Anyone Have Experience With A Geriatric Care Manager Or Health Care Manager? | myALZteam

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Anyone Have Experience With A Geriatric Care Manager Or Health Care Manager?
A myALZteam Member asked a question đź’­

Having minor issues with memory care community only providing activities of daily living, bathing, dressing, transferring from chair or bed, eating and toileting. Did not understand their limited health care service and may be required to provide a family/geriatric doctor, dentist/periodontist, optometrist/ophthalmologist, podiatrist, physical therapist. You can rely on the memory care facility to provide these specialists or you can request an order for these specialists to come in, if they… read more

posted September 21, 2020
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A myALZteam Member

Yes a Yes we are using a manager certified with the ALCA - this organization is are top of their game if you find the right manager they can really help. Also seniors helping seniors is a great organization to help keeping them going .

posted September 25, 2020
A myALZteam Member

Update on using a manager certified with the ALCA six months ago;
At the end of 2018 and first of 2019 was a tough time for me as Caregiver for my wife. In 2016 she developed drop foot due to pinched sciatic nerve and required lumbar laminectomy surgery. In 2018 she developed foot drop on the other side but due to Alzheimer’s was not a surgical candidate and was only given spinal injection to relieve nerve inflammation but still caused drop foot and spondylolisthesis.
During this time the neurologist changed from six month appointments to one year saying she has Alzheimer’s and nothing can be done except adjustments to her medication. The physical therapist required to strengthen her legs after several appointments quit saying she does not remember the exercises and is too difficult to work with. Since her disease had progressed the adult day care was also not able to give her the attention she needed which had given me respite care for the past year.

Since I am alone and have health issues, the children stop asking about their mother, and COVID-19 had made visitation impossible, started researching what others are doing in this situation. One myALZteam member (AM thank you) suggested Aging Life Care Association for a Health Care Manager. After researching several in my area decided on one and retained their help. My main concern was issues outside the scope of the Memory Care facility activities of daily living.

After six months with the Health Care Manager now seem to be back to 2018 when I felt deserted. The issue of communication from the Memory Care facility staff on my wife’s health was told “no news is good news”. The issue of special exercises for spondylolisthesis was told “Medicare has certain criteria to meet and since the wife cannot remember the exercises she does not meet the need”. The issue of dental hygiene and periodontal treatment was told “taking the wife out of her comfort zone would be stressful and mobile dentists do not offer periodontal treatment”.

Not in denial that my wife has Alzheimer’s, just when I see Team Dick & Rick Hoyt together in marathons or people with Autism going on cruises and other activities, why is everyone giving up on my wife and saying “just make her comfortable for the short time she has left”. I took care of her for five years, making our last road trip together in 2019, before I could no longer. Her time at day care was not only for respite but she needs activities and socialization that could not be provided at home.

Would seek out another Health Care Manager but after a neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist, and geriatric registered nurse tells you she has Alzheimer’s and nothing can be done maybe I should just accept it.

posted March 30, 2021
A myALZteam Member

Thank you three pines - -your words come t the right time as we sometimes wonder if he wants us around anymore now . He doesn’t want to admit he has Alzheimer’s and now refuses to go to the doctor. He’s fallen hard for financial predator woman same age as his daughters and we feel as his disease gets worse he will marry and we will no longer be allowed near him or have a say in his care. So very sad - this situation falls between legal cracks as dad is cognizant - an apparently more and more frequent gold-digger type crime with this generation of elder Alzheimer’s folks.
Best of luck to you and thanks again for reply

posted September 26, 2020
A myALZteam Member

Will research ALCA for their recommendations on health/geriatric care managers. Thank you and hope you find the help you need. Just my opinion but if your dad has Alzheimer's he should not be driving and certain stages of this disease causes them to become paranoid of family members. Stay with your dad, he needs your help.

posted September 25, 2020

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