How to find case/social worker to help

stevz3

My parents have many health issues, including my father who has dementia. All of my siblings and I live hours away. We have set up in home care, but it was dependent on my mother being there to regulate/direct my father. We have each spent weeks living in our old bedrooms trying to make the in home care work without us. It might have worked with Mom at home, but my mother’s health has deteriorated so she likely will never be able to return home. We need help on how to navigate the next steps. How do we find case/social workers in rural southeastern Illinois? All of the contacts provided by the Illinois Department of Aging say they only help those who qualify for Medicaid. Where do people find caseworker assistance if they do not qualify for Medicaid?

H1235

Welcome. I’m not sure what your goal is here. Are you trying to keep your dad at home with 24/7 care and looking for someone locally to manage that? In a rural area that may be difficult. If you grew up there is there a local friend of a friend that you could hire. If he is to the point of needing 24/7 care maybe it’s time to consider a facility and a move closer to you or your siblings. Do you or one of your siblings have DPOA. Some facilities can have a waiting list to get in.

harshedbuzz

The private-pay version of the help you are seeking is "Geriatric Care Manager". This is usually a MSW or geriatric care specialist who have pivoted to a career overseeing care— your eye and ears. That said, they won't be in the home if dad chases away an aide or there's a no-show in real time.

The safest option is likely to moved dad to a facility that specializes in the kind of care he needs.

SDianeL

so sorry about your parents. Managing care from a distance is very difficult if not impossible even with a Case Manager. I would consider moving your Dad to a memory care facility near the child that has DPOA. If nobody has DPOA you should speak to an attorney about guardianship.

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