3. What’s the right time to employ such a consultant?

Often it’s when your parent has had a new medical diagnosis and/or you’ve  noticed any decline in his or her health. “The signs can be subtle – even minimal memory loss could be an indication,” Rackow says.

4. What’s the hardest part of transitioning parents from independence to homecare?

“Having the conversation,” says Deborah Korompilas, head of trust and estate settlement services at BMO Harris Private Bank.  The three key areas to discuss are financial, legal and medical.  “The smoothness of the transition depends entirely on the families’ willingness to have the conversation.” 

5. So how do I make that conversation easier?

“Put the parent in the driver’s seat,” says Claudia Fine, chief professional officer at SeniorBridge.  “Position the help as someone your parent will manage.” Adds Klovee-Smith, “Don’t have an all-or-nothing approach.  People need help in increments.” If these strategies fail, consider an outside expert.  “A doctor, lawyer or financial advisor could recommend or even prescribe that your parent needs a care manager,” Fine says.

6. What are the pros and cons of homecare versus assisted living?

It’s costly, but round-the-clock home care is generally considered preferable to assisted living in a facility.  “Every time seniors go to the hospital, it can shorten their life” due to gaps in care and the dislocation of leaving home,” Rackow says.

7.    How can I prevent my parents from becoming victims of abuse and/or fraud?

Avoid using grey market caregiver-independent contractors found through word of mouth – who might lack professional qualifications.  “Trust your common sense and intuition.” Klovee-Smith  notes.  “Just paying attention to the situation will limit fraud and abuse.”

8.    Parental care consultants don’t have to be licensed, so how can I evaluate them?

Ask what their clients’ hospitalization and emergency room visit rates are, and discuss the answers with your parent’s doctors.  Also, do they have accreditation from groups such as CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program) or TJC (the Joint Commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations)?

9.    What important question do clients sometimes forget to ask their parental care agency?

What happens when the caregiver doesn’t show up?” Klovee-Smith says.  Make sure the agency has an on-staff nurse supervisor on call nights and weekends to intervene on the phone or in-person.

10.  Any advice for communicating with a parent in decline?

“Remember that 80-year-olds don’t normally see themselves as 80-year-olds,” Klovee-Smith says.  “Ask him or her ‘How old would you be if you couldn’t remember your birthday?” The self-image is often under 60.”

To read more from Worth Magazine, click here.