Geriatric Care Management in Essex County, New Jersey
Connections Care Management provides geriatric and aging life care management across Essex County, from Montclair and West Orange to Livingston, Maplewood and the Caldwells. We come to your loved one at home, in the hospital, in rehab or in a care community. Our licensed clinical social workers assess what is going on, build a plan, and stay with your family as needs change.
What does a geriatric care manager do in Essex County?
A geriatric care manager, also called an aging life care manager, is a professional who looks at the whole picture for an older adult and helps the family act on it. In Essex County that often starts with a phone call from a son or daughter who has just noticed something is off. Mom is missing bills. Dad fell on the stairs. A hospital social worker says your parent cannot go home alone.
We start with a free conversation. Then we meet your loved one in person for a full care assessment, usually three to five hours, and write a care plan with specific recommendations. Some families take the plan and run with it. Others ask us to stay involved with ongoing care management, regular visits and updates.
Situations we often see in Essex County
Essex County is a mix of dense older suburbs, quiet hilly neighborhoods and busy cities. That shapes the kinds of problems families bring to us.
- Older homes with lots of stairs. Many houses in Montclair, Glen Ridge, Maplewood and South Orange were built a century ago, with steep staircases and bedrooms on the second floor. Aging in place usually means a hard look at safety and layout.
- Adult children who commute into New York. Families here are often working long days in Manhattan or living out of state. We become the local eyes and ears and send clear updates. See our long-distance caregiving support.
- Hospital stays followed by rehab. A fall or a hospital admission often leads to a short-term rehab stay and then a rushed decision about what comes next. Our hospital discharge planning helps you slow that down.
- Memory changes. Many calls are about a parent with early dementia who still lives alone. Our dementia care management covers safety, routines, in-home help and when to consider memory care.
- Mental health and complex needs. Both of our founders spent decades in mental health settings. We also help adults with serious mental illness and families facing a psychiatric crisis.
Hospitals and rehab in and around Essex County
Essex County has several major hospitals, and we regularly work alongside their discharge teams. They include Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, University Hospital in Newark, and Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark. Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation has its main campus in West Orange, and many Essex County families also use short-term rehab at nursing and rehabilitation centers after a hospital stay.
We can meet you at the bedside, sit in on a family meeting with the care team, and help make sure the plan for going home is realistic. We also go with clients to specialist appointments as part of our medical advocacy work.
How to reach Essex County's office for seniors
The county's public aging services office is the Essex County Division of Senior Services, which also runs the county's ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Connection) information and assistance unit. It is a good first call for county programs such as home delivered meals, transportation and caregiver support. Contact details are on the county's senior services page. We often help families understand which county and state programs fit, then handle the forms with you through our benefits and paperwork service.
Towns we serve in Essex County
We visit clients throughout the county. Read more about our work in these towns:
- Montclair
- Glen Ridge
- Bloomfield
- West Orange
- Livingston
- Millburn and Short Hills
- Maplewood
- South Orange
- Verona
- Caldwell
- Nutley
Not sure where to start? Our guide on signs a parent needs help at home is a good place, or contact us for a free first conversation with Lisa or Kim.
Towns we serve in Essex County, NJ
Care management in Essex County, NJ
Do you have an office in Essex County?+
We do not have an office anywhere. We come to you, whether your loved one is at home, in a hospital, in rehab or in an assisted living community in Essex County. That way we see how your parent actually lives day to day.
Is the county's Division of Senior Services the same as a care manager?+
No. The Essex County Division of Senior Services connects residents to public programs and has its own eligibility rules. A private aging life care manager like us works only for your family, spends more time with your loved one, and coordinates everything from doctors to home care. Many families use both.
Does Medicare pay for a geriatric care manager in Essex County?+
Medicare and standard health insurance do not cover private care management. Many long term care insurance policies do. We can talk through options during the free first call, and our guide on how to pay for care management explains more.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what is going on. We will listen, explain your options and help you decide on the next step. The first conversation is free.