Where To Begin When Dad is Having Major Healthcare Challenges

A good red flag for most families is frequent trips to the doctor or even to the ER. They seem minor and not life threatening – but they are the call to action.

Many adult children think moving to a retirement community is the answer – it could be, but more needs to be explored before you make such a serious decision.

Adult children can spend hours on the internet looking for answers leaving them even more confused on what an aging parent might need. Is it “in-home caregiving,” more community socialization or maybe a new doctor might be needed? Or, something else?

You have a list of Dad’s medications and you have looked them all up. They seem to be for a variety of reasons – but of course Dad sees about five doctors regularly. You wonder, do they all know what the other is prescribing?

You are also noticing that dad is not keeping up his appearance and seems to be losing weight, but he is sharp and has a good attitude. This can all be very confusing information to process. You can be at a loss without a road map on what needs to be addressed and with whom.

That is where a Professional Geriatric Care Manager, also called an “Aging Life Care” professional, can save you hours of searching and worry. His or her expertise, education and certification will be useful in helping to guide you, so you can begin to prioritize what needs to be addressed and what community or health care resources you should be aware of. This will help ensure that Dad has the best life can give him at this stage of his journey.

The Care Manager will be your clearing house for resources because they know the best in your community (from their experience with other families just like yours). The Care Manager will be your advocate from the first call to the very end of Dad’s life, seeing that stress is minimized and quality is enhanced.

Don’t wander in the darkness of the internet without a good compass in the form of the seasoned expert found in a Care Manager. Give us a call at (866) 760-1808 and start with a consultation of one hour or our 5 hour Comprehensive Plan – that includes an office visit, a home visit, a written care plan and then a planning meeting! For more information on what Eldercare caregivers can provide click here and we would be happy to help provide you with some piece of mind during your healthcare journey.

Eldercare Services has been providing Bay Area families with Care Management, Home Care Services, Advocacy, Counseling, Support Groups and Education since 1989. Visit our website: Eldercare Services has been providing Bay Area families with Care Management, Home Care Services, Advocacy, Counseling, Support Groups and Education since 1989. Visit our website: www.EldercareAnswers.com