MAY 15, 2008 A PUBLICATION OF THE NATICK VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION

Most professions and businesses have their own set of jargon and acronyms. Sometimes a

paragraph out of a trade journal can look like nothing more than a bunch of unrelated letters and

phrases that are incomprehensible to most people. That’s how I felt the first time I heard the term

“Aging in Place”. My fist question was, “What place?” The answer is – home.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) reports that nine out of 10 Americans age 60

and older wish to remain in their own homes as they age. The fastest-growing segment of the

population is the “over 85” age group and the senior population is expected to double in the next 30

years. As we all know, living longer brings with it a whole new set of challenges. Health care,

retirement income and quality of life are all areas that concerned us. We want to live longer, and

we want to enjoy that extra time.

Frances D. Kerchner, MSW, LICSW, of Kerchner Associates says that “long term care has historically

consisted of two options for older adults: move in with a family member or move into a nursing

home. But today’s seniors are living longer and want the choice and independence they have had

all their lives.”

Independence is attainable, but may require some support. Much of this support is provided by

family members. According to the Metropolitan Life Mature Market Institute and the National

Alliance for Caregiving, there are 633,549 family caregivers living in Massachusetts. Two out of

three of these caregivers work outside the home. Kerchner points out that “for an adult child,

working and balancing family needs with an elderly parent or parents is quite a juggling act.”

One solution might be a Geriatric Care Manager. A GCM is a health and human services specialist

who helps families who are caring for older relatives. Deborah Saperia, Director of Operations for

New Century Homecare Services, a sister organization of the Natick Visiting Nurse Association, says

that a GCM can provide big advantages. “A good care manager prevents caregivers from getting

bogged down with all the phone calls. One-stop shopping to arrange for services can take the

stress and frustration out of the process and make it possible for an elderly family member to

remain living at home.”

According to the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, a PCM can do many

things:

�� Conduct an assessment to identify problems and provide solutions;

�� Screen, arrange and monitor in-home help or other services;

�� Coordinate short- or long-term assistance for caregivers;

�� Review financial, legal or medical issues and offer referrals to geriatric specialists;

�� Provide crisis intervention;

�� Act as a liaison to families at a distance;

�� Assist with moving an older person to or from a retirement complex, assisted care home or

nursing home;

�� Provide consumer education and advocacy;

�� Offer counseling and support.

GCMs work primarily with older adults and have knowledge of aging issues that allows them to

overcome the myths related to aging and to focus on the problem at hand. They are aware of reallife

problems, health and otherwise, that emerge as people age and the tools that are available to

address those issues. They are also connected to the community of social workers, nurses,

psychologists, elder law attorneys, advocates and other elder care professionals who may be of

assistance.

For many older adults and their loved ones, the problems they face are becoming larger and more

complex than they can manage. Demands and responsibilities become so great that families are

not able to provide the level of attention that is necessary to successfully “age in place”.

While professional assistance may not be the right choice for everyone, there are many people and

families who can benefit from assistance in navigating the maze of services available to older

adults. With a little help, older adults can remain independent and enjoy a high quality of life – a

privilege they have earned.