Pittsburgh Elder Care Services: Barbara Kolonay, RN, Registered Nurse

Pittsburgh Member National Association of Geriatric Care Managers GCM

• Options For Elder Care | About Us

Options For Elder Care is a private geriatric care management firm, owned and operated by Barbara (Bobbi) Kolonay, serving Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the surrounding area in Western Pennsylvania. Bobbi is dedicated to each client's and family's need, with the goal of improving their quality of life with the best resources available.
With the Aging of Allegheny County, children of the baby boom generation are discovering the realities of caring for their aging parent(s), adding to their already busy lifestyle. For most, the job of choosing the type and level of care needed for their loved one is a daunting one.
Options For Elder Care offers a wide variety of services and coordination of care with other providers in the fields of geriatric medicine, financial planning, elder law, insurance, and both home and long-term health care.

About Barbara Kolonay

Barbara (Bobbi) Kolonay is a master's educated Registered Nurse certified in case management. For the past twenty-five years Bobbi has been practicing case management in a variety of organizations, including a University Hospital, several health insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, and is an adjunct faculty member at local Universities where she teaches undergraduate classes on managed care.
Bobbi obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at Duquesne University and Master of Science in Human Resource Management from La Roche College. She is a Certified Case Manager (CCM) by the Commission for Care Manager Certification. She is a member of the National Association of Geriatric Care Managers. References are available upon request. You can also refer to testimonials about our elder care services from some of our clients.

As a Geriatric Care Manager, Bobbi can facilitate the care selection process for family members who live at a distance from their elderly relatives, as well as for those who live nearby but do not know how to tap into the appropriate local services. You can hire a care manager for a single, specific task, such as helping you find a daily caregiver, or to oversee the entire caregiving process. Options For Elder Care also can provide connection with a range of other professionals and service providers who are part of the local elder care network.
Geriatric care management usually involves an in-depth assessment, developing a care plan, arranging for services, and following up or monitoring care. Options For Elder Care can also suggest potential alternatives you might not have considered, due to our experience and familiarity with community resources. We will also make sure your loved one receives the best possible care and any benefits to which they are entitled.
To learn more about Geriatric Care Managers and why you might need one, please see our Geriatric Care Management: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page. You can also visit our Blog, where will be sharing additional information and ideas.

My Story

On November 28, 2002 my life changed dramatically. My widowed mother sustained a debilitating stroke, paralyzing her entire right side, impairing her ability to swallow and decreasing her mental competency. Within one day my mother went from being completely independent in all areas of her life to total dependence on others to provide all her care. Being the trustworthy medical daughter in our family I was called upon to manage this family crisis.

As a mother of three children and a professional case manager, I thought my life obligations were already at the maximum level I could function. I thanked God every day during this crisis that I had the expertise to know what options were available for my mother along with the knowledge of the eldercare system in Pittsburgh to assist me with this fulltime responsibility. Within a seven-month period I coordinated five changes in living arrangements for my mother, trying to accommodate her adamant desire to return to her home. During this same time period, my dear Uncle was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and died within nine months of the diagnosis. I was also called upon to assist his family to manage his remaining quality of life.

Below is just a small taste of the services I coordinated for my mother:

Assessment and investigation of Rehabilitation facilities in Pittsburgh to best meet my mothers needs and assure coverage by her insurance. Coordination of all disciplines in the chosen facility

Management of all my mothers financial concerns including Medicaid spin down recommendations

Retention of several different elder law attorneys to assist with estate planning, power of attorney, living will, and numerous legal concerns

Assessment and investigation of the most appropriate skilled nursing facility followed by conferencing with all disciplinary health care members

Investigation and assessment of the most appropriate Assisted Living Accommodations

Assessment and change in Health insurance to assure the most cost effective and care effective coverage

Investigation into Veteran Benefits

Investigation into Elder care services available in Pittsburgh

Maintenance and management of my mother's home

Home Service interview and assessment of nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social service, nursing assistance, durable medical equipment, home safety accommodations, including those covered by health insurance and those requiring self payment

My mother returned to her home seven months after her stroke with all the services to assure she could live there safely. In the summer of 2004 my mother's health took a turn for the worst. She had to return to a skilled facility and died peacefully with hospice care on September 16, 2004.

If you need assistance with caring for an elderly loved one, are new to elder care or uncomfortable with elder care decision-making, are faced with having to make a sudden decision or major change such as a health crisis or change of residence, or simply want some advice about any aspect of elder care, please don't hesitate to contact us at any time.

Barbara Kolonay, RN, BSN, MHRM, CCM
Options For Elder Care
Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
412-443-1365

• About the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (GCM)

GCM was formed in 1984 to advance dignified care for seniors and their families in the United States. The association currently boasts a membership of 1,900 care managers. Geriatric care managers are professionals who have extensive training and experience working with older people and families who need assistance with care giving issues. GCMs help families cope with the growing challenges of aging, and assist families in the search for a suitable nursing home placement or extended care if the need occurs. The practice of geriatric care management and the role of care providers have captured a national spotlight, as generations of Baby Boomers age in the United States and abroad. For more information please visit www.caremanager.org or call 520-881-8008.

• Family Hospice and Palliative Care

As one of the Hospice services that Options for Elder Care recommends, Family Hospice and Palliative Care exists to enhance the quality of life for terminally ill patients, their families, and caregivers by providing quality palliative and supportive care, primarily in the home. Their service area includes Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Crawford County, Fayette County, Greene County, Lawrence County, Mercer County, Venango County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania and Columbiana County, Mahoning County, and Trumbull County in Ohio. Please also see our newly expanded and updated section, Articles and Information about Hospice Care, for more hospice resources.

• The Aging of Allegheny County

Second only to Florida, Pennsylvania has the highest percentage of people over 65 years of age. With 18.1% of its population over 65 (roughly 220,000 "seniors"), Allegheny County ranks third after Palm Beach County and Pinellas County in Florida in percentage of population over 65 among large counties.
The "baby boom" propelled the largest percentage increases of any age group (people 45-to-54 years old) in the 1990-2000 decade, an analysis of Census 2000 data by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau shows. (The baby boom refers to people born in the post-World War II period from 1946 through 1964.)
People born during the early years of the baby boom (1946 through 1950) fueled the 55-percent increase of the 50- to 54-year-olds, the largest percentage growth between 1990 and 2000 of any five-year age group. The second fastest-growing group was 45- to 49-year-olds, which registered a 45-percent increase.

[Home] [About Us] [Our Services] [Helpful Articles] [Contact Us] [Resources] [Work for Us] [Blog]