Introducing CGM/Recommended Fiblet

Jenflex

So, with help and guidance from the board, my family has made a LOT of progress towards getting a plan in place for my mom, and de-escalating a lot of hot button areas.  Which is improving everyone's quality of life.  I am so, so grateful for this.

We had a neurologist appointment today, and Mom aced the MMSE, which was not surprising...she was very "on" for this appointment. I had provided a list of observations prior to the appointment, and Dr. set up B12/thyroid blood tests, and is setting up neuropsychiatric assessments, which may take a couple of months to schedule. Because COVID.

I am an out of state POA, and my brother has two high schoolers and a demanding job, so we agreed that a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) would be a good fit for where we are on this journey right now...it's an objective set of eyes for me (out of stater), an advocate/expert for mom to work with (she can complain at will that I'm an overbearing daughter), and an additional resource for Mom because my brother can't always be there every time she wants.

The only thing left to do, is to get Mom to buy in to the care manager. I have interviewed two, and plan to set up appointments for her with both of them, so Mom can choose the one she prefers.

My question for this community, is this:  I would love suggestions for how to position this new advocate, to Mom. 

Mom has rejected the idea of a grief counselor (she lost my Dad in February), she doesn't want help cleaning the house, she has her friends, and she likes her new community. So all those ideas are non-starters.

What have you said/what has worked for you?  Appreciate the help brainstorming, and I will also be asking the GCM providers this same question.

jfkoc

Please double check that the GCM has experience working with people with dementia.

How about the CM is provided by medicare???

harshedbuzz

Could you introduce her as a friend of yours from school who promised to stop by and check to see if she needs any help just to ease your mind? My mom's Medicare includes a visiting nurse check, could you present this as a new Medicare requirement or a kind of home health person ordered to check on a chronic condition?

I feel your pain on having a LO w/dementia who can still showtime and perform well on the quick cognitive screenings. My dad was like this. I sat in on his last MMSE where he did pretty as expected for a man his age/education level. He did really well on the serial subtraction but missed one of the 3 objects (Rose) even when prompted a few minutes later with "it's a kind of flower" as his mom's name was Rose. He left the appointment bragging about being "off the charts" the entire trip down to the lobby and then got into some stranger's car at the valet stand when I had my back turned.

HB