WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL RELATIVE?

A Professional Relative is usually a social worker or a licensed nurse who specializes in geriatrics, or care of the elderly.  They can help you and your family identify needs and finds ways to meet those needs. They are specially trained to help find resources to make your daily life, or that of a loved one easier.  Professional Relatives can be especially helpful when family members live far apart and could benefit from someone on your team, looking out for your loved one’s best interest.

The main duties of a professional relative include, but not limited:

• Care Oversight. Help with overseeing the care your loved one is receiving at home from caregivers, at an Assisted Living Facility or a Nursing and Rehab facility. Our professional eyes and ears can help your loved one receive better care and ascertain that their patient bill of rights is being followed.

• Periodic Visits.  Your Professional Relative makes periodic visits on an as needed basis to assess the needs of your loved one.  This could include shopping, arrangements for socializing and entertainment, attend care plan meeting at the at Health Care Centers or Doctor Visits.

• Financial Management. As your cherished family member gets older, they may need help with their day to day financial tasks. Ordinary simple tasks such as balancing a checkbook and paying household bills become increasingly difficult for the elderly.  Your Professional Relative can take over the task of reviewing and paying household bills, budgeting and record keeping.

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• Care Management.  Your Professional Relative can schedule your doctor visits, arrange for transportation to and from, be present at care facilities, help finding suitable home care aids or help finding a suitable assisted living or nursing home when and if necessary.

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Whether your loved one is no longer entirely independent or simply needs extra help to enjoy their lives you get help in any of the following areas:
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• Discuss difficult topics and complex issues
• Make home visits and suggest needed services
• Address emotional concerns
• Make short- and long-term plans
• Evaluate in-home care needs
• Select care personnel
• Coordinate medical services
• Evaluate other living arrangements
• Provide caregiver stress relief
• Reviewing and paying household bills, budgeting, and record keeping.
• Assistance with check writing and checkbook balancing.
•  Making sure money is received, receipted, and deposited.
• Offering second opinions regarding household issues and unexpected situations.
• Handling day-to-day financial transactions such as home repairs, routine maintenance, and emergency medical expenses.
• Planning retirement account distributions and safeguard against improper disbursements.
• Arranging proper level of care, transportation, and caregiver assessment.​
• Providing referrals to local services and agencies.​
• Organizing and reviewing personal, financial, and legal documents to determine what needs to be addressed.
• Preparing an inventory of personal assets and investments.
• Identifying and planning their retirement income, needs, and goals.
• Determining current and long-term cash flow needs by analyzing income and expenses.
• Addressing questions about lifestyle, Social Security, pensions, Medicare, and long-term insurance.
• Monitoring investment portfolio and other assets in conjunction with their investment advisor.
• Preparing, planning and filing income, trust, gift and estate tax.

Planning for the future is important, and elder care services are crucial to help your family members maintain independence, age with dignity and financial freedom.  Contact us today for more information.