WHAT DOES A CONSULTATION OFFER? Part One

This blog series illustrates the ways a care consultation can save families money, time and trouble.  These stories are drawn from our experience with actual families and their elders: identifying information has been changed.

Consultations help avoid mistakes; like ordered work boots but getting  pink shoes with 4 inch heels

Mike emailed me about a consultation and left his phone number; I called. “It’s about my Dad, he’s been losing it since my Mom died”, Mike said.             

I asked what he meant by, ”losing it”.  Mike described his father’s problems with paying bills, keeping his place clean, and forgetting to take medicine.  I explained how our consultations worked.  

“I just want to know which nursing home to put my Dad in!” he exclaimed.  

His tone seemed irritated.  I explained that there were many kinds of care, some were covered by Medicare or Medicaid and some were not.  Consultation is about taking various measurements and to find the right fit.

Let me show you why I can’t just give you the name of a nursing home, I explained.  Suppose you ordered a pair of shoes.  When you opened the box, you found a pair of pink, 4-inch heels.  Would those work for you? Before anyone buys shoes, we learn our shoe size and decide how we will use them; for socializing or construction work.  We know this because we have purchased shoes before. Care consultations help families gather the right measurements so elder care fits their needs.

Getting the right care for someone is usually a first-time experience for families.  There are many kinds of care and different ways to pay for it.  It’s as important to take measurements in your Father’s case as it is to get the right shoe size.  It’s as important to learn if his condition might improve  or if he is unlikely to improve.  It’s really important to look at how his care will be paid. I can help you get those measurements and prepare you for the process. Our consultation cost is a fraction of the cost of care.  You could return the pink, 4-inch heels for a refund: you can’t get a refund on elder care.