How to Find Senior Resources: A Guide for Geriatric Care Managers

If you work with seniors, you know they need a variety of resources to meet their needs. It’s a challenge, though, to find quality service providers. No one wants to see seniors get taken in by unreputable organizations. How can you point the seniors you know in the right direction? 

We’ll walk you through how to vet three common service providers for seniors. Find out how to find quality home health care agencies, moving companies, and retirement communities before you recommend them to your senior clients. In each category, we’ll share our picks for providers local to the Cleveland area.

How to Vet Home-Care Agencies for Seniors 

Many seniors find themselves in need of in-home care at some point. In-home care can offer a variety of assistive services such as:

• Housecleaning
• Laundry
• Grocery shopping
• Food prep
• Companionship

More advanced services include:

• Showering
• Getting dressed
• Personal grooming
• Medication management

Seniors and their families don’t want just anyone going into a senior’s home. They want the care provider to be compassionate, caring, trustworthy, and capable of doing the job.

There are two ways of finding an in-home service provider. One is to use an agency that has an in-house staff. The other is to look for private provider. Private care providers can offer high-quality care, but agencies offer a layer of protection for clients that private providers don’t.

Home care agencies:

• Screen their providers for experience and suitability for the role.
• Conduct background checks on employees.
• Have a case manager that oversees the in-home service provider. If there are any problems, the case manager is your go-to person.
• Carry liability insurance.
• May hold trainings for their employees.
• Have back-up providers if yours is ill or on vacation.
• May receive state funding to offset your cost for services.

That being said, be sure to ask if the agency you choose has in-house employees (ones who work as W-2 employees). Some agencies work with independent contractors (1099 workers) that aren’t technically employees of the agency. You may run into similar issues to working with private providers. 

Other ways to find a quality home care agency:

• Your Local Senior Center: Senior centers are a trove of information for finding senior services. They have a direct line on the good, the bad, and the ugly because they work with this clientele every day.
• Personal Recommendations: Nothing beats hearing about a positive experience from someone you know and trust. You may even be able to cut through some red tape if you have an “in” through a current client.
• Provider Recommendations: Ask current health care providers for their resources.
• Online Reviews: Looking to others on the internet can provide good insight, but always take these with a grain of salt.
• Other Resources: Consult reliable online resources such as Medicare.gov and the National Council on Aging.

Local options in Cleveland: We have had positive experiences working with Home Instead, especially their Oakwood Village branch. Home Instead provides in-home senior care services, helping seniors age in place safely.

How to Vet Moving Companies for Seniors

It’s not a fun experience to be taken in by disreputable movers at any stage of life. That’s especially true for seniors, so do your research before recommending a mover. 

• Mover, Not Broker: First and foremost, know whether you are working with a moving broker or a moving company. A moving broker is not actually a mover. They are not the people that will handle belongings or unpack the moving truck. They are salespeople concerned primarily with booking moves and selling the job to moving companies. 
• Brick-and-Mortar: It’s far better to work directly with a mover that has a real-life location—otherwise known as a brick-and-mortar business. Brick-and-mortar businesses operate in the community, and they sink or swim based on their reputation. They are the ones responsible for getting the belonging from point A to point B safely. 
• Certified First: Look for the American Trucking Association’s ProMover certification. Moving companies achieve this accreditation by following the ATA’s code of ethics, passing background checks, and completing annual reviews.  

Again, these criteria apply to any move, but senior moves can be especially emotional. Ask your mover if they offer any kind of accommodations or train their workers on how to manage senior moves. 

Alternatively, work with an accredited senior move manager (SMM), such as Smooth Transitions. SMMs are skilled in working with all aspects of senior moves. They are especially attuned to the emotional aspects of senior moves, which can make the move easier overall for seniors.

Local options in Cleveland: Armbruster Moving & Storage is family-owned and operated and have been in business for over 30 years. They are ProMover certified and rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. They have a stellar local reputation and have been awarded numerous customer excellence and quality awards. 

How To Find Quality Senior Retirement Communities

Most people prefer to stay in their homes as they age. In fact, seniors move less than other ages groups. Yet, large number of seniors do move every year—some by choice, some by circumstance. Often health concerns prompt a senior move.

Seniors and their loved ones need to consider a lot of factors when looking for new housing that meets their needs. They need to consider:

• Current and potential level of assistance needed.
• Cost of housing and services.
• Proximity to loved ones.
• Personal priorities.

Finding a high-quality senior living community requires a fair amount of legwork. Here are some things to keep in mind as you look:

• Again, check with people know who have had experience with particular senior living communities.
• Ask health care providers and local senior centers.
• Look at websites for communities you are considering.
• Call and speak with representatives for the communities. Sometimes you can get a read on the culture of a place from their first point of contact.
• Schedule in-person tours. Strike up a conversation with staff members and residents.
• Have a one-on-one meeting after your tour. Staff should welcome questions and provide written materials that pay out their policies, fees, and services.
• Check online reviews. Take them with a grain of salt, but if ratings are consistently high or low, that’s something to factor into your decision.
• Make sure any senior living facility that provides care is properly accredited.
• Check to make sure there are no caregiving violations cited against facilities you visit.  

Local options in Cleveland: The Eliza Jennings Renaissance Retirement Campus offers a range of senior living options. Eliza Jennings is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing quality and dignified care for seniors. They are well-regarded in the community and were recently named a 2022 Cleveland Magazine Best of the West Finalist.

Need help with a senior move? Contact us to see how we can help!