Tools of the Geriatric Care Manager When a Client Refuses Care

Why do parents reject caregivers? This is the question everyone asks care managers. Parents may resist paid caregivers for a variety of reasons. They may cherish their independence and privacy, be unaware of how dependent they are, may fear being robbed or exploited, feel they do not have the money because they grew up in the depression, have racial attitudes, or worry that they will lose contact with their children.

The geriatric care manager in the care planning stage needs to solve this dilemma. Mrs. Sterling in our GCM You Tube series , refuses care, Why?

Mrs. Sterling feels that she is not able to afford to pay for any additional care if it means that she will have to tap into her savings. It is important to her that the principle remain in tact as well as her home remain free from debt. Her desire is that her estate should be left to her family. Her adult son, Michael, who is autistic, must have a home, once she is gone and have money to assure his future needs will be met. She also feels if she accepts care she will no longer see her daughter Jane.

Jane, her daughter, feels her parents worked hard for their money and her mother should spend it on herself. While Jane could use the money, she would rather see it spent on her mother’s own needs. Adult son Bob, the Wells Fargo Private banker, has told Jane that he feels that their mother has the money, and so he has not felt the need to offer support. She knows however, that her brother could and would be willing to contribute if the need arose. Jane feels some resentment towards Michael, who has always been the primary focus of her mother’s attention. She feels the state supports him at the present, and will continue to do so.

What will Ms. Full Charge the GCM do next?