Specialty Services

ALTERNATE LIVING CONSIDERATIONS

Geriatric Care Managers

A Geriatric Care Manager is a professional educated in various fields of human services:

Social work
Psychology
Nursing
Gerontology

They have been trained to assess, plan, coordinate, monitor and provide services for the elderly and their families. A Geriatric Care Manager acts as an advocate for the older adults. As a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, they are certified by the National Association of Social Workers, the National Academy of Certified Care Managers or the Commission for Case Managers. Geriatric Care Managers will provide an initial assessment of your situation on a fee basis determined by the region and firm. Continuing support is on an hourly basis. They should be available by phone 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. You should also be able to contact the other members of their team (nurses or support staff) in the event you can’t reach your Care Manager.

An example of a situation where a Geriatric Care Manager might be helpful would be when the family lives a great distance away from their parents. They would be able to assess the parent’s living situation, coordinate in home aids or in some cases assist with the coordination of moving the parent closer to the family or into one of the various Multi Level Care Facilities.

A Fiduciary

A Fiduciary is a legal or ethical relationship of trust between two or more parties. Typically, a Fiduciary prudently takes care of money for another person. One party, for example a corporate trust company or the trust department of a bank, acts in a Fiduciary capacity to the other one, who for example has entrusted funds to the Fiduciary for safekeeping or investment. Likewise, asset managers—including managers of pension plans, endowments and other tax-exempt assets—are considered Fiduciaries under applicable statutes and laws.[1] In a Fiduciary relationship, one person, in a position of vulnerability, justifiably vests confidence, good, reliance, and trust in another whose aid, advice or protection is sought in some matter. In such a relationship, good conscience requires the Fiduciary to act at all times for the sole benefit and interest of the one who trusts.

[1] Lemke and Lins, ERISA for Money Managers, Chapter 1 (Thomson West, 2013)

A Fiduciary is someone who has undertaken to act for and on behalf of another in a particular matter in circumstances which give rise to a relationship of trust and confidence. [2]

—Lord Millett, Bristol and West Building Society v Mothew[2]

A Fiduciary might be hired to handle all bill payments, medical bills and home maintenance issues while a person is hospitalized or incapable of handling those every day chores themselves.