Chicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence – Since 1991 • crisis managementChicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence

Would You Want to Know?
National Geographic has a new documentary series, Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, starring, of course, Chris Hemsworth of Disney’s Marvel...
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November 29, 2022
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Planning for the Holidays is More than a Menu
The latest news reports suggest only about 10 percent of American Adults have received their seasonal booster for COVID. ...
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October 24, 2022
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What’s Scarier than Halloween?
The short answer to this question is cybersecurity breeches. First, how do you know if that spam in your...
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October 18, 2022
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Become a Dementia Detective by “Talking the Talk”
Today we have a guest Post from Christina Padilla, a speech-language pathologist and Certified Dementia Practitioner living and working...
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September 27, 2022
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Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease
September is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and this is the second of four posts we’ll offer on the subject. A...
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September 13, 2022
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Dementia, Distraction, Delirium and Depression
September is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, so we’re going to be sharing four posts that will help everyone with what...
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September 7, 2022
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Before or After the Fall
I came across an informative piece in the Washington Post about a week ago, and it brought to light...
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July 26, 2022
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Age and “Long Covid”
There seems to be a cliché for everything, so we’ll start with this go-to for COVID: “We’re not out...
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June 7, 2022
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When the IRS Calls…
How about a show of hands regarding the Internal Revue Service (IRS)… Have you ever filed a tax return...
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March 8, 2022
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The “Other” Health Concerns for Older Adults
It was just two weeks ago that I underscored the fact that “older adults have a greater fear of...
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February 1, 2022
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In the Caregiver's Words

Recent Client Praise

September is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and this is the third of four posts we’ll offer on the subject. I have been hoping to post with a subject line like “First Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.” I would settle for “First Effective Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease.” Sadly, neither of these seem even close to what we can expect anytime soon. But as I noted in an earlier post, there are nearly 3,000 clinical trials in progress on various tests, predictors or treatments of Alzheimer’s Disease. And 172 of these trials represent 143 therapies under investigation. Tests and biomarkers are almost as important as treatments. These studies will help to identify the condition earlier in patients as well as help scientists to better understand the disease progression. They can then more effectively investigate a cure or a way to at least slow the progression of this diagnosis that most people fear more than death itself.
Thus far, the only FDA-approved therapies have been very limited in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and the most recent approved therapy has been so ineffective that Medicare will not even approve reimbursement for its use. Here is a brief overview of what have been the approved medical treatments for Alzheimer’s:
- Aduhelm (aducanumab) claims to reduce beta-amyloid plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, but the final conclusions from the clinical trials have been contested.
- Aricept (donepezil) is able to claim that it can slow the cognitive progression of Alzheimer’s and modestly improve confusion, memory and awareness.
- Exelon (rivastigmine) claims to address the memory loss of both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
- Namenda (memantine) claims to treat the moderate to severe confusion of Alzheimer’s disease, but it is to be used in combination with one of the other agents.
- Namzaric (donepezil and memantine) combines an extended release form of Namenda as well as Aricept in one pill to address the symptoms each addresses individually.
- Razadyne (galantamine) claims to improve the ability to think and even remember by increasing brain levels of acetylcholine, a beneficial enzyme.
So far, these treatments have not been very effective or effective for very long. Most of them tend to focus on beta amyloid and tau tangles, and this whole concept has come under fire, of late. The contention is that early research setting this premise for treatment may have been based on doctored evidence. More to follow on that controversy at some point, but other controversies have created their own firestorms. With approximately 6 million people already diagnosed in America, you can imagine how much is being invested in finding an effective treatment. When there is good news, we will get it to you as soon as practicable. Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Advisor, Geriatric Care Manager and founder of, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
I have written in a number of blog postings and we also have had a number of guest contributions on how to facilitate good residential/moving decisions. There is no doubt that a senior residence takes away the burden of the household chores like mowing lawns, shoveling snow or heavy cleaning.   It also offers a greater sense of security, because the campuses of these centers typically are well-insulated from most community threats that can unsettle older adults aging in place. But as a caregiver to an older adult, don't think that all possible worries or headaches are going away.

            Here are some suggestions based on my experience with senior residential living:

1.    What happens if your older loved has a fall or other accident that demands attention? You will want to speak with the staff at a facility to identify what kinds of alert systems they have in place, who responds in the case of an emergency and where a loved one may be taken in the event of a medical emergency. You may find that you need to request or supply an alert mechanism for your loved one.

2.    Who is coordinating your loved one's medical care? Some - but not all - residences have transportation to and from medical appointments, but others simply leave that to the individual or family unless they are in assisted living. Check into the options available and if someone actually accompanies your older loved one to a medical appointment, be sure they record what is discussed, ask appropriate questions and be sure that all the providers are communicating and coordinating with one another.

3.    Is there a care plan for your older loved one? Almost all facilities have some level of health care present such as nurses who are available to check in on residents. Many also have physicians or other providers who will pay visits to attend to certain medical needs like foot care. But a care plan is really all about establishing clear goals for your loved one, identifying what will be done to reach the goals and who is responsible for what parts of the plan. Otherwise you are at risk for simply bouncing from one crisis to another.

4.    Is there stimulation for your loved one? One of the great things about senior communities is the relatively easy access to all those neighbors within a protected environment. There are structured activities and events on a fairly regular basis, but who really is attending to and caring for your loved one? The staff at most facilities are just too stretched to provide much personal attention to each of the residents, and without the stimulation from regular interpersonal contact an older loved one declines. If one does not use their social skills, they lose their sociability. You may need to get an aide to spend a certain amount of time with your loved one regularly to help them to be engaged.

            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 (info@creativecasemanagement.com ).
I like to report on medical research that shows that if a patient does what is directed by their doctor, they can avoid a problem or see a benefit in their lives. I like it even more when I can offer research that delivers a bonus or another benefit in addition to what a patient may have been expecting for paying heed to doctor’s orders. This is one of those bonus stories. Half of all adult Americans have high blood pressure. That’s more than 103 million people whose blood pressure is at unhealthy elevated levels. While many of these individuals can bring their numbers back under control with diet and exercise, the rest are prescribed one or more anti-hypertensive medications like an ACE inhibitor, a beta blocker, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, a calcium channel blocker or a diuretic. In some cases a person may be on more than one of these agents to bring their blood pressure down and preserve their cardiovascular health. Dementia researchers involved in analysis of large scale data are telling us that there may be an added benefit for these BP patients. They may also be preventing the onset of one or more types of dementia if they are adhering to their blood pressure treatments. The researchers have tracked more than 31,000 patients who had been dementia-free 22 years ago, and found that over time 1,741 developed Alzheimer’s disease specifically and 3,728 just developed some form of dementia (most typically vascular dementia). Among the adults with high blood pressure at the outset in this large panel and who used a blood pressure medication, they were statistically less likely to develop dementia of any sort than those not on a medication. In fact, the difference between those who would develop dementia and those who would not was statistically significant across all types of anti-hypertensives. And it was significant for Alzheimer’s disease specifically as well as the other dementias. (Vascular dementia, or mini-strokes as it is sometimes called, could understandably be linked to better controlled blood pressure, but Alzheimer’s has a different mode of acting.) Also noteworthy is the fact that there was no drug company funding for this research. While funding does not cause results of any sort, it is helpful to see that there is no suggestion of sponsorship in any financial way influencing outcomes. If you or a loved one are among the 103 million Americans with elevated blood pressure, staying with your blood pressure medications will be good for your heart and your head! 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. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
There is an epidemic going on, and it involves that butterfly shaped gland in the neck call the thyroid. Since 2002 the prevalence has doubled in the US, but this is not because twice as many people have developed hypothyroidism as it is that the professional society that represents endocrinologists established new standards. The new standards for defining hypothyroidism have reduced the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) range to be .3 to 3.0 from the earlier standard that had been about .5 to 5.0. And this is not just a trivial matter of definitions when what had been about 15 million people with hypothyroidism suddenly becomes about 27 million Americans. This is about one in ten Americans, and the prevalence of hypothyroidism is about twice as high among women over 60 years as it is for their younger counterparts. (Just for what it's worth, this is more people than the number diagnosed as diabetic in America.) Hypothyroidism is important also because there is a big connection between the thyroid gland in your older loved one's neck and their brain and heart. For anyone whose TSH levels are out of range, the impact on the heart would be through the potential for significantly elevated cholesterol levels. It is estimated that this could be as many as 10 million Americans. So, for people whose thyroid condition has not been diagnosed, but they have been put on lipid-lowering agents like the statins, their cure may be even easier. By taking a thyroid supplement, suddenly cholesterol levels may become better managed. Yet, fewer than half the adults with diagnosed elevated cholesterol levels in a recent survey were aware if they had ever been tested for elevated TSH levels. I had mentioned the brain connection, and there are two significant brain manifestations of hypothyroidism. Patients who are out of range on their TSH levels may be depressed or they may display signs of delirium. The former may have led to treatment with antidepressants, treatments that may now prove unnecessary, and the latter may be confused with dementia if the delirium goes unchecked over time. And there are other symptoms of hypothyroidism that you should be looking for if you are a caregiver to an older loved one: • thin, brittle, dry hair or skin • increased sensitivity to cold • fatigue • muscle or joint pains • constipation. You don't need to remember all the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, but you should remember to ask your loved one's physicians at the next annual physical what your loved one's TSH level is. If the number is too high or too low, begin advocating for help to avoid the other conditions. Yes, your loved one may take home one new prescription, but they also may get rid of one or more existing prescriptions...and feel a lot better. 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@creativecaremanagement.com.
Geriatric Care Management
At Creative Care Management, we understand that adjusting your life to provide care for a loved one can be confusing and stressful. Building and managing a geriatric care plan alone is overwhelming, and you may be asking yourself: What sort of care do they need? Are they safe alone? What happens as their condition progresses? That’s where we come in. We are a top rated in Chicago geriatric care management provider, which means we serve as a resource and a guide through the process of developing and managing a senior care plan designed specifically for you and your family.
Developing a Geriatric (Senior) Care Plan
Through our four step process, we personally take you through assessing your loved one’s needs, creating an all encompassing plan for their care and then setting that plan in action.
Step One: Meeting and Assessment
To begin the process, we meet with you in order to fully understand your unique situation and concerns. At that first meeting, we conduct a thorough assessment of the physical, mental and social health of your loved one to determine their current and future needs. We also look into their current living arrangements, and decide which steps can be taken to assure their safety at home. If you are concerned with the safety of your loved one at home, we suggest you take a look at our Home Safety Checklist to identify common hazards in and around their living space.
Step Two: Creating a Care Plan
Based on the assessments in Step One, we collectively develop a Geriatric Care Plan covering all aspects of caregiving in order to suit your specific needs. Although no plan is identical, here’s an example of a Geriatric Care Plan for you to better understand our process.
Step Three: Setting the Plan in Action
Once we have a solid plan, we work with you to set it in action. We facilitate connections with quality elder care service providers to meet your needs. We want the best for you and your family, so we only recommend providers and facilities that meet our high standards. Recommendation of care providers and facilities are based on 3 key factors:

Responsiveness of the provider to a client’s needs.

Reliability and consistency when it comes to the provider’s quality of service.

The established level of training and certification required by the provider for their facility and/or employees.

Step 4: Overseeing the Plan in Action
We understand that elder care is an ongoing and ever changing process, which is why our geriatric care plans always include the option of our continued involvement and oversight. As conditions change, we are there to help you make the necessary adjustments. Geriatric care management is about helping you and your older family member find the best care possible, without the stress of handling everything on your own. If you are concerned for a loved one but aren’t sure where to start, we can help you get organized by creating and implementing a care plan built specifically to meet the needs of you and your loved one.
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Recent Client Praise

Call it Ocean’s 65+…instead of Ocean’s 8 or Ocean’s 11…but it doesn’t have a caste of Hollywood stars, and the number, 65+, is a reference to the prime target ... of scammers. Remember once upon a time that scammers targeted your mother or grandmother with a phone call posing as a young relative asking for financial help. And then scammers jumped on the digital platform posing to be any number of people or institutions or your bank and more. March 9 is “Slam the Scam Day.” Evidently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is a great target, because they’re now offering very concrete warnings about a veritable pandemic of scamming, many of them using SSA as their front. And, of course, it’s not just one angle, it’s a host of pretenses scammers are using to separate your older loved ones from their money. SSA warns of the 4 P’s that should serve as a warning:

Pretending to be a representative of the SSA, your loved one’s bank or credit card company in order to gain the target’s trust;

Problems or prizes are the bait scammers will set up the scam with a threat to your older loved one’s accounts, social security numbers or such;

Pressure is applied in the form of a required response now or in some limited time frame that doesn’t allow the target to corroborate or consider what’s really at stake; or

Payments that are required for the target’s security, standing or retirement benefits or so that some Medicare or Social Security benefit is not lost.

Any and all of these four P’s are vehicles used to coerce an older loved one to part with money or with secure information that will give the bad guys access to investments and accounts. First, never trust a caller under these pretenses. First, the Social Security Administration does not make calls. Encourage your loved one to always ask for a toll free number to call back. If any calls or emails fit the profiles of the 4 P’s your older loved one should go straight to the source. They can call the SSA, they can reach out to their bank, they can call the help line of their credit card company. Nothing should be done in the moment while sitting at the computer or when answering an inbound call or text or attempting to address an urgent demand that arrived in the mail. Encourage your loved one to look for red flags. Never click on a link…use the purported “legitimate name” and search for a link on line…don’t use one provided by the potential scammer. Report the scam. One of the hardest, but best, things we encouraged my mother-in-law to do some time ago was speak to a local network affiliate in an interview letting others know what was afoot. She quickly overcame the embarrassment after the “thank yous” began flooding in from others in her community. Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Advisor, Geriatric Care Manager and founder of, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
How many times have we all seen the commercial with the plaintive actor on the floor crying, "Help, I've _____ and I can't get up." No one would ignore a plea for help from an older person who has fallen and cannot get up. But a lot of caregivers may be ignoring a similar plea with all of the health threat that a fall can represent. It is just that this fall is in slow motion. And it goes like this: "Help, I am so fatigued that I don't feel like getting up." Tired often does not get enough attention in medical circles, but it is a common symptom reported by people age 65 and older. We tend to discount fatigue, because we cannot accept that a person who has retired and now enjoys six Saturdays and a Sunday every week could not be well-rested. And if you are a caregiver to an older loved one, you may find it a bit challenging to muster the sympathy for your older loved one when you already are stretched across your responsibilities for your children, your partner, your job and... Yet, we should all pay attention to the subjective complaints of fatigue in our older loved ones, because tired can be a symptom of more serious medical conditions and because tired can lead to serious physical decompensation. Let's start with the other medical conditions for which fatigue can be a warning sign. Perhaps the most common clinical condition that presents with fatigue is depression, itself one of the most common comorbidities of aging. Depression often can arise from the hallmark aspects of getting older - loss, diminished physical capacity and social isolation to name a few. Chronic fatigue also can be a symptom of sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and any number of heart conditions. Poor quality sleep may also be indicative of musculoskeletal conditions or pain. If your older loved one is consistently tired, it may be time to accompany them on a visit to their physician for an assessment and a conversation. Sleepiness can also be just one more step along the slippery slope to frailty. Fatigue can be a strong disincentive for your older loved one to be as active physically as they once may have been. Fatigue also puts a damper on appetite which in turn reduces the quality of the fuel the body consumes to run the body's engine which leads to increased tiredness and low motivation for physical activity. And all of this translates into decreased mobility and frailty. Medical professionals refer to frailty as a "pre-disability." So, if the tiredness has gone on for an extended time, begin to look for signs of genuine frailty. No surprise, the signs include exhaustion ("hyper fatigue?"). Frailty also is predicted by weakness in grip and slower walking pace. And by weakness, we mean a quantum reduction in ability to grasp, and by slower we are talking a fraction of former strides. All of these point to diminished physical activity. Think of frailty as one step away from a permanent reliance upon a walker or wheelchair. The next time you are speaking with an older individual who reports being consistently tired, it may be time to wake up and take stock of their overall health. 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.

In the meantime, we invite you to download the below featured FREE white paper - offering both personal and professional advice for those who care for the elderly or people with special needs. Make sure to come back and visit us for more great FREE resources.

Caregiver Counsel on Senior Living OptionsFinding the best living options for your loved one can be tough. Whether it is picking the right senior living community or making your current family home safer, we help you to prepare for a productive conversation with your loved one about these transitions.Download

All of us here know how to prepare for a blizzard, people in the South know how to prepare for a hurricane, and folks on the Great Plains know how to prepare for a tornado. Maybe what is most challenging about the virus that is part of every news cycle these days is that it is a “novel” coronavirus. If you are a caregiver to an older loved one as well as looking out for your own health, let me address four major questions about the “new” virus:

What are signs and symptoms? The incubation period can be as long as 14 days, but is generally expected to be about five days. This virus does not initially differentiate itself from any other “bugs” going around. Initial symptoms likely include a cough or sneezing, but with or without an elevated temperature. Rarely is there diarrhea. Drinking lots of fluids is very important at this early and all stages of the disease. Milder cases can be treated at home, but if the condition persists or if the lungs become affected, seek professional help.

How is it transmitted? COVID 19 is not transmitted through the air we breathe, but it is transmitted through mucous droplets. If someone with the disease sneezes or coughs, they should cover their nose or mouth with a tissue or the sleeve at their elbow to avoid spreading the droplets. Be careful of surfaces on which a carrier has had contact (or their sneeze or cough droplets have had contact) as the virus may survive as long as several days. Those diagnosed with the condition should wear a face mask.

Who is most susceptible? This is where COVID 19 is similar to other flu viruses in that as many as four in five deaths will be among patients 60 years and older. It is not just the age of the patient, however. It is other conditions that weaken their bodies’ ability to fight the virus. Those particularly at risk will be those with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or lung disease. Those who are immune-compromised may also be at greater risk, but it is wise to consult a family physician before sounding alarms.

How to protect your loved one / yourself? Stand at least three feet away from anyone with whom you are conversing which will lessen the chance of your receiving a stray droplet. Wash hands often according to the WHO guidelines (link is below), avoid touching your face and wipe surfaces with sanitizer materials with at least 60% alcohol content. The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend face masks for the general population, but patients are encouraged to wear a mask. And then there is the obvious precaution that one ought to avoid contact with COVID 19 patients or travel to geographic areas where cases have been confirmed.

To get answers to your other questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at: info@creativecaremanagement.com or go to the World Health Organization website. 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. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
Pick your metaphor. If you want your knife to slice easier, you sharpen it. If you want to improve your time in a race, your train harder. If you want to improve your golf drive, you practice. What all three of these have in common is that if you invest a bit of time in a thing, you will have a better outcome. If you go to the Chicago Children’s Museum website they offer a clear mantra, not just for kids, but for all of us: “When we play, we learn. We create. We strengthen and grow. Chicago Children’s Museum’s mission is to improve children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect.” The museum may not be open during this pandemic, but the mission still applies. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine has demonstrated a clear link between physical and mental activities and reducing the risk of dementias. And other scientists have replicated these findings that playing – both physically and mentally – is a great way to stay mentally sharp. I recommend any or all of the four V’s as ways to defend against dementia:

Visualization – the classics here are chess and checkers, but there are countless card games that can qualify as well. Linking what you see in your hand or on the board with planning for your next move keeps your brain sharp.

Verbalization - yes, it is about conversation, but up your game by being creative. When my kids were very young, we would ask at dinner about what they had learned at school or the best thing that happened…story telling.

Virtualization – board games have come a long way since checkers and chess. They often offer challenges to find or accumulate or decipher something. They even have a new one in the current age called Pandemic: check it out.

Visitation – even with the rollout of vaccines, we may be slow to get back to “normal,” but computers and cell phones give us visual and audio contact with the world. Check into what others are doing, and share your stories too.

And you can tie some of these together. We have played some games with our adult children on Zoom, and yes, they are still amazed that we can beat them on occasion. I have an associate who is committed to putting stories to the photos in his album, and he has some really great stories to share. The brain also benefits from a good workout. We may not be able to go to gyms without putting ourselves at risk, but walking, running, even workouts with zoom masters can be not just a tension reliever, but also a brain enhancer. Charlotte Bishop is a Caregiver Coach, an Aging Life Care Advisor, 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. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
Associate Care Manager Gregory is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and Medicare Counselor, whose work focuses on helping aging adults and folks with limited independence by providing resources and support to help them discover and lead their best life. Gregory has been a part of CCM, Inc. for over a decade. – Charlotte Lots of folks are worried about the future of Medicare and Medicaid. In February, the Senate passed the CHRONIC Care Act which is called “Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care” in full, and is specifically designed to promote improved assistance to the millions of older adults with multiple medical issues. It expands care at the same level of funding and seeks to assist those whose chronic illnesses are not efficiently managed by the hospital model. As adults age, some health concerns can be resolved with treatment, but some, like dementia, emphysema, heart and kidney diseases, and arthritis, are permanent conditions that need a great deal of medical attention. For these conditions, though, hospitalization is not the best way to provide care. Still, many patients with chronic conditions find themselves in multiple, unnecessary office and hospital visits due to the current treatment climate. This legislation, which also seeks to end the lack of coordination between Medicare and Medicaid, will be a boon to folks living with chronic conditions, especially those whose chronic illnesses are auto-immune, as one of the primary objectives of the bill is to reduce hospital visits and provide more in-home care. What does the bill say it will do? What improvements can Medicaid or Medicare Advantage beneficiaries expect? The bill:

Expands coverage for “non-medical” services and equipment– Funds are now freed for more in-home care for patients who need service, but do not need skilled nursing, and more funds are available for Durable Medical Equipment (grab bars, wheel chair ramps, etc) for the chronically ill.

Expands telehealth coverage– Medicare Advantage members will have more access to telephonic health management and digital services where before barriers made these services more difficult to receive. This includes telehealth services for stroke no matter the geographic location of the call.

Includes Telehealth with In-Home Dialysis– Kidney patients already on in-home dialysis will find it a great convenience to be able to use telehealth as a clinic visit.

Frees Acountable Care Organizations (ACOs)– These organizations will be free to assign chronic status and utlilze their resources to provide care at a greater rate of their own discretion.

The bill, which will provide better care at the same level of funding, eliminate unnecessary hospital visits/stays for chronic patients, while drastically reducing cost of care provided, looks to be a win-win situation which will positively impact many aging adults. If you or someone you love is dealing with chronic illness and on Medicaid or a Medicare Advantage plan, your life just got a little easier, and your care just got a little better. Reach out to us at Creative Care Management or your providers and find out how this change in care model can best benefit your situation. 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. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.

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This is not going to be a course in economics, but quite often caregivers of family members get more focused on how much respite care casts instead of on how much everyone benefits. Talking about costs first, there are three kinds of costs for respite care: dollars you pay, dollars someone else pays and what you can get for free. Starting with the dollars you pay, give careful consideration to the level of care you need for the older adult for whom you may be the caregiver. If the adult in your charge needs help with a whole range of activities of daily living such as eating or toileting, then there will be a higher hourly rate in order to get qualified respite care. If, you are closer to the other end of the continuum and mom or dad can get around quite well, but need to be watched so that they do not wander, then you may be able to save significant dollars by simply engaging the services of an aid or similarly-trained individual. Getting respite care for free? First, don't forget to consider other members of your own family. Even a brother or sister who has a day job can offer respite care in off hours or on weekends. Get to know other caregivers in your own circle of friends so that you can get some respite when one of them is willing to watch your mom or dad along with their own and vice versa. It is good for everyone when your respite becomes their chance to socialize. Check out resources for Chicago senior services, local community colleges or even high schools for students who either need to generate hours for community service or need hours toward course requirements in social work or other helping profession. And consider the following resources that may subsidize respite care:
Most important, don't forget the benefits of respite care. The most important of which is you will do a better job caring for someone else when you care for yourself.
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 ccbishop@creativecasemanagement.com. Learn more about What We Do and how we can help you support your loved one.