The Help: Who’s Out There, What They Do, and How to Get the Care You Need

The Right Help—Without the Wrong People
Understand who does what—so you get the care you really need.  
 
As your loved one’s needs grow, more people will enter their care circle—but not all help is equal. Some are highly trained professionals with your loved one’s best interests at heart. Others? Not so much. Chapter 7 helps you tell the difference and build a strong support network while protecting your family from costly mistakes and senior scams.
 
This chapter offers an insider’s look at the entire eldercare workforce. From physicians and nurse practitioners to physical therapists, aides, and social workers—you’ll learn what each professional does, when you’ll likely encounter them, and how they contribute to your loved one’s well-being. We also walk you through the process of selecting a primary care provider who’s aligned with eldercare priorities. Then we shift gears and show you how to access free or low-cost support through government and nonprofit resources that many families don’t even know exist. Finally, we arm you with the tools to recognize and prevent scams targeting older adults—including step-by-step actions to take if your loved one is victimized.
 
This isn’t a generic caregiver overview—it’s a detailed, practical field guide for navigating a crowded, often confusing system. You’ll walk away with clarity, confidence, and checklists to help you find help you can trust.
 
We strongly recommend pairing this chapter with:
 
Chapter 3: Activities of Daily Living – so you can determine what kind of help your loved one truly needs.
Chapter 6: The Home – to understand who provides care in each type of senior housing.
Chapter 9: The Crisis – to be prepared for hospital discharge plans and the many care providers that follow.
 
📌 View the Table of Contents to see all that’s included in this chapter.
📊 Sample assessment tools and planning frameworks included.
📺 Visit our YouTube Channel for more topics from GeriScope: The Ultimate Elderly Caregiving Survival Guide.
 
💡 Remember: You can use WIX coupons for bundle or group purchases. Download what you need now, then return to explore more as your elder care journey unfolds. Each chapter is a complete standalone guide—and an essential part of your caregiving toolkit.
 
Key Word Tags:
 
Finding elder healthcare providers
Choosing a primary care doctor or geriatrician
Avoiding senior scams
Building elder care team
Medical professionals for seniors