Seniors living independently who need a little help can get in home care to support them in daily living. We’ve shared all the ways a companion caregiver can help at home in many recent blogs, including ‘What Can A Home Care Aide Do For You’. For needs outside of home care solutions, there’s other expert help families and their loved ones can tap into that support both aging in place and transitioning to a facility. We’ve made a list of seven professionals and specialists that seniors can bring onto their support team for help with medical, legal, financial, and logistical issues.
One of the most important challenges facing seniors is determining who they can rely on for help as they age. A professional and well-rounded team of aging care providers is critical for ‘new’ seniors and the elderly in home care, and everyone in between. A trustworthy team that supports physical, financial, and mental well-being is the support network seniors need to live comfortably as they grow older.
Geriatrician
The Johns Hopkins website says that “Geriatricians are primary care doctors who have additional specialized training in treating older patients. They can practice in outpatient settings, nursing facilities or hospitals. Geriatricians often work as part of a treatment team with other primary care providers, focusing on helping older patients who have multiple health problems or complex conditions. A geriatrician can be helpful if you:
- Suffer from multiple medical conditions
- Find that treatment for one medical condition negatively affects a second condition
- Are experiencing functional decline or physical frailty
- Have a disease associated with aging, such as dementia, incontinence or osteoporosis
- Manage multiple medications (especially if they’re causing side effects that interfere with your well-being).”
Elder Law Attorney
Per the National Elder Law Foundation, “Elder law attorneys are very different from other attorneys. They define their practice not by the type of legal problems they handle but by the type of persons they help. Elder law attorneys are very different from other attorneys. They define their practice not by the type of legal problems they handle but by the type of persons they help. Like Aging Life Care Professionals, they help families to maximize the independence and quality of life of older persons. Elder law attorneys can help families accomplish this while best utilizing and protecting life savings. They make sure that older persons receive whatever help or care they may need in ways that best utilize family and government resources.”
Eldercare Financial Planner (EFP)
Financial advisors who focus on elder-care planning are specialists in geriatric financial support services. The benefits of working with an EFP include protection from financial elder abuse, having an impartial moderator in family financial discussions, and senior-focused estate planning. They can be Certified Financial Planners (CFP), personal financial specialists, chartered financial consultants, or financial gerontologists.
Fiduciary
According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, “Professional fiduciaries provide critical services to seniors, disabled persons and children. They manage matters for clients, including daily care, housing and medical needs, and also offer financial-management services, ranging from basic bill-paying to estate and investment management.”
Geriatric Care Manager
The American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) website says that geriatric care managers, “sometimes called aging life care managers, are usually licensed nurses or social workers trained in caring for older adults. They act as private advocates and guides for family members who want to ensure their loved one is in the best hands, and they generally serve clients and families whose incomes are too high to qualify for publicly financed services.”
Senior Move Manager
Cheapism.com advises that “A senior move manager specializes in helping older adults and their families with the various challenges often associated with relocation. These can range from emotional and physical challenges to organizational issues. Senior move managers provide coordination support and handle practically all aspects of a move, thus saving family caregivers considerable time and stress … Many move managers will do both the before-and-after chores associated with a major move, from packing and coordinating donations to even arranging furniture in the new home.”
Certified Aging in Place Specialist
The adaptive equipment company California Mobility offers this description: “A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist is a professional who specializes in meeting the needs of seniors by helping them modify their homes so they can be safe, secure places for them to live. These specialists, who are often general contractors, designers, architects, or healthcare professionals, are certified through a program that teaches the skills necessary to assist seniors with choosing, designing, or making modifications that will enable them to age in place.”
Seniors need more support as they age to maintain their quality of life, whether they have home care in San Diego or live in a facility with more assistance. Families and their loved ones can benefit from a diverse team of professionals and specialists who can help them with everything from home maintenance to financial planning.