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This is a good question, as the two are often confused.  The term “Care Manager” and “Case Manager” are interchangeable as they perform the same functions.   Some companies prefer using “care” versus “case”. 

A  ’CARE MANAGER’  is a professional who manages and assists older adults and their families with the needs of the older individual.  Some Care Managers are licensed nurses, licensed social workers or individuals experienced in these areas.   Their services usually include all or parts of the following: 

• performing an assessment to identify problems 
• prevent potential future problems,
• provide intervention,  and act as a liaison for families who are not readily available.

A  ’CAREGIVER’  is a skilled individual who provides “hands-on-care” to the older adult.  Caregivers are not licensed, nor trained to provide professional care.  Their services may include any or all of the following:  

• preparing meals, bathing, housecleaning, driving and shopping. 

Sterling Senior Care’s Care Managers consist of licensed, trained professionals with years of experience in the field of geriatric care.

Benefits of Sterling Senior Care Professional Concierges as your care manager:

• Each case is evaluated by our care manager
• Doctors and care managers are present for the conference with each family to discuss the assessment
• Our care managers have extensive experience in the field of geriatrics
• Care managers work within a “team” construct, to insure our clients are given the best care in the industry

My father is 88 years old, and lives in his own home with a caregiver. This caregiver is a sweetheart. she was referred by a neighbor. We all really like her. My concern is that our Dad is still responsible for his own money, pays his bills, watches the stock market, etc. He becomes irate if our family suggests that we have the power of attorney for his finances. He pays the caregiver, however, we think that he is also buying gifts for her. She is driving a new car. I don’t want to be suspicious, because we trusted her, but, I think our Dad bought this new car for her. Any thoughts…Suspicious
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Hello Suspicious: I believe that your “common sense” is speaking to you. Your Dad wants to hold on to his independence. My heart goes out to him. He may feel that he is relinquishing his life to you and your siblings. However, you are prudent in wanting to protect him and his finances. Observing the relationship between your father and his private caregiver is not intruding. So many older parents are lonely, which is understood, and perhaps fearful of being alone. They want to be loved…and what easier way to obtain all this…but, with the warm and loving caregiver. Unfortunately, and very sad as well…there are caregivers who goal is to accumulate gifts and money from their elder employer(s). they give love and attention, and accumulate gifts and money in return.

Solution:

1. Find an Elder Care Attorney that you feel comfortable talking to about your concerns. An attorney will inform you of the laws, if you have a case, and the cost (attorney fees).
2. Discuss with your parent, in the presence of an attorney, your concerns about their funds, the cost of living, if they  have limited funds, and how long their money will last.
3. If your parent is resistant, the primary care doctor could play a role in requesting that your father have an evaluation by a neuro-psychologist or psychologist as a routine examination. There are a battery of possible tests, or it could be determined with only one or two, that your father may have significant cognitive impairment.  The goal would be to determine his capacity to make independent decisions.
4. Do not be naive in thinking that your parent will be overjoyed with your concerns. Attachment to the caregiver is a major problem, especially when the caregiver does not have your parent’s best interest in mind.
5. The goal would be to provide a comfortable lifestyle for him, and at the same time protect him and his assets.

Social Services Agency

P.O. Box 22006 Santa Ana, CA

24 HR. ABUSE HOTLINE:

(800) 451-5155

Website:

www.oc.ca.gov./ssa/adltserv/asaps.htm

• Arguing and tension between the elderly person and the caregiver.
• Noticed changes in personality, moods and behaviors in the senior.

Do you find it difficult to recall information from a list?  However we can take in new information, personalize the meaningful purpose; i.e. a story we can now from a script that assists us in recalling new information. Example: pink-telephone-candle.  Think: the pink phone next to the candle.  You won’t forget it!

pain in his analytic regions.

2.    Eight hours of sleep at night may be a myth.

3.    Engaging in prayer bulks up the frontal lobes: bulked frontal lobes have improved memory.

4.    Average brain processes approximately 70,000 thoughts per day.

5.    Neurons grow at a rate of 250,000 neurons a minute wile in the uterus.