I am curious as to the cost of a GCM. What is a range of cost for initial eval? And follow-up visits? This might be a good way for me to have my dad evaluated (he lives with us) and reassure out of state relatives, that he is in fact doing fine in our home. And also to provide a third person to suggest perhaps he needs more care than we can provide. But I know dad would not want to pay for this- - so I would be paying, and why hasn't anyone told us "about" what it costs? Is it $100 or $1000, or do they waive the initial consult if you sign up for monthly visits?
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A geriatric case manager RN saved my Mom's life, probably more than once. I was 4000 miles away and Mom was in a nursing home. The case manager saw to it that the level of care was good and that the facility treated her properly. She took Mom to the outside MD to get a second opinion on a chronic problem. When the facility moved Mom to a different floor where there was no activity, no events, almost a place to die, the case manager told me and I insisted she be moved back to the previous floor and allowed to participate in activities to increase her strength. She also caught medication issues. Expensive but very worth it.
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My folks are 600 miles away and still at home. I would like to get them in assited living but my father will never leave leave his little farm until his dementia gets so advanced he won't know the difference. With a good strong POA I've been able to take care of finances, and monthly bills. Right now my mom is mentally capable and dad is physically capable so they make a pretty good team. I make the 10 hour trip to see them every few weeks and whenever we have a medical crisis with mom. I have a gps tracking device on dads car. I can see where he is and where he's been with any internet device. I check on him two or three times a day. I have all contact numbers for docs, hospital, utilities, finances, neighbors and my nephew (their grandson) who lives nearby. I call every day and make sure they're ok. I just got a call blocker device to put on their phone the next trip down. I just noticed on a credit card bill that dad gave his card number to some "charity" over the phone. I've read good reviews of this particular device and hope to put an end to the dozens of telemarketers that call each day. So this is my recipe for long distance elder care and maybe someone could use some of these ideas. I know I'll be making more frequent trips in the future and when we face the end of dads driving and move to care facilities I'll surely be down there for extended periods. Fortunately I just retired but I don't plan to move there or have them move here. I'll do everything possible to care for my parents but I don't want it to completely take over my life.
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Great stuff!
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My mother lives many states away. She recently lost her partner, has a lot of mobility and other medical issues, and is generally miserable all the time. This is not new, she's been miserable all her life. Its just worse now. I see changes that others do not. Her memory is slipping, her processing skills just don't seem to be anything like they used to be. She still drives and is a disaster on the road, at age 87. She has an aide 6 hours a day but I think she is going to fire her because she doesn't think she needs anyone. Her behaviors revert at times to those of a 3 year old who isn't getting their way. I am at my wits end. I am retired and see no relief from this situation. Do I put her in assisted living, if I can convince her to go ? And where, there or where I live ? I don't want her near me, but I know that I will have to monitor wherever she ends up and you can't do that from a far distance. I see no retirement of my own as her family lives well into their 90's. There just seems to be no solutions.
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RCW111,
I to have the same problem with my parents. Both are in assisted living facility in a one BR. I can relate to your wife dealing with the long distance...I am 6 hours away and everytime one has to go to the hospital, I am the only one that goes. I do have some suggestions for the cost...my father is a WW II vet and is eligible for Aid and Attendance benefit. It covers a large portion of the cost of his care AND care for my mother. Here is a link for you to do some research and see if your father in law is eligible. Aging parents has become the most difficult part of my life. It sounds like you are very supportive of your wife and believe me that helps so much. I also have a saint for a husband who supports me. Take care!
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We live about 8 -9 hours away from where my wifes parants are living in an assisted living facility, there home was in that city. Her mother has just now been reported to us as being abusive towards her father. They are sharing a studio, and now the facility wants to put them in seperate rooms . The cost will rise to over $ 10,000. per month and we simply cannot afford this without the help of some agency.We tried in home nursing however they simply did not get the help they needed. He has Medicare,AARP, and is a veteran of WW 11. Any thoughts ?
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Care giver/manager is fine, but when mom's falling weekly and in the hospital I keep driving 1,000 miles RT to see about her. Mom doesn't want to move from her assisted living, out-of-town sister not helping much and I'm worn out with the traveling, disruption of my own life.
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