Because The System Can Be Utterly Confusing To Navigate.
Geriatric Care Consultation
Consultation for those who are Primary Caregivers to their aging parent(s).
You’re ready to make a plan. You want to help the best way possible for them … AND you.
I want you to know that you’re not “crazy.” You’re not failing at caregiving. You’re trying to meet mom and dad’s care needs in a world that was not built for this time in their lives. More time in your day to get it all done doesn’t fall out of the sky and money still doesn’t grow on trees!
A consultation will bolster your support network and provide you with needed information to make a plan.
Unless you have been through this before or work in field of aging, no one could possibly expect you to know what to do or where to begin.
Examples of questions you may have …
How do I know how much help they need?
What if they won’t let me help?
How do I do this and manage my own life?
How do I involve my siblings who don’t see what I see?
Do I move in with them?
Can I hire a caregiver to come into the home?
Do I place them in a facility?
What is the difference between a Nursing Home and an Assisted Living Facility?
How do they pay for this?
What is the difference between Medicaid and Medicare?
Do we need a lawyer?
When we meet the first order of business is for me to fully assess the big picture and hear all of your concerns, worries and frustrations. I will want to understand what your experience has been thus far - What has worked? What has not worked? - I will want to understand What Matters Most to you and your parents. This will be what guides the resources we access and the choices you have to make. If desired I can make a home visit to meet your parents and help you further assess what we need to work on together to help the whole family.
Imagine a caregiving experience where…
What we will work on
Yes, you are their family member and their caregiver and their fierce advocate, but you are not feeling so alone in navigating each leg of the journey.
Someone can help you know how to access the right resources and ask the right questions.
You’re feeling like you have an understanding of how the system does work and where not to waste your time.
You have someone to talk to who gets it and will simply know exactly what you are trying to tackle.
Get in touch
Change is possible.
Click this link to choose a day and time for a free, confidential consultation with me, Holly W. Smith.
I’ll ask a little bit about your story and what you’re looking for in a Geriatric Consultation. I’ll share how we can work together based on what your needs are. If you decide to schedule an appointment with me, we’ll set that up on the calendar right away!
A consultation with me is not…
Like talking to an online clearinghouse and someone who is not rooted in this community
A means for me to receive a kick back from a facility
A poor use of your limited time
Something that steers you towards what you don’t need
A consultation with me is…
Grounded in years of professional experience working with older adults and their families for over 25 years
Focused on what matters most to you and your loved one
Designed to save you from the stress and worry you don’t need
A local contact when you live far away
My core values
Dignity
They have lived a full life and dignity to them may be more important than their safety…I am comfortable with this and value it deeply.
Safety
All efforts must be made to ensure safety and be sure older adults, and their Primary Caregivers understand risks.
Honesty
An older adult or Primary Caregiver cannot make a sound decision if their advocates and care team are not open and honest with them, even if something needs to be said that they don’t want to hear.
The Right to Self Determination
Primary Caregiver may come to me for a consultation, and my goal will always be to support the older adult and their right to determine what they feel is best for themselves so long as they are competent and able to do so.
Compassion
Growing old is supposed to be “the golden years.” Whether it has been this way or not for your loved one their loss of independence and declining health deserves nothing less than love and compassion.
Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to make you discover who you are."
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Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to make you discover who you are." —