Silver Boomerang: How Care Manager can improve the situation for family with aging loved one? Are Care Managers for every situation?
Tina Cheplick: The nuclear family is not what it used to be and older adults must now rely on others for their Care. The need for caregivers who are compassionate and understanding of cultural differences is great. We need to continuously find a balance between caring for elders while adhering to best nursing practices, approaching every elder as a unique individual is our mission.

Silver Boomerang: What to look for when choosing a Care Manager?
Tina Cheplick: Care managers are everywhere and each Care manager provides a different model. A family member searching for a Care manager must be able to connect with the Care manager as they define what it is they think they need. Family members may ask for or think they need one particular thing but end up through the process realizing that they need something entirely different. I also think family members must look for credentials, years in the field so a sense of trust can be established.

Silver Boomerang: Do you see new Obama laws toward seniors and nursing and efficient and sufficient ones? What would you want to address?
Tina Cheplick: Health Care reform is getting a lot of attention. While there is much discussion going on, it has been fairly quiet on eldercare insurance. The Medicare and Medical/Medicaid programs must be reviewed and redefined without jeopardizing the Care of those elders using these programs. New creative ways must be piloted to see if programs can changed effectively. Congress must stay neutral as they learn from such pilot programs and not be swayed by big corporate lobbyists. The training of caregivers, higher career ladder opportunities for bedside Care with higher wages must be part of the home Care package. How we train, review, and provide leadership in understanding our elders must reflect in our nation’s health Care system and ultimately the job itself. Too many times our industry of skilled nursing looses the person while abiding by the structure.

Silver Boomerang: What is the most important among often overlooked benefits of home care?
Tina Cheplick: Most elders will agree staying at home is where they want to be. If the elder can stay there while their Care is managed safely it should be the first option as long as the essential players are in place. Families, case managers, and caregivers must be able to work together for this to occur.

Silver Boomerang: What are signs that should signal family that the aging loved one needs a caregiver?
Tina Cheplick: Usually a slip in any of the activities of daily living. If there is a need to provide supervision, cueing, and/or reminders, families members should know this signals a warning flag.

Silver Boomerang:.What are signs that should signal family that the aging loved one needs to be moved to nursing home?
Tina Cheplick: When the need to have an “awake night staff.” Often with Sundowners caregivers redirection, personal Care or provide behavioral management

Silver Boomerang: Do you recommend social activities for aging at home? If so would you recommend a few?
Tina Cheplick: Social activities are a plus. I am an active community board member for one of our day programs here in northern California. Memory games, such a Scrabble, puzzles, and even word games found in the newspaper can occupy an hour during the day. Getting elders involved with home planning, using calendars, and even some sort of exercise not only are beneficial for health but for overall well being. One of my clients used to knit. It took some time but eventually we got her into knitting again.

Silver Boomerang: What would you recommend as a coping mechanism to those who are caring for advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson?
Tina Cheplick: Support groups in your local county are always a help. In addition families should contact their Area Agencies on Aging for resources. Taking Care of oneself is essential in giving to others.

Silver Boomerang: From what services of volunteers can seniors with families benefit the most?
Tina Cheplick:I think it is important for families to look at what groups have given them support in the past and rely on that source.

Kim Charles

Silver Boomerang: How can a Care Manager improve the situation for family with an aging loved one?
Kim Charles: My goal as a Care Manager is to give my clients as much choice as possible.  Ideally, Care Management is a team approach involving the Care recipient, their family, medical professionals and other interested parties.  The Care Manager’s unique qualifications help him/her to coordinate information and planning efforts among those involved with the Care recipient.  By being proactive and taking an informed look at options, we can often come up with a plan of Care that captures at least most of the client’s goals.

I try to involve families as much as possible.  Many of my clients are adult children who live away from the area where their parents reside.  The stresses of long-distance care-giving can be eased to some extent by finding a trusted Care Manager who will “check-in” on the Aging loved one and is available to advocate for their specific needs.  Care Managers are familiar with area resources and can make informed recommendations for family members about services such as home care, senior housing, and local healthcare providers.

Silver Boomerang: What is the most important among often overlooked benefits of home care?
Kim Charles: Not every client desires to remain in their home as care needs increase, but many do want to live at home.  It may be obvious, but one of the biggest benefits of a familiar setting is that it is familiar.  Even the best-planned transitions can be stressful and somewhat disorienting especially to older people.  Sometimes the placement of a few strategic supports in the home setting can make it quite possible to “age-in-place”.  Another benefit is that home care is often more cost-effective than an institutional setting.

Silver Boomerang: What would you recommend as a coping mechanism to those who are caring at home for advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s?
Kim Charles:I have considerable respect and sympathy for caregivers.  Caregivers often find themselves fulfilling roles for which they have had no formal training.  I try to be familiar with area Caregiver Support Groups and educational opportunities for caregivers.  My agency has a Family Caregiver Support Program.  I often make referrals to that program.  Local chapters of Alzheimer’s associations, and other organizations affiliated with specific diseases or disorders can provide helpful resources.  As a Care Manager, I try to give caregivers “permission” to take a break to care for themselves.  This is a must for their own physical and emotional health; but it is hard to do.