Aging adults increasingly want to remain independent and age in their own home. Grandma or grandpa are really happy living at home and don't want to move out. Their family and loved ones worry, however, because they are not able to completely take care of themselves on their own. It is time to objectively assess the senior's abilities and limitations, and to develop a future care plan that helps them to safely age in place.
Fortunately, this scenario is so common-place that an entire profession - Geriatric Care Management - has evolved to help the family with these difficult decisions, and to present to Grandma and the family services and options that will allow Grandma to safely stay in her home, meeting her needs and the concerns of the family and other loved ones for her safety. These group of professionals dedicated to the care of older people or disabled adults are called Geriatric Care Managers.
The Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) is a care coordinator, educated and experienced in any of several fields related to senior care management, including, but not limited to nursing, gerontology, social work, or psychology, with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care. The GCM will help the family plan and coordinate care of their elderly family members, helping the senior safely remain independent for as long as practical.
Grandma's care is now covered. The family found a Geriatric Care Manager who recommended the family engage a senior caregiver to come in daily to provide companionship and help with homemaking activities such as meal preparation, laundry, and driving Grandma to the grocery store, pharmacy, medical appointments and social activities. The family assessed services provided by seniorcare staffing agencies, but ultimately hired a woman known to them through their church to take care of Grandma and allow her to maintain, to the extent possible, her independence in her own home. This is not the end of the story... it is actually the begining of the "Nanny Tax" field - our area of expertise.
HomeWork Solutions is a payroll and tax services firm that specializes on Household Employment taxes - only. When a family privately hires a senior caregiver and pays her $1800 gross or more in a calendar year, they become responsible for household employment taxes. We work with families nationwide, providing either full payroll or simply payroll tax preparation only services. We simplify payroll tax compliance, freeing the family to focus their care and attention on Grandma.
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May 2015 Update:
The profession is Aging Life Care™.
Practitioners are Aging Life Care Professionals™.
The professional organization to which these practitioners belong is the Aging Life Care Association™.
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about Aging Life Care – a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing ongoing health challenges. Working with families, the expertise of Aging Life Care Professionals provides the answers at a time of uncertainty. Their guidance leads families to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love, thus reducing worry, stress and time off of work for family caregivers.