I mentioned many times that the value of being prepared is that you have better options because you don’t have to react to a crisis.  But what if you are plunged into caring for an elderly parent in your home and you haven’t prepared.  What do you do first?

If you are really unsure of what is involved in home care for the elderly, it might be useful to contact a geriatric care manager.  A care manager is a highly trained nurse or social worker who can coordinate the care your LO may need.  This service is especially valuable if your LO does not live near you.

Care managers charge for their services.  To find a care manager ask for a recommendation from your local hospital or go to caremanager.org for a referral.
To find out how to interview a care manager to see he/she is the right one for you go to  my Action Program.

If you just want to get an idea as to what is involved in elder care and what services are available for you contact the Area Agency for Aging in your county.  This is a government supported agency, their services are free and they can give you an overview of elder care.