Beverly is a faculty member and panelist at the
“6th Annual Legal Issues in an Age of Aging” seminar.
“Is the power of attorney I have from 1990 still valid?”
“How do I know if my father is still safe living alone?”
“Will Medicare pay for my husband’s care?”
“How much would it cost me to stay in my home and have aides round the clock?”
When seniors are faced with failing health and dwindling finances, their questions are numerous and complex — and commonly overlaid with fear, denial and family issues. Often, elder law attorneys are the first professionals to field these inquiries. Though many of these questions are not legal in nature, they are vitally important to the client’s well being, and they beg to be addressed.
An elder law attorney’s expertise in asset protection and estate planning is crucial to help clients protect themselves and their heirs. They design and implement a plan guided by their knowledge of Medicaid law and the appropriate timing of how, what and when specific steps must be taken. This is to insure that their client receives the best care possible considering their circumstances. Answers to the “how,” “when” and “where” of care rely on a body of knowledge separate from elder law. Numerous elder law practices have incorporated geriatric care management as an integral component of their practice either informally or by hiring care managers.
Several years ago, we were contacted by an attorney after he had spent time in a drug store buying makeup for his client. That was the point in which the need for a care manager became apparent to him. The elder law attorney must decide the best use of his or her billable time and the manner in which clients are to be served. These decisions define the design of an elder law practice.
What is a geriatric care manager?
Geriatric care managers are human service professionals with degrees in social work, counseling, nursing or geriatrics. As specialists in the area of geriatrics, their work
Learn how we can help your elderly loved one.
About the Author
Beverly Bernstein Joie is the founder and president of Complete Care Strategies, a senior care management company serving Philadelphia and its surrounding communities. A Certified Aging Life Care Manager with more than 20 years of experience, Beverly has worked in senior care since 1994, both in assisted living communities and in private practice. She is a member of the Aging Life Care Association and was a former president of the Philadelphia Chapter.
Complete Care Strategies consists of care managers, specialized human service professionals, who advocate and direct the care of seniors and others facing ongoing health challenges. Working with families, its expertise provides the answers at a time of uncertainty. Along with its licensed home care division, it can help clients safely remain at home under the watchful eye of skilled professionals. Families are afforded an integrated model of care that, with guidance and advocacy, lead them to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love