11 minutes | Monday, July 1, 2024
Geriatric care managers are essential advocates for navigating the path for senior loved ones with medical or mobility challenges. A geriatric care manager or aging life care professional consults with individuals and families who are navigating changes in health and memory. People are doing this work across the country to help navigate the complicated, overwhelming, confusing system that is long term care choices and memory changes, and what do people do while amid these changes. Lisa Mayfield, CEO and founder of Aging Wisdom, joins Suzanne to talk about how these consultants advocate for loved ones during these crossroads and transitions. Suzanne says, "When I was navigating that world as a daughter, way back when, I listened a lot to my mom about what she wanted. And although there was a little voice in the back of my head saying this is probably not the right fit, I didn't have the toolbox to be able to guide her. So what ended up happening, I ended up moving my mother four times. And that is heartbreaking, because had I made the right decision in advance, she would have not had to move. I didn't know what I didn't know, and had I hired somebody like you, I can imagine my world would have been so much easier for on me as well as on her." Lisa Mayfield says, "Once we're hired by the family to be their advocate, we're looking out for your best interest. Geriatric care managers are part of a professional association. We're certified, many are licensed and have master's degrees. We have a code of ethics, and so we don't take referral fees. So what that means is: when we're making recommendations to families, we're not getting anything back for making those referrals. We're not selling anything. And so we can really be an unbiased person to make recommendations, which I think is really important, that's hard to find in this industry as a neutral person to help you navigate." Aging Life Care AssociationAging Wisdom websiteMore podcasts with Lisa Mayfield Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s SpeaksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.