Geriatric Care Managers Possessing backgrounds typically in nursing, social work, elder care, psychology or counseling, geriatric care managers are qualified health and human services workers who can be hired to offer personalized, holistic assistance and planning for older adults and people with disabilities. These professionals act as advocates and focus on helping you or your loved one stay independent, healthy and safe. Geriatric care managers can be especially helpful for caregivers who don’t live near their loved ones. Working with families and caregivers, they use their expertise to assess, problem-solve, plan and monitor older adults’ living and healthcare situations. Examples of the help they can provide include: •A ssessing a loved one’s social, emotional and medical status including problems with memory loss and related dementia. • I nteracting with and facilitating communication with a healthcare team.
Through its Seniors Safe at Home program, COABC helps with such issues as minor home repair, transportation resources, elder justice counseling and some homebound food delivery. Minor home repair services focus on reducing fall risks in the home through the installation of grab bars, hand railings and threshold fixes.
• Evaluating, recommending and helping coordinate moves to appropriate long-term care housing. •S upporting and helping loved ones and families cope with care options and concerns and helping them reach a consensus about long-term care planning. •C onnecting with community resources available for older adults. • I ntervening when a crisis occurs such and as an emergency room visit and overseeing a hospitalization or rehabilitation stay. •R eviewing and overseeing bill paying, assisting with insurance companies and working with financial advisors and attorneys. The Aging Life Care Association offers more information about geriatric care management as well an online searchable database for finding a professional in your area at AgingLifeCare.org.
and deliveries while the dining sites are closed due to the pandemic. Monthly food boxes are delivered by volunteers with COABC to atrisk, homebound elders.
COABC partners with a variety of local agencies and connects clients with other assistance in the community, such as help with ramp installations.
Through its Benefits Enrollment Center, COABC provides application assistance for individuals living in Buncombe County who are on Medicare due to disability or age. COABC provides these individuals with assistance with applications for SNAP, Medicaid, Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs.
For people who can’t drive or use public transportation, COABC has volunteers who take people to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping and occasional social trips. Senior Nutrition is being offered via curbside pick-up
COABC assistance with the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program, a federally funded program that helps qualified individuals with their home heating and cooling costs.
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Aging Resources 2020–2021
