The Professional Geriatric Care Manager’s Blog

A Week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manager

I was recently asked by a very concerned daughter to give her my professional opinion on whether her mom should live in the facility where she is staying for respite care or go home with supervision.

Off I went to a subacute facility in Bergen County to meet Ms. H.  Unlike a nursing home, a subacute center’s goal is to rehabilitate someone after a stroke, surgery or recovering after a fall.

Ms. H had fallen multiple times at home where she lives alone, and this last fall resulted in a broken hip. She then needed a hip replacement, and has been rehabilitating at a wonderful facility.

Because the family could not agree on what to do next, the subacute facility offered to keep Ms. H there for respite care as long as the family paid privately.

As a geriatric care manager and registered nurse, I was able to review Ms. H’s chart, speak to the staff, and spend time getting to know Ms. H.  As part of my assessment, I performed a dementia and geriatric depression screening exam on Ms. H, as well as listen and observe her interaction with myself and the staff. The psychosocial portion of any assessment is also a key factor when advocating on the client’s behalf.

After much preparation and thought, the family and I came together to discuss my findings and recommendations.

I am happy to report that all, including Ms. H, are onboard that she will become a permanent resident on the long term wing of this facility. It was apparent that at 96 years young, Ms. H was accepting and enjoying this chapter of her life. As she so eloquently explained to me, “Take life as it comes to you. Don’t fight it. This is where I’m supposed to be”.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

A Week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manager

A simple solution…

Last week, I wrote about Ms. A, who was having difficulty sleeping.  I wrote about and discussed with her and her caregivers the basic tips to achieve a good night’s rest.

I am happy to report that 2 minor changes have made a big difference in the last week.

The caregivers and I figured out that Ms. A’s daily nap schedule was inconsistent.  When I spoke to the 2 caregivers, on their day, they both would assist Ms. A into bed at 1:00pm everyday but one caregiver woke her up consistently at 2:00pm and the other caregiver let Ms. A awake on her own. Depending on the night before, Ms. A would nap anywhere from 1-2 ½ hours. We were all in agreement, including Ms. A, that her nap time would only be from 1:00pm-2:00pm.

The second change we made was to communicate with the night caregivers that fluids should be held if possible after 8:00pm. This suggestion was prompted after learning that on one particular night Ms. A did not have a good night’s sleep because she was up several times using the bathroom.  She enjoys her evening cup of tea but instead of sipping at 9:00pm, we all agreed to move tea time to 7:30 pm.

Hopefully these simple changes will continue to work and Ms. A will consistently get the adequate rest she needs.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

A Week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manager

Doesn’t anybody sleep anymore?  It doesn’t matter how old you are, sleeping well is essential to your physical and emotional well being.

When I visited Ms. A last week, her caregiver immediately informed me that Ms. A had another night of restless sleep.  Without any change recently to medications or diet after a recent check up with her Geriatrician, I thought it would be best to start with the basics of promoting a good night’s rest.

• Refrain from drinking liquids 1 ½ hours prior to retiring for the night.
• Create a routine of relaxation with music, a warm bath or a good book.
• Practice deep breathing techniques to unwind.
• Limit day time naps to less than 1 hour in the early afternoon only.
• Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday; even on the weekends.

Regardless of your age, the above tips can apply to us all. Sometimes just minor changes in our daily routine can be the answer to a much needed good night’s sleep.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

A Week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manager

When I visited with Mr. T last week, we had a chance to have a good talk about his overall health and wellbeing.

As his Geriatric Care Manager and nurse, I have been seeing Mr. T on a biweekly basis for over a year.  At 93 years of age, he is still very independent and lives alone in his own home. He does not have Dementia or show any signs of cognitive decline. I assist him and his children by checking in on him, managing his medical care and help to keep his appointments organized. He drives, pays his own bills, cooks and cleans his own house with flawlessness.

Recently, I asked him what he thought the secret to aging healthfully was. I let him know that I had many clients who suffer from Dementia and many medical issues that lead to their lack of independence. He smiled and said that he is asked this question often and this is what he believes to be true:

“Marry a good person. Love them unconditionally and treat each other with kindness.

Go to the Doctor and talk to him or her honestly about what’s ailing you; this way they’ll know how to make you better.

Drink red wine, eat good food and use olive oil on everything!

Create your own happiness and find a good Geriatric Care Manager to keep you going!”

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

A Week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manger

As a nurse and Geriatric Care Manger, it is typically a son or daughter who contacts us at Distinctive Care.  Their stories have common threads of worry regarding their aging parents.  It could be complex issues which can arise from Alzheimer’s disease or one of the other many types of Dementia, or it could be the apprehension of how to handle their elderly parent’s discharge home from a rehabilitation facility.  We are confident nurses and Geriatric Care Managers who are well versed in all aspects of your loved one’s care. But I often ask, what else I can do to help the son or daughter who is on the verge of caregiver burnout?

Honest communication is of the utmost of importance.  Coming to terms with the changes at hand, asking for help, locating a support group and ultimately finding peace with the current situation is paramount to discovering balance in our hectic lives.

I am reading a magnificent book titled The 36-Hour Day.  Now in its 4^th edition, the book is cited as “A family guide to caring for people with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life.”

I highly recommend this useful book as a tool for anyone in the position of caring for an elderly loved one.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

A Week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manager

This week, I was so glad to receive a call from Mr. T’s son. He asked me to accompany his father to his follow-up appointment with his Nephrologist. Although he does not suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or any other type of Dementia, Mr. T is hard of hearing and struggles to keep up in the conversation with his doctors.

As a Registered Nurse and Geriatric Care Manager with Distinctive Care, I have heard from several families that hiring our company is like having a nurse in the family.  As I communicate, support and advocate on a loved one’s behalf, I can ensure that family living at a distance will have peace of mind.

 With a list of questions, concerns and current medications, I can provide a comprehensive and concise overview on behalf of a client to any physician. With my medical background and my knowledge of past medical history, I can work closely with a doctor to guarantee the best patient care possible.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

A Week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manger

I have been working closely with an elderly woman who is ready to move out of her home and into an assisted living facility in Bergen County, NJ.  With complete openness and honesty, she and her children as well as their husbands have all agreed that her home is too much for her to manage, which I pointed out increases her risk for falls.  While I performed a Geriatric Depression screening test, it was apparent that Ms. M was also moderately depressed.  When she and I reviewed my findings, she admitted that she feels isolated and alone in her home.  Her friends have either passed away or moved out of the area, the volunteer group she used to be involved with has closed its local chapter and, after a recent accident and driving evaluation, it was deemed unsafe for her to continue to drive.

I helped Ms. M and her family find the right Assisted Living Facility.  I narrowed the search for them. They all truly enjoyed the tours and came together to make their decision.

I am pleased to report that a move-in date has been scheduled, which happens to be the day after Ms. M’s going away party.

After all, change is inevitable, why not embrace and celebrate when we can.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

A Week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manager

Living on the east coast, we received an enormous amount of information regarding the impending and ominous Hurricane Irene.  As a Geriatric Care Manager in Bergen County, NJ, my commitment to my elderly clients and their families does not end with my weekly visit.  So many families that we at Distinctive Care assist have become an extension of our own families.  When a senior is safely living in their own home, whether they have Alzheimer’s disease or another type of Dementia with caregivers in place 24/7, or if their cognitive function is not impaired but they are at risk for falls, or on a complex medication regime, as registered nurses and Geriatric Care Managers, we work as a team to consistently and constantly keep our clients safe.

With the flow of information on Hurricane Irene’s path of possible destruction, each Geriatric Care Manger contacted each one of our clients to review a check list to ensure their safety.  We reviewed the website Ready.gov.

We wanted to make sure we weren’t leaving anything out.  We reviewed with our clients and their caregivers the proper precautions to take and we were ready to assist in any way we could. We also included a reminder to pick up any prescriptions or over the counter medications that may be needed. We provided reassurance that we were there if they needed us.

As I write this, the sun is shining in Bergen County. We did not lose power in our area and the flooding will hopefully remain manageable.  Our clients are safe and sound and their families are grateful as are we.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

A week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manager

They say, “Attitude is everything” and this week I witnessed the benefits of a positive attitude first hand.

I’ve written multiple blogs about Ms. S, and as her geriatric care manager for over a year, due to the type of Dementia she has, I have seen a significant decline in her cognition and her ability to perform her own activities of daily living. She now uses a wheelchair and needs help when transferring from the wheelchair to the toilet or her bed.

I have gotten to know her children and have assisted the family with her ongoing needs.  From living at home with minimal assistance to now residing in a secure, Alzheimer’s assisted living facility in Bergen County, NJ, it has been a tough year for them all.

When I spent time with Ms. S and her daughter at a recent appointment with her Geriatrician, I was truly amazed. Her daughter asked all the right, tough questions about what to expect next when dealing with the type of dementia her mom had. She spoke calmly about wanting to do all she could for her mom but stated she understood that she needed to be realistic and prepared for the near future.  She spoke about the importance of living in the present; enjoying time now with her mom exactly where she was.  She expressed her concerns regarding the impending decline and is aware that there is no cure for dementia but expressed that she accepts the cards they were dealt and she is going to make the most of each moment she spends with her mom.  The doctor and I thanked her for sharing her insight with us.  She in turn thanked us for always speaking honestly about her mom’s prognosis and providing her with the options available to ensure that Ms. S continues to be cared for with the respect and compassion that she deserves.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

A Week in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manager

At 95 years young, Ms. A swears that her daily walk keeps her healthy. Rain, snow, sleet or shine, with her caregiver by her side, she makes her way outside.

When Ms. A’s geriatrician learned of this daily occurrence she agreed with the importance of exercise but needed to set some parameters!

Ms. A and her caregivers were educated about heat stroke. The symptoms include dizziness, nausea, vomiting and a headache. Heat stroke is caused by dehydration from prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Some people can develop symptoms of heat stroke rapidly and without warning. Ms. A was reminded that during these very hot days of summer to stay hydrated, walk outside before 10:00am or after 4:00pm and to remain indoors if the temperature is above 85 degrees. She reluctantly agreed.

As her geriatric care manager and fellow exercise fan, I’ve decided to hold off on the winter weather parameters for now!

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York.   We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.  Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.