Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a senior care manager?
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Senior Care Managers are typically social workers or nurses who act as private advocates and guides for family members who want to ensure their loved one is in the best hands. Care Manager help families make informed choices about care for their older loved one, provide options for any support services required, and provide strategies for conducting difficult conversations.
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Do overwhelmed family members need a professional guide?
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In the past, extended families often shared the job of tending to older loved ones. These days, families may live farther apart, and the responsibility for care can fall on one overwhelmed family member. A Care Manager ensures that the senior’s personal and practical needs are met and can help with more mundane tasks, freeing up family members so that they can enjoy more quality, stress-free time with their loved one.
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What is an end-of-life doula?
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An end-of-life doula is a practitioner who guides individuals and their families through the end-of-life process by way of presence, support, advocacy, education, and companionship. An end-of-life doula offers a variety of services, but first and foremost is a grounding, reliable, knowledgeable, and comforting presence to all involved during this difficult time.​
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What is the difference between hospice and an end-of-life doula?
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We highly recommend to anyone receiving a prognosis of less than six months, that they seek support from a local hospice organization. As a complement to a hospice service, an end-of-Life doula can offer more time, more personalized attention, more continuity at the bedside, and more availability beyond what hospice is normally able to provide due to Medicare guidelines. End-of-life doulas can provide full-time presence and companionship during the vigil and at death, and our advocacy in hospitals or at home, and our end-of-life care plans for practical, spiritual, physical, and emotional needs reflect a scope of service unavailable through most hospice organizations. There is no required criteria to begin this service. ​
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Where are senior care manager or doula services provided?
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Services are provided anywhere the client is living. This could include, residential client's homes, assisted living facility, care centers, or hospital setting. Service areas in Illinois include St. Clair County, Madison County, Clinton County. If outside these counties, please call to discuss service possibilities. This is case-by-case reviewed. We also service the greater St. Louis area in Missouri.
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Are care manager or doula services covered by insurance?
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As of now, care manager and end-of-life doula services are not covered by most insurance policies. Some long-term care insurance may cover some of the costs of care coordination, this is policy dependent.
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