Don't forget a geriatric care manager – Home Care Solutions – LIVING WELL Magazine

Financial Planning For Elder Care Options: Don’t Forget a Geriatric Care Manager

By Dianne Boazman, LCSW, CMC, and Betty Landreaux, LCSW, CMC, Home Care Solutions, New Orleans LIVING WELL Magazine

One of the most universal New Year’s resolutions is taking charge of one’s personal finances. Even though older adults may be enjoying retirement, there often is stress and worry about future care costs. A geriatric care manager can play a key role as older adults grapple with the realities of their future.

What can a Geriatric Care Manager offer?

Assessment and Planning

Even before illness or disability, a geriatric care manager can provide realistic information to older adults about long-term care options and the associated costs. Pre-planning can add peace of mind to older adults and their families. Geriatric care managers can help formulate plans suited to the older adult’s anticipated care needs, finances and personality.

Preserving Independence

Understandably, older adults want to avoid the role reversal that often occurs when children need to step in and make decisions for their parents in a crisis. A geriatric care manager can help the older adult to develop their own future plans, to reassure their family members and to remain in charge of their own wishes. Often a geriatric care manager can act as a liaison between the older adult client and family members.

Join Your Team of Professionals

Many older adults have a trusted CPA, financial planner or attorney with whom they collaborate for important financial decisions. Consider adding a geriatric care manager to this team. They can contribute valuable information about costs and options for elder care planning. Facing the realities of one’s future care needs, being knowledgeable about what’s available, and being prepared to fund these choices is another way older adults can take charge.

This year, resolve to include a geriatric care manager in your financial planning process. You will be ensuring that a specialized advisor will be available for your future needs.

Dianne Boazman, LCSW, CM, and Betty Landreaux, LCSW, CMC, NCG, are professional geriatric care managers and owners of Home Care Solutions, offering non-medical home care and geriatric care management services. They can be reached at 504-828-0900 or www.HomeCareNewOrleans.com.