My parents can no longer live without some assistance. I want to help them safely stay in their home or, if necessary, move to a place with the services they now need. I mistakenly thought their doctor would assist in assessing their limitations and needs, then help us choose in-home support services or give us information about assisted living or nursing home facilities. I’ve read some information from the Internet and other brochures, but am still very confused how to proceed. Can anyone help our family?

There are many community resources available to your parents. While physicians are well trained in providing medical care, they are not always the ones who are the experts in assessing a person’s psychosocial needs to determine what resources would be beneficial.

Medical social workers are often part of health care teams and can provide this expertise. They can be found in 1) hospitals, 2) physicians' offices/medical clinics, 3) home health hospice agencies, 4) health related agencies (i.e. Alzheimer’s Association), 5) geriatric assessment centers, and 6) case management programs.

A comprehensive assessment will review health problems and assess a person’s support systems, financial situation and ability to provide self-care. The social worker can then provide the family with options and make referrals to community resources. Depending on the assessment, the social worker can determine whether your family member can remain in the home, needs home health or personal care (paid for by the family or social service agency), meals on wheels, lifeline, adult day care, senior center activities and/or transportation services. If your family member is no longer able to remain at home, the social worker can help you locate an assisted living facility or nursing home.

Stacy Garverick, MSW, LCSW
Visiting Nurse Association Hospice
St. Louis, MO
314-918-7111

You are not alone in your concerns. In fact, nearly 7 million Americans are responsible for the care of an older relative. Most, like you, assume that their family doctor will decide if an older relative can live at home independently or, if not, will help the family find the right in-home supports, assisted living facility or nursing home. However, physicians are usually more focused on the medical aspects of care, leaving families on their own to research the myriad options available and make critical decisions for their loved one.

Fortunately, there are professionals who are trained specifically to help families identify assistance or support needed now or in the future, understand realistic options to meet their loved one’s needs, and link families with available community resources. These professionals have master’s degrees in social work, counseling or psychology and years of experience in helping older adults and their families. Sometimes they are referred to as geriatric care managers. As with any service, it is very important to check the educational credentials, license and work-related experience of the individual(s). One such geriatric care management service is Transition Strategies, LLC - a personalized service offered by licensed clinical workers who have 20 or more years of experience working with older adults and their families. Transition Strategies offers consultation, comprehensive psychosocial assessments, referrals, counseling and care oversight whether the elderly loved one resides in St. Louis or elsewhere. For more information and a Frequently Asked Questions Brochure, call (314) 812-9333.

Mary Hoke, Executive Director
Jewish Family & Children’s Services
St. Louis, MO

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