Florida Elder Care & Senior Health

What is a Geriatric Care Manager?

ANSWER: GCMs are professionals with their degree in Social Work or Gerontology. They have the knowledge and experience to assist seniors, their families and their caregivers with long term care arrangements.

 Assessment & Ongoing Supervision

Geriatric Care Managers can perform in-home assessments for seniors to identify problems and recommend possible solutions. Based on this assessment, they can offer referrals to medical services, legal and financial services, home care, and many other community resources. GCMs have referred their clients to services such as: Meals on wheels, home care, emergency buttons, psych services, eldercare attorneys etc.

 GCMs often act as a connecting bridge between the seniors, their family members and supporting services that are offered in their area. They can coordinate all the services and keep in touch with verbal and written reports so the family members are always informed about their senior loved one.

Placement & Advocacy

GCMs strive to recommend services that enable the senior to continue to reside safely at home for as long as possible. If and when a senior does have the need to move into a community, assisted living facility or nursing home the GCM can assist with this process in order to make certain that this move is the most appropriate for the senior based on their unique needs. Once the senior has moved, the GCM can help them by visiting regularly and making sure their client’s best interest and safely is in mind.

 There is a team of experienced Geriatric Care Managers right here in the Bay Area. They are ready and willing to get to work for you or your loved one. Bayshore Geriatric Solutions’ goal is to assist seniors and their loved ones in making the best decisions for them and their well being based on each unique circumstance. If you know of someone who would benefit from the services of Bayshore Geriatric Solutions, call them today at 813-246-4120.

Jenee Mendillo, Assistant Administrator
Bayshore Health & Homemaker Services, Inc.

www.BayshoreHomeCare.com

ICE-In Case of Emergency from Visiting Angels, Clearwater, FL

Today, many seniors are carrying cell phones, not only for convenience, but also to be able to use in the event that something were to happen to them. They usually have information in their cell phones that would allow emerency personnel to contact a family member or friend, but how are they to locate it during an emergency? Simple...ICE your cell phone! "The original concept, conceived by Cambridge, England paramedic Bob Brotchie, involved putting the acronym ICE in front of your designated emergency contact. The idea is that you stor the word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the numnber of the person you would want to be contacted..."In Case of Emergency". Additionally, you would want to enter the name of the individualo so your display would read: "ICE Heather" indicating the person's name. In an emergency situation, ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. For more than one contact name you can use ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc." Then all you have to do is place a sticker on the cell phone that says, "ICE Loaded". For more information on ICE, contact Visiting Angels. For the office nearest you, go to www.visitingangels.com.

Beverly Napoli, Owner/Director

Visiting Angels, Clearwater, FL