When Aging Gets Complicated, Who Can Help?

Aging doesn’t always come with a clear roadmap. Maybe you’re thinking about how your parent can stay safely at home as their needs change. Maybe you’re helping a spouse navigate a new health challenge, or a recent hospital stay has left you wondering what comes next. Or perhaps your adult children have started asking questions about your living situation, driving, or future care.

For older adults and their families, these transitions can bring a long list of decisions: Which doctors or services can help? Would additional support at home make life easier? Is it time to consider a senior living community? How do you navigate Medicare or Medicaid? And how do you make these decisions while keeping independence at the center?

These questions can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure where to start.

What many older adults and their families don’t realize is that there are professionals whose job is to help. Geriatric Care Managers (GCMs) work with older adults and their families to assess needs, connect them with resources, coordinate care, and make a plan for what’s next.

What a Geriatric Care Manager Does

At Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS), GCMs are part of Aviv Older Adult Services. With a collective 65-plus years of experience, the team helps older adults and their families navigate the practical and emotional challenges that can come with aging.

“As older adults decline, we’re there to soften the fall,” says Sarah South, JF&CS aging care services manager.

But families don’t have to wait for a crisis to ask for help. A GCM might help an older adult prepare for a doctor’s appointment, attend the appointment and communicate information with family members, research senior living communities, coordinate a move, or help a family understand Medicare and Medicaid. They can also help with some of the more difficult decisions that come with aging, including whether it’s time to stop driving or consider a higher level of care.

Sometimes the need is practical. Sometimes it’s emotional. Often, it’s both. A GCM can help make sense of what’s happening, identify what needs attention, and create a plan.

Throughout the process, the older adult remains at the center. The goal is to help them be as safe, independent, and engaged as possible, so they feel supported rather than managed.

Experience You Can’t Google

One of the greatest benefits of working with a GCM is having an experienced professional who understands the bigger picture.

JF&CS’s GCMs have collectively worked with hundreds of older adults and their families. That experience helps them recognize the difference between expected changes that come with aging, and signs that may need closer attention. They also know the local resources, providers, and services that can help families move forward.

“We’ve seen hundreds of families through this,” says South. “Having support alongside you to give guidance and offer perspective can be life-changing for families.”

That perspective can be especially valuable when family members live in different cities or when siblings have different ideas about what an older adult needs. A GCM can help bring information, resources, and the people involved together around a common plan.

You Don’t Have to Wait for a Crisis

Geriatric care management isn’t only for families facing an immediate crisis. It can be helpful for an older adult who wants to plan ahead, a spouse who is taking on new caregiving responsibilities, or an adult child who has started noticing changes in a parent’s health or independence.

It can also be particularly valuable for people who live far from family and want someone local to help coordinate care. For older adults who want to remain at home, a GCM can help identify the services and support systems that may make that possible. And when a move to senior living becomes appropriate, a GCM can help families understand their options and navigate the transition.

The goal isn’t to take over; it’s to help older adults make informed decisions and remain as independent as possible while giving families greater peace of mind.

A Place to Start

Getting started may be simpler and more affordable than families expect.

JF&CS offers a free 15-minute exploration call to talk through your situation and determine whether geriatric care management may be a good fit. From there, families can schedule a one-hour consultation with a GCM for under $200, either in person or virtually.

Sometimes, that one hour is enough to help someone understand what comes next. Other families benefit from ongoing support, and JF&CS can build a package around their needs, from occasional check-ins to hands-on care coordination.

Instead of spending weeks searching online, making calls, and trying to piece together information on your own, you can start with someone who understands the challenges of aging and knows the resources available in the community.

“It’s a gift to be able to help our clients and their families navigate this season of life,” says South.

If you or someone you love is wondering what comes next, you don’t have to figure it out alone. To schedule a free 15-minute call with a JF&CS GCM, contact 1-866-AGEWELL or visit agewell.org.