Fathers Day - An Aging Parent’s Needs
Visiting Dad on Fathers’s Day can be a bittersweet experience. You want it to be a happy day. You want to thank him for all he did for you. Yet you notice that he seems more confused. He was always well dressed, but now he doesn’t seem to care about his appearance. His home is a mess. When you look in the refrigerator you see that he isn’t shopping and wonder about his nutrition.
Dad took care of you. Now it’s your turn to help him. He probably won’t readily accept your help since that could be viewed as an admission of weakness. The time to have "the conversation" and get him some help is now. Perhaps he needs someone to come in for a few hours each day to help with cleaning, errands, prepare meals, etc.
A Geriatric Care Manager can be very helpful in assisting you through this process.
For information, call Nancy Carey, RN, at (847) 295-3811.
Nina Vallone
8:07 am on Monday, June 20, 2011
Nancy, what is a geriatric care manager? Is this an independent consultant or someone I can find through a nursing home or assisted living facility. I would love to learn more about this. Thanks!
Nancy Carey
12:14 pm on Monday, June 20, 2011
Hi Nina:
Geriatric Care Managers are independent medical consultants, often with nursing backgrounds, who advise the elderly and their families. Most adult children are concerned with the elder's medical issues and whether they are safe at home. They want to know what services can be brought in to help. Eventually they look for objective advice when evaluating assisted living, nursing homes, etc. You can learn more at my website is www.NSSeniorCare.com or by giving me a call.
Thanks,
Nancy