LivHOME Care Manager Bettina Krasner was stunned when she met one senior gentleman for the first time. His gaze was unfocused, he drooled, had difficulty conversing, and could barely hold a cup or a fork. He had also lost his appetite and was losing weight.

As she began evaluating his needs, Bettina was even more surprised to discover that he was being treated by 11 different physicians, from his general practitioner to specialists including a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, a neurologist and a pulmonologist—and none of these professionals were communicating with each other about his case or coordinating the medications they prescribed him!

Suspecting that the man’s poor physical condition was perhaps the result of overmedication, Bettina reached out to all of his doctors, informed them of the medications he was taking and put them in touch with each other so that together they could create a sensible, coordinated treatment plan.

Soon he was taken off eight of his medications. His appetite improved, he stopped drooling and he became more alert.

The man’s son, a busy college student with no nearby siblings to help care for his father, was reassured to see his father receiving proper care at last. Having hired an outside Caregiver to help with his father’s day-to-day needs, he was all the more reassured when Bettina was able to step in and manage an emergency: The man was not responding well and needed medical attention. Bettina took over, swiftly coordinating his transportation to the hospital as well as communications among his family members. With her help, they pulled through the emergency and the man ultimately returned to the comfort of living at home.

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