Health & Life Spotlights SeniorBridge's Expertise Screening and Overseeing In-Home Caregivers As Well As Helping Families Navigate Elder Care

Health & Life, a leading lifestyle magazine  published throughout the tri-state area, published a feature story about why and how to purchase long-term care insurance and included a side-bar about the role of a geriatric c care management in helping families understand and implement elder care options.  The article discusses the vulnerability an older person faces when bringing a stranger into his or her  home, and how  SeniorBridge  screens, trains, oversees and holds liability insurance to protect families. 

An excerpt is below.  To read the full article click here.

Many people who struggle with the challenges of caring for an elderly loved one choose to hire help in the form of a geriatric care manager (GCM). A good GCM will assist with shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, bathing, transportation and bill paying for the patient. He or she will ensure that doctors’ orders are being followed and act as a liaison between specialists to reduce medication interaction problems. Supporting family members by facilitating dialogues to help relatives understand and cope with what are often emotionally confusing situations is another important role the GCM fulfills, along with providing invaluable companionship for an elderly loved one.

“But bringing a stranger into the home of a vulnerable older person poses emotional, financial and physical risks,” says Claudia Fine, executive vice president at SeniorBridge, a national network of chronic care facilities with a branch office in Ridgewood.

Large agencies like SeniorBridge rigorously screen and train all potential candidates and offer liability insurance in case something goes wrong. Although there are no licenses for care managers, families who choose to work with a private GCM should first find out if that individual holds a National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) certification. A master’s degree or Ph.D in a related field- such as counseling, nursing, mental health, social work, psychology or gerontology- is also a bonus, says Fine, while good references from previous employers are essential. Conduct an assessment interview to determine the compatibility between caregiver and patient, and consider carrying out a credit check and criminal background check as final security precautions.

To read the full article click here.