Chicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence – Since 1991 | Chicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence

GOOD NEWS FOR CHRONIC CARE
Associate Care Manager Gregory is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and Medicare Counselor, whose work...
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August 6, 2018
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Long-Term Doesn’t Mean Put It Off Until Later
Gregory Peebles is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and trained Medicare Counselor, whose work focuses...
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June 24, 2018
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Medicare Doesn’t Cover WHAT?!
Gregory Peebles is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) and trained Medicare Counselor, whose work focuses...
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June 18, 2018
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Understanding Medicare as Easy as A, B, D?
Associate Care Manager Gregory Peebles is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and trained Medicare Counselor,...
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June 11, 2018
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Do You Sea a Hero in Yourself?
Associate Care Manager Gregory is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) whose work focuses on...
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June 4, 2018
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What May Flowers Bring
April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, but what does May bring? It brings Mental Health Awareness Month…among...
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May 28, 2018
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Singing is a Breath of Fresh Air for Caregivers
Associate Care Manager Gregory is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) whose work focuses on...
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February 12, 2018
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Five Tips for Winter Because It’s Not Spring Yet
There is a lot of advice that goes around for older loved ones in our orbits when we see...
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January 16, 2018
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Is This Normal?
As we age, our bodies give us feedback we’re not used to. Activities that never required a second thought...
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October 23, 2017
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Insta-Gram: It’s a Date!
Associate Care Manager Gregory Peebles returns with a series on the Internet and aging. Gregory is both a Certified...
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September 23, 2017
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In the Caregiver's Words

Recent Client Praise

In many of my postings on family caregivers I have talked about the really hard job of caring for an older adult or someone else with special needs. At the personal level it truly is an enormous responsibility with great demands on a person’s time and their emotional well-being. The most recent report on family caregiving published by AARP, however, really provides a sense of the huge and important work that caregivers are providing for their families in America today. It is required reading for caregivers and their families.

In AARP’s snapshot of caregiving in America, they estimate that as many as 42.1 million people in 2009 were providing some sort of help with activities of daily living to an older adult. That number jumps about 50% when you look at all the people engaged in some sort of caregiving at any point during the year: 61.6 million people. And these individuals are offering their support as unpaid caregivers. If this were an “industry” instead of a voluntary contribution of time and energy, it would be generating an estimated $450 billion a year, an increase of about 20 percent over the prior year.

Family caregiving is the single biggest contribution to an older adult being able to stay in their own home and age in place. Caregivers do everything from transporting the older adult to and from medical appointments to coordinating the services of other medical providers, managing multiple medications and advocating on behalf of their family member. It takes time and weighs heavily on the caregiver who still must balance caregiving potentially against a full-time job, parental responsibilities and a marital partner. Caregivers often don’t get much explicit attention as part of the team or for their tremendous contributions. The AARP article notes that: “…ignoring family needs can place caregivers at risk for negative health consequences that can jeopardize their ability to provide care in the home. Interventions that include an explicit focus on assessing the needs, strengths, values, and preferences of family caregivers are important. Such interventions can be designed to reduce burdens and health risks that can impede a caregiver’s ability to provide care, prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, and prevent or delay institutional care. Strategies to strengthen and sustain caregiving families will enable them to continue as caregivers, and will reduce costs.”

It really comes back to three points I cannot repeat often enough. One, caregivers’ contributions need to be appreciated by the entire family who benefits. Two, the whole family also needs to help in caring for the caregiver. Three, it takes a village for all of the above.

Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Case Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families throughout metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to Charlotte Bishop.
When I talk to people about advocacy and geriatric care management, they get that part of what we do in our professional role is look out for older adults and guard against abuse of a variety of sorts. One of those kinds of abuse is financial abuse in the form of scams that target older adults. Scammers target older adults in part because, as a group, older adults can be more vulnerable, but older adults also are the ones who will have accumulated some amount of money over their lives - their nest eggs. But did you know that more than 90% of reported financial scams targeting seniors are perpetrated by their own family members? If you are a caregiver to an older adult or just a concerned person in the orbit of a senior, here are some of the common scams going around.
1. Meet you at the Funeral - Believe it or not, some scammers will go to a complete stranger's funeral claiming to the family or widow that money is owed for some prior contract or other obligation. But that is not all. Beware of the "add-ons" that some funeral homes may try to railroad at this vulnerable time in a family's loss. It is a really good reason that we all should make our own funeral arrangements before the time comes.
2. Boomers don't Age - With the boomers starting to fill the ranks of the over 65 cohort, there is a host of anti-aging products to assist those who feel 70 is the new 50. Help your senior to see through the false claims as well as the fake products posing as the brand names like Botox. And remember that if it is not fake in the case of Botox, that it Botox made from a deadly toxin; be certain of the recipe.
3. Fake Drugs - With pharmaceutical prices still a large part of any senior's budget, the lure of non-U.S. pharmacies is still there. Be sure that the distributors actually offer the real deal. FDA has been reporting an average of 20 major investigations of fake manufacturers every year.
4. Just Bill Medicare - Anyone over age 65 will qualify for Medicare to pay part of their medical costs. Some providers working the system, however, can purport to offer services and then bill Medicare. Since they can use your elder's personal information for a direct billing, the older patient will never be the wiser.
The list, of course, goes on. The reason why some of these frauds may happen is that they take advantage of a senior who is not as tech savvy on the web as younger web surfers may be. And at any age, we all can be victims of the deal that sounds too good to pass up. So, if you are a caregiver, lend an eye and an ear to that older adult in your orbit. Your vigilance will benefit them, and it also will give you the benefit of advance learning for when you are there one day. Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Care Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to info@cr eativecaremanagement.com.
It has been over a year since my first posting when I started this blog by talking about why a person should call a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM). Since I have answered this question with almost everyone of the calls I get from people looking for our help, it seemed like a good idea to revisit our “job description.” GCMs are:
1. Local professionals who know what resources are appropriate for your older loved one and which are most appropriate. What I often tell people is that we are “option-makers” for the decision-maker.”
2. Eyes and ears that can help long distance caregivers be aware of any changes that may affect an older parent’s independence or well-being. The long distance family caregiver may have bought mom the walker, but the local GCM can be there to see whether mom is using it.
3. Bridges to help an older family member make life transitions from fully independent living through home assistance and ultimately to assisted living at the appropriate times. Earlier involvement with a geriatric care manager also can help your elder family member develop a rapport with a professional who can facilitate the bigger changes later because they have been there earlier for the smaller changes.
4. Peace of mind by being the professional buffer to a long distance caregiver for some of the minor or major crises that may otherwise be very stressful for the entire family.
Finding a GCM is easy. The national association that certifies GCMs, the NAPGCM, has a comprehensive, searchable list of all the professionals in good standing. You can search geographically by simply entering a zip code or you can search by name. The search tool also asks you to check what kind of GCM you are seeking; check the “Certified GCM” box to see a complete list of professionals in good standing. Here is a link to another site that offers a range of resources, including care managers, Aging Care. Finally, Caring.com offers a listing of GCMs specifically in the state of Illinois.

As you make contact with a potential GCM for your elder, I encourage you to look for a good communicator, because this professional is going to be your loved one’s advocate. You also want to ask about their experience, and check professional references who can speak on their behalf. Finally, it is important to ask about fees since insurance does not cover a GCM. A recent article in Reuters suggested that fees nationally range from $60 to $300 an hour.

Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Case Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families throughout metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to Charlotte Bishop.
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How often have you heard comments like: “Oh, mom is just a bit blue;” or “Her husband died six months ago…she should just snap out of it;” or “He just likes his time to himself.” They are all ways to discount what is something of an epidemic among older adults in America today: depression.
If you are a caregiver to an older loved one, the symptoms may be slow to show themselves, but depression is a real medical condition to be addressed every bit as much as dementia or heart disease. Adults 65 years of age and older may only be just 13% of the population, but they account for 20% of suicide deaths. Older adults with depression have healthcare costs 50% higher than non-depressed adults. And depression is common – more than two million older adults manifest some degree of clinical depression. Where should you look for depression? I mentioned widowhood at the beginning. Well, one-third of widows and widowers meet the clinical criteria for depression within the first month after losing a spouse. And half of these are still depressed a year later. Depression also is a classic comorbidity of a number of medical conditions like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and even cancer, arthritis and heart disease. But the prevalence of depression is really just an opportunity to take action. The data show that fully 80% of depression in older adults can be effectively treated with either medication or talk therapy or a combination of both. If you are a caregiver to an older loved one, however, encourage them to see a mental health professional who can offer the best of both medical and talk therapy. About 55% of older adults who do seek help for their depression reportedly go to their primary care physicians. While PCPs care prescribe, they are not schooled in talk therapy. If you suspect an older loved one in your orbit is depressed, don’t leave it to them to make their decisions on their treatment alone. The majority are likely to just “manage it” themselves which is not the way one addresses a genuine health problem. And don’t discount it as “just depression.” It’s bigger than that, but it can be addressed! Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Advisor, Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Care Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago.
In this posting, I have invited Julie Northcutt, President of Caregiverlist.com, a company that uses new technology to deliver objective and comprehensive information and helps families select the right senior care. I have asked her to talk to us about how those “summer family visits” can be productive times for families to lay the foundations for life decisions when there is an elder or other special needs individual in the family. Please give her a read:

“Do your parents live in another city, state or country? Do you only enjoy a lengthy visit with them during summer holidays? If this is the case, remember to take a complete assessment of their current care needs while you are visiting. This will allow you to prevent emergency senior care planning later and eliminate the added stress last minute planning can cause. It is also a good time to assess the home for issues which may be a safety concern due to changing mobility and vision loss. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports falls are the leading cause of injury and death for Americans age 65 years and older. Every year, about 35% to 40% of adults age 65 and older fall at least once. Keep an eye out on your visit home for any areas which might be made safer by making a small adjustment to furniture placement or by adding a safety device. Check on the following areas for any necessary updates so you will have good information to assist you in managing senior care from a distance.
- Medical Conditions: Do you know all of their diagnosed medical conditions? Ask about the more common medical issues which can escalate as we age, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hearing loss, weight gain, arthritis, forgetfulness. Remember that the earlier any medical condition is diagnosed, the better the chances of slowing the progression.
- Medical Providers: Do you know the names of all their medical practitioners, along with their contact information? If they are not seeing a geriatric medical doctor, find out if their doctor has discussed age-related diseases with them and conducted a mini-mental exam in the past year.
- Medications: Are the medications organized and are they taking them consistently? Taking medications at the proper time and as directed (with or without food) does impact the effectiveness of the medication. Find out if they have kept up on refills of all prescribed medications.
- Home Safety: If mobility or hearing or vision losses are becoming issues, find out what products you can purchase to make their daily activities easier. Is it time for a telephone with larger numbers and a louder ring tone? Is it time for an emergency-response bracelet or necklace? Do they have proper grab bars for their bath and toilet? Assess what areas of the home are becoming a challenge and find solutions.
- Driving: How is their driving ability? Ask the neighbors and take a ride with them yourself to find out. You can learn about the senior driving laws in each state at Caregiverlist.com and also learn about ways to address any driving safety concerns with your parents.
- Retirement Care Plan: Where do your parents want to receive care in the event they suffer a stroke, heart attack or fall? Usually Medicare will pay for short-term rehabilitation in a nursing home after a major hospitalization but find out if your senior parent would prefer to recover at home or in a facility.
- Guardians: Who has been assigned the Power of Attorney and the Power of Attorney for Health Care? Make sure everyone knows who will be in charge and where the family keeps these documents.
- Resources: Learn what care providers are available in the area, from nursing homes to senior home care agencies to assisted living communities. This way you will be familiar with the choices.
- Finances: What is the budget for senior care? Has a long-term care insurance policy been purchased? If not, what are the financial capabilities to pay for care privately? CaregiverList provides information on costs of care and ways to pay for care.
Being a caregiver can be daunting, but you can make it better by planning ahead.

Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Case Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to Charlotte Bishop.