By Olga BrunnerA Good Daughter
Boca Raton, Florida
Approximately twelve years ago I left San Diego for south Florida to care for my 84 year old mother who had several medical issues requiring surgery.
I made it my business to attend senior fairs, caregiver conferences, caregiver support groups, and purchased The 36 Hour Day. I was my mother’s caregiver.
With a background in Healthcare Administration, I knew how to navigate the system and soon, mom’s neighbors started asking me to replicate the services I had obtained for her.
In early 2000, I received a copy of an article which appeared in AARP Magazine and the seed was planted. I knew I wanted to do Geriatric Care Management and applied for an internship at Lynn University. I also joined the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers as an affiliate member.
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I learned that the practice of care management was not simply about providing resources. After mom’s passing, I completed an M.S. degree with nursing home administration licensure, went to work at a nursing, learned first hand how to provide cognitive stimulation, care planning, and management of our resident’s psycho-social issues.
The rest is history.
I learned I was better equipped to provide these services to clients in the community. I learned that by providing effective care planning early in the disease that most seniors with cognitive impairment could remain in their own homes for as long as possible.
A Good Daughter was formed in honor of the woman who inspired me to help others in the community. The disease changed me forever.In 2005 after Hurricane Wilma, A Good Daughter moved to Boca Raton to share office space with a gero-psychiatrist. Our office staff grew and we began providing the following solutions for long-distance caregivers of parents with an Alzheimer’s Related Disorder:
So what does a typical day look like now?
- Comprehensive assessments and carefully tailored plans of care
- 24 hour on-call service for emergencies
- Medications management
- Medical coordination and advocacy at medical appointments
- Troubleshooting quality concerns with nursing homes and home care agencies
- Entitlements
- Bill paying
- Hurricane planning
- Transportation
- Companionship and activities planning
- Relocation Services
- Caregiver selection assistance
- Training and supervision of paid caregivers
- Alzheimer’s training and Core Regulations training for Assisted Living
- Monthly Dementia support group for Families
Just this morning I managed to arrange for the vehicle transport to New Jersey for a recently diagnosed client, consoled her while she gave up her car keys and title, reassured her that she would now be chauffered, and what could be better than that?
Following that I left to see the primary care doctor of another memory impaired client who was just discharged from the hospital. When her husband (and primary caregiver) arrived, I noticed his face had a yellow-green pallor. He got up to leave and almost fell from a hypoglycemic event. I got him treated immediately by the primary doctor. While waiting for his labs and EKG results, I obtained a prescription for physical therapy for his wife, and ordered them a set of wheelchairs from a local supplier.
Thanks to my Blackberry, when the results were back I emailed them to his nephrologist, updated the long distance son as to his parent’s status, took them to lunch, and returned to their home to make sure the anti-hypertension medication would not be given this evening per doctor’s orders.
Then I returned to the office to check emails, heard from a former client’s daughter informing me that her mother is under hospice care, followed up with information needed by another client’s C.P.A., informed the family of the client who had just lost her driving privileges that I had the title and keys, spoke with staff about tomorrow’s appointments, and entered today’s notes into our database before I left for the day.
It is a terrific profession and one that puts us in a position of trust.
As a result of that position of trust, certain safeguards must be met by members of our National Association to protect clients from unscrupulous providers. We adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
As of 2010, all professional geriatric care managers will be certified. Certification is rigorous and time consuming, with mandatory continuing education and peer review requirements that must be met in order to be recertified every three years by the National Academy.
Our members have access to a national list-serve where problematic care management issues are openly discussed -- a wonderful training ground for new care managers.
Currently, the Florida Chapter of GCMs has been working with the State of Florida towards licensing our profession as a separate entity from social work or nursing. Care Management will become recognized as an independent profession - one that may eventually become eligible for Medicare reimbursement.
The message is clear. Understanding the secrets to long-term care planning, caregiving, and crisis management is essential for all families who want to keep their seniors home for life.
Planning ahead for long-term care has never been more important.
Geriatric Care Management is a truly holistic approach to caring for the aging adult. The level of professionalism and knowledge of the local regulations and laws are of great value to families. We are considered “advocates” for the elderly.
Geriatric Care Management is paid for privately by clients and family members. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover these services today.
Long-Term Care Insurance does cover some or the entire care management fee.
Our monthly dementia support group is open to family caregivers at no charge and meets evenings on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.
Olga’s elderly aunt is credited with the name, A Good Daughter, when she and her husband moved from Tampa so that Olga could help them. She began a mantra that stuck – and eventually led to the Boca Raton venture. “She was always following me around saying, ‘you’re such a good daughter’. Now I run a service business that does what long distance sons and daughters cannot do, be there at a moment’s notice.
Go here to learn more about A Good Daughter.
To find out more about the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Go here.
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