A Nurse In Your Pocket

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the medical information you are charged with understanding and managing for yourself, your spouse or your parents? Wouldn't it be a relief if you had a nurse in your pocket? There are so many ways this person could provide you with support and answers. CarePartners Geriatric Care Management program has just this service available to seniors and their families. Following are anecdotes of the variety of ways the RNs in this program are able to make a difference.

• The nurse can attend your medical appointments with you and help you verbalize your symptoms. Additionally, you may find it helpful if the nurse writes down what the doctor says so you can better understand the doctor's recommendation. If you wish, the nurse can communicate this information to the family members you desire to be kept updated.
• You may want the nurse to better explain your diagnosis in terms you understand.
• Your medications can be organized at your home in a way that makes sense to you.
• The nurse can call the doctor for you and explain symptoms and inquire what you should do next.
• When necessary, the nurse is able to go with you to the emergency room for acute illness and provide your medical history to the medical team. The nurse can interact with your medical team to assist with continuity of care and help answer your questions regarding what options are available if you need increased care in the home or in a facility.
• The Geriatric Care Management nurse will learn from you what you define as quality of life and can educate you about options available in our community to meet your advancing needs while maintaining your quality of life.
• They are knowledgeable about the continuum of care and can make sense of the immense variety of assisted living communities and nursing facilities in our area.
• They can help you understand how to complete advance directives (instructions on what medical interventions you do or do not want) and even help you communicate your wishes to your family.

For more information on what Geriatric Care Management can offer, please visit the website www.caremanager.org. If you think this service would be helpful for you, please call Lisa Laney-Kendrick, MSW, Director of CarePartners Geriatric Care Management, at (828) 277-4886.