Also known as case managers, these professionals help older adults and their families understand and manage the system of services and supports. These are generally health care professionals with a background in nursing or social work who specialize in issues regarding seniors and are trained to help by assessing the needs of a specific family, the living situation, and care needed. They help to navigate the medical system and even plan and supervise care. For long distance caregivers, they can be the eyes and ears that the family relies on to know how Mom or Dad is really doing, not just what you hear through a phone conversation.

These professionals can assess your parents’ living situation and recommend changes, or even suggest that they need to move to a facility. If your parents do live in a facility, the care manager can be their advocate with the management, if necessary, or drop by at odd hours to be sure the care is up to par. Your care manager can help with medical needs by attending doctor appointments and ensuring that the orders are carried out. They can help to manage and coordinate home and community-based services, and even refer you to some that you may not be aware of.

Unfortunately, geriatric care managers are usually not covered under insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid), but it is quite likely that the money you spend up front in getting a plan and strategy in place will be recouped by not trying so many dead-end options or hasty decisions.

Most Area Agencies on Aging have links to affordable transportation for seniors who no longer drive. Transportation may be provided for medical visits, grocery store trips, visiting friends, or other needs. Local senior centers may have a list of transportation options.

Lyft is another on-demand mode of transportation but requires a level of technical savvy to use the app on a smartphone. The cost for this service is usually less than a taxi.

GOGOGrandparent is like Lyft but is a concierge service accessed by telephone (not an app) that offers additional perks like family updates when your parent is using the service. It also provides the family with the phone number of the driver. Cost for this service is about the same as Lyft, but with an additional charge for the concierge service (about $0.27 per minute).

ITNAmerica is the only national senior transportation network, with affiliates working in 13 communities across 12 states, from Maine to Florida to California. Pricing for this service depends on the network.

The list of in-home services is long and varied, from personal care to housekeeping to nursing services.

Home Care Agencies provide workers to do things like light housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship, and driving. They may provide significant help with ADLs or other tasks. Most agencies complete an initial assessment to determine what the needs of the senior are (as well as what the family requests). They also recruit, train, and supervise their employees, and reassess needs as time goes on.

Home Health Agencies provide a range of services from doctors and nurses to physical and occupational therapists, social workers, and even some housekeeping and personal care aides. Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs or hospital beds) also falls into this category. Often these agencies are Medicare-certified so Medicare or Medicaid recipients have access to these services. (See a list of facilities in your area)

We offer one caution about home health care agencies that may have implications for taxes. Some people would prefer to hire an individual as a caregiver, rather than go through an agency. If a privately hired caregiver makes more than $600 per year, the employer (that means you or your parent) must give them a 1099 or W-2. If the caregiver is hired through an agency, there is no requirement on the part of the older adult. Also, the older adult may use the agency’s bill as proof of medical expenses for tax purposes.

Adult Day Care Centers may be an alternative for older adults who cannot remain alone in their home but do not need medical care. Some centers offer specialized services for older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. They provide social services, meals, recreation, and transportation. Some adult day health programs offer the assistance of health care professionals with health problems, to administer medications, or even some physical therapy. (See a list of facilities in your area)