Home Sweet Nursing Facility

When you or a loved one are forced by age or circumstance to move from "sweet home" into "sweet nursing facility, " it can be a most agonizing decision. But there may be ways to make those decisions seem less daunting.

It is understandable for a family to experience a degree of apprehension when the comforts and familiar nuances of home are exchanged for the unknown, where your loved one is suddenly dependent upon others for their daily needs after a lifetime of relative independence. The most well-meaning nursing home staff is, when you get right down to it, comprised of strangers. Imagine how you would feel suddenly placed in a nursing home full of strangers especially if your next generation of friends and family are living too far away to easily visit. This predicament is a reality faced by many elders.

To ease the transition, and to monitor an elder's care as they're placed in a nursing facility, an attractive option for many families is hiring a Geriatric Care Manager. So-called GCMs can be a valued resource for elders and their families - an insider who knows the ins and outs of the system and can navigate effectively, matching the best care and services to each individual's situation. But some families are asking their GCMs to stay in the picture even after gramp-pa is settled and acclimated to the nursing home, so that he continues to receive the best possible care. GCMs sometimes recommend the hiring of professional caregivers to check in with your loved one periodically, perhaps weekly or even daily, as required.

An excellent resource for finding a Geriatric Care Manager in your area is the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, which can be Googled. If the time is fast approaching but it's not here yet, a call to your resourceful Elder Law attorney might be in order. Ask him to include a mention of the GCM preference in your estate planning documents or other relevant instructions.

Gene Osofsky is an East Bay elder law attorney in California. Gene Osofsky specializes in Medi-Cal planning, wills, probate, trusts, nursing home issues, special needs planning, and disability planning. To learn more about elder law and The Law Offices of Osofsky & Osofsky, visit Lawyerforseniors.com.