Where to turn if you don't know what to do...

​What if a senior’s children or other family members have no idea where to
turn for help when their elder loved one is suddenly in need?

Language Matters: Senior Concierge Services

For seniors, a steadfast desire to maintain independence as long as possible is completely understandable; we all want autonomy over our lives.

While women as a group are generally more amenable to help once they recognize they have a need, it’s important for LOs, other senior service professionals, children of elderly parents, concerned friends, etc., to understand the implicit threat to independence that saying “yes” to help represents. It opens a doorway to acknowledging one’s mortality, and this creates fear.

One way to ameliorate resistance is simply semantic. Instead of telling your client, mother, father, in-law, etc. that you’d like to bring in a caregiver or a geriatric care manager, mention a “senior concierge”. This term conjures images of a polished professional at a fine hotel, there to make their stay more pleasant.

In fact, this is what a senior concierge does, in a senior’s home environment rather than at a hotel. And the field is growing. A senior concierge may provide services similar to what home care agencies once called a “home health aide” or “companion”. A concierge offers non-medical assistance such as grocery shopping, meal preparation, transportation to appointments, etc., that may be just what someone like the elder with a broken wrist needs now.

The best way to find a senior concierge service in your area is to search this phrase along with your state, county or city. Here are several senior concierge services a quick search revealed.
Note: We are not endorsing any of these providers
Senior Concierge Services (Cincinnati, OH)
Elder Concierge Services (Denver, CO)
Independent Living Concierge (Los Angeles, CA)
Senior Concierge Providers (South Florida)

When A Senior Needs Home Health Care


Of course, some people will probably require more direct personal care than a senior concierge provides. This is when a home health agency is likely to be the best next step.

There is a huge range of agencies available, from national service providers to local services based in your community. A home care agency will screen, hire, bond/insure, pay the salary, and replace the employee if necessary. Alternatively, you can hire someone directly via a digital bulletin board such as Craig’s List, or from word-of-mouth referral, but you’ll be responsible for all aspects of hiring, employing, and potentially replacing the caregiver.

A family can also search via the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) Agency Locator, a comprehensive database that will pull up information germane to someone’s specific needs and indicate whether the provider is state licensed, Medicare certified, an NAHC member, etc. FYI: In most cases, ongoing care that doesn’t involve skilled nursing (i.e., “custodial care”) is not covered by Medicare. This is one of the areas in which a reverse mortgage could prove very helpful.

A Shoulder to Cry On

What if the family is committed to managing their loved one’s care on their own, and could use some support from people who understand what they’re going through?

Family Caregiver Alliance is one excellent, virtual support network: the first community-based nonprofit organization to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care for loved ones at home. As a public voice for caregivers, FCA “shines light on the challenges caregivers face daily and champions their cause through education, services, and advocacy.”

A family can also visit the Health and Human Services website for their city or county, which will list a category such as Aging and Adult Services and may specifically offer caregiver support. At the very least, they should be able to make a knowledgeable referral to a caregiver support group within your community. Your local senior center is also a good point of contact to find a caregiver support group.

One other good clearing-house for information is Helping Hands. In our connected age, there is no reason for anyone to feel isolated and burdened by not knowing how to get help for their elder loved one.