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M$5 December 27, 2008 07:20 PM

What type of health professional or consultant can I hire to give advice on caring for ailing, elderly father?

When I have a tax issue, I hire an accountant to answer my questions. When I have a legal problem, I hire an attorney. Is there some type of health care professional that can give me advice on how to effectively care for my ailing, elderly father? I need advice on 1) how to care for my ailing Dad, and/or 2) how to find and get my father into good local elderly care facilities (assisted living, nursing homes). Any advice on this would be appreciated.
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December 27, 2008 07:38 PM
Usually a private nurse who is working freelance would be the best person to hire. Someone who works in the geriatric care unit at a local hospital who has some extra time to serve you and your father's need. You should make sure they have expertise in geriatrics. Please see the article below on "Why Hire a Geriatric Care Manager?"

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/why-hire-a-geriatric-care-manager/
Source(s):
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/why-hire-a-geriatric-care-man...

Asker's Rating:
• Thanks much for the info and the link to further info. Very helpful.


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December 27, 2008 07:31 PM
If there's a 211 or information and referral service in your area, you could contact them and they may be able to refer you to such a facility. You could also contact a local hospital, they also most likely have a relationship with such as well.

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December 27, 2008 07:35 PM
I would recommend speaking with a doctor that specializes in geriatric care, preferably one who may be able to recommend a high-quality elderly care facility. You can probably start by researching the facilities in your area, find the one that is the best, and ask about which doctors are on staff there. Then, I would try to get in touch with that doctor and see if you can schedule a meeting with him/her.

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December 27, 2008 08:43 PM
I'd start with your local Ombudsman program. They were very beneficial when my parents were helping my Grandfather after he got terminal cancer.
Source(s):
http://www.ltcombudsman.org/static_pages/help.cfm
(You can also Google search "ombudsman" and whatever your location is.)


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December 27, 2008 08:48 PM
If you're a plane ride away from your father and not able to make the trip easily, one of the private agencies that helps with making and maintaining a care plan could be very useful. In fact, there are companies that offer care planning as a benefit. The drawback is, there aren't a lot of agencies doing this and, if one isn't located quite near your father, the odds are they won't be all that knowledgeable about local resources. If you are nearby and are willing to devote some time, ic would be worthwhile for you to look into established local resources to help you plan. There are several public agencies that serve people who need care and their families. They have local county offices, so the folks there know what's available. Plus, programs change often. The people who work in them have the most up to date knowledge.

When I say agencies, I'm making the assumption that you and your father live in the US. If not, please look for analogous agencies where you are. Agencies that could help you are the Department of Social Services (DSS) or Human Services (DHS), the Office for the Aging (OFA) and the county's nursing service. Services from these agencies are usually low cost or free of charge. Folks at these agencies can tell you what types of services are available to your father and the requirements for receiving them. They'll also know about fees and payment arrangements. They'll probably even know where the vacancies are.

Your locality may have a Single Point of Entry (SPE) agency, a place that directs people to the services they need. Your best bet is to start with OFA. If there's a SPE, they'll know about it. If not, they can do something similar, if not as in depth. It's their job to know what programs are available to help seniors. Even if it's not one of their programs, they can steer you to the agency who does administer it. They can also explain the different types of care available, which can range from a few hours a week at home to 24 hour care in a skilled nursing facility, depending on what your father needs. Other services that might be available include in home aide or nurse care, adult day care, a personal emergency response system (the button you push to call for help), home delivered meals, rehabilitation services, and durable medical equipment such as a wheelchair or oxygen system. Some localities have all these and more, some have fewer. What you want to know is which services you need and how to arrange for them and, with a little help from folks whose job it is to help, you can actually do most of that yourself.
Source(s):
I used to be one of those folks.


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December 28, 2008 10:47 AM
Thanks much for the info. I'll check for SPE agency in my area.

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December 28, 2008 04:12 AM
A Geriatric doctor specializes in treating the elderly.

You can also look into specialties for specific problems your dad has, i.e. if he has heart problem find a cardiologist, if he has mental illness find a psychiatrist.

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