Seven Questions To Help Determine If You Need A Care Manager
January 17, 2023As parents, we never endeavor to become a burden to our children. This is why having a plan for aging in place before the time for care comes is important, as is knowing the resources available to individuals and caregivers to help alleviate some of the burden.
My 3-year-old son has a toy drill. He calls it his “grown-up drill,” and I’m not allowed to use it because “it’s for grown-ups” and he wants to keep me safe. Like most other things that come out of his mouth, intelligent or not, he got this from me telling him that he couldn’t use my drill one day when we were hanging pictures around the house because “it’s a grown-up drill and it’s not safe for you to use it.”
It seems like when we’re young, all we can think about is being a grown-up so we can do the things that mom and dad do, and when we’re mom and dad, all we can think about is keeping our children safe and cared for. However, one day, hopefully very far into the future, these roles may reverse and our children are the ones caring for us while we’re the ones wishing we were their age again. I encourage you to create a plan for the day when these roles do reverse.
Certified care managers work with patients and caregivers to navigate decisions about the care for a loved one, which can oftentimes be a complex and emotionally-charged process. A care manager’s role is to provide professional support, monitor the client, coordinate all care and serve as a patient advocate to ensure the best care is being given. In the same way a financial advisor helps coordinate your tax, estate and investment plans, a care manager serves as the point person for the care team, communicating between individuals and adjusting care if circumstances change.
Of course, not everyone needs a care manager, but how can you tell if hiring one might help? Ask yourself the following questions. If you are a caregiver or a patient and answer “yes” to any of the following, a care manager may be beneficial to your situation:
- Are you confused or overwhelmed by a new diagnosis and need a “road map”?
- Are you faced with an increasing amount of stress due to your caregiving role?
- Do you need additional support and resources in order to maintain independence?
- Do you need a professional assessment to evaluate and/or help create a care plan?
- Do you have limited social support?
- Are you having trouble obtaining consistent, unbiased and accurate communication from providers?
- Do family members disagree on next steps for care?
The inevitable reality of aging is never fun to think about, but with some proactive planning we can leverage the right “grown-up tools” to lessen the burden on our loved ones and provide peace of mind and quality of life to everyone involved.
I encourage you to talk to your primary care physician about your needs. You can also find a certified care manager near you by visiting aginglifecare.org.
Modera Wealth Management, LLC (“Modera”) is an SEC registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not imply any level of skill or training. Modera may only transact business in those states in which it is notice filed or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from notice filing requirements. For information pertaining to Modera’s registration status, its fees and services please contact Modera or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure Web site (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov) for a copy of our Disclosure Brochure which appears as Part 2A of Form ADV. Please read the Disclosure Brochure carefully before you invest or send money.
This article is limited to the dissemination of general information about Modera’s investment advisory and financial planning services that is not suitable for everyone. Nothing herein should be interpreted or construed as investment advice nor as legal, tax or accounting advice nor as personalized financial planning, tax planning or wealth management advice. For legal, tax and accounting-related matters, we recommend you seek the advice of a qualified attorney or accountant. This article is not a substitute for personalized investment or financial planning from Modera. There is no guarantee that the views and opinions expressed herein will come to pass, and the information herein should not be considered a solicitation to engage in a particular investment or financial planning strategy. The statements and opinions expressed in this article are subject to change without notice based on changes in the law and other conditions.
Investing in the markets involves gains and losses and may not be suitable for all investors. Information herein is subject to change without notice and should not be considered a solicitation to buy or sell any security or to engage in a particular investment or financial planning strategy. Individual client asset allocations and investment strategies differ based on varying degrees of diversification and other factors. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or guarantee against a loss.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Our hearts go out to all those impacted by Hurricane Helene. At this time, our Asheville office is closed, and communication will be redirected to one of our other locations where someone can assist you.