[Karen Ethridge]

Hi Lisa,

I am very interested in this topic and don’t think it is off limits, but I will defer to other DMMs on that 🙂 I am also exploring how to offer DMM services to lower income clients as there is quite a need. One DMM recently shared that she was able to write a grant that covered DMM services for seniors in her area with no cost to clients. Last year, I was approached by the Dept. of Human Services about helping a client (60+ with cognitive issues, but working part time) who couldn’t afford my fee but they had no one else. They contracted with me to provide up to 10 hours to help set her up and then they would assign a caseworker or volunteer after that. I am now a vendor for this program under “Caregiver Services and Resources”

In Dane co where I live, I am able to refer people (of all income levels) to the financial education center for credit counseling, budgeting, etc. https://fyi.uwex.edu/danecountyfinancialeducationcenter/ and once they have their finances under control, I may get a referral to help with their actual DMM work. It is important for me to be clear about my fees upfront and some people do say that they cannot afford to pay me. It would great to have an option where I could refer them to a reputable program that would provide quality DMM services with costs defrayed by another source of funding. (AARP used to do that but has discontinued in WI). It could be great PR for AADMM to be a resource for those individuals who need DMM services but can’t afford to pay if we could make this type of referral.
Just my opinion here but I don’t lower my fees for clients (although I do have a professional courtesy fee for clients which is $10 less than my usual rate.) I also may offer my minimum of 2 hours per month and limit the amount of work I am able to do for the client, but it’s their choice. And sometimes when they see how I actually save them money, they elect to add more hours. I stress that we are professional in our work and provide valued services with E&O insurance, so my fee takes that into consideration. I’m very interested in hearing other opinions on this topic. Thanks for sharing Lisa!

Barbara Boustead
barbara@marysdaughterllc.com

[Karen Ethridge]

Hello Jennifer,

I had several elderly clients who had no other family members close by and/or available. When one started having significant health issues and her cognitive functioning became worse, I recommended (along with the assisted living staff) that Adult Protective Services be called in (a Dept. of Aging case manager attempted to do an assessment but the client refused). The client was civil and actually very polite with me when I did her bill paying, but she became too argumentative and uncooperative for the assisted facility to handle. They asked if I would take over guardianship and I said I would not. She ended up in a nursing facility and on Medicaid. I terminated services since her funds were needed to pay for her care. She died a couple years later and I got a call from the facility because they had no one else listed as her POA. Since that experience I always include a secondary person on my initial contract before I begin working with a new client in the event that I need to contact them if the client becomes impaired. I also found an individual in the community who will take on the guardianship for clients who have no one else. I like Barbara Green’s idea to provide this service as separate and distinct from her DMM business. Because I am also a clinical social worker, I’ve had people ask me to take on other duties in addition to my DMM work, but I specify what I will do in my initial contract which I then refer back to if needed. That helps to avoid situations where it’s beyond our scope of practice as DMMs.
Barbara Boustead
608-515-4083

[Karen Ethridge]

Hello Karen,

Thanks so much for responding. I certainly will forward your information.

Thank you!
Barbara

[Karen Ethridge]

Hello Julianne,

First of all, I commend you for the incredible work you have done with this couple for the past 3 years. However, if they have exhausted their funds except for their fixed income and are now refusing Medicaid, it appears that they require a different type of assistance rather than DMM. I think the “unknown situation” you’re experiencing is because your clients’ needs extend beyond what you can provide as a DMM. I’m happy to speak with you more about this offline, but the situation you describe seems to be outside the scope of what you can reasonably provide. In Dane county where I live, they have a Caregiver grant for support services (including DMM) so when a client is referred by a social worker or case manager. I can assist them with setting up a financial system, and then someone else (family friend, church member, volunteer) takes on the responsibility. Let me know if you’d like to discuss this situation further.

Barbara Boustead
608-515-4083

[Karen Ethridge]

Hi Kelly,

Congratulations on getting your business started! I do know it can be very frustrating to not be seeing clients when you’re doing everything to grow your business. I agree with Amy, sometimes it takes a very long time to get the first client. For me it was 1 1/2 years which included a LOT of networking and building relationships in the senior community. I needed to educate people about DMM work and did a number of workshops and seminars on topics relevant to seniors and veterans, which helped me to become a “known entity” in the senior services community. Eventually, someone remembered meeting me and called me to refer my first client. That was a great day 🙂 and it helped keep me motivated to keep up with the networking and relationship building. It also helped to be on the AADMM virtual calls and hear that other people had the same problem, so I didn’t feel it was just me. Keep at it, and maintain your enthusiasm and motivation so that people think of you when they do want to make a referral. I’m happy to share other ideas with you as well. Barbara Boustead 608-515-4083 or barbara@marysdaughterllc.com

[Karen Ethridge]

Hello Steven,

Great to hear that you’re planning to do presentations for senior centers and facilities! I’ve done a number of those and would be happy to share my powerpoint presentations with you. I initially started with the AADMM PPT about daily money management and then used information about fraud, financial exploitation and identity theft that I got from the National Council on Aging website https://www.ncoa.org/ The Public Awareness/Public Relations committee just met and we plan to utilize information from NCOA for AADMM’s campaign on Fraud during International Fraud Week in November and there’s a lot of good info on there as well (less specific to seniors tho) http://www.fraudweek.com/ I am working on a presentation for May 22nd so I’ve been reviewing my powerpoints on Elder abuse and other information which I’d be glad to share. My email address is barbara@marysdaughterllc.com I also have other topics I’ve done, such as having conversations with loved ones about finances, etc. I do like the tax topic you mentioned which is very timely. Looking forward to connecting with you. Also open to a phone chat as well if you prefer.

Thanks!
Barbara Boustead
608-515-4083

[Karen Ethridge]

Hello Kelly,

I highly recommend Melodee Patterson of Home Page Construction company. http://www.homepageconstructionco.com/ She is great to work with and did my first website. She works primarily with WordPress and Wild Apricot and I changed to Webflow. But if you have WordPress, she’s awesome and I highly recommend her. I know a few others as well, but Melodee is my first choice.

Good luck!
Barbara
608-515-4083

[Karen Ethridge]

Hi Kelly,

Welcome to AADMM and Congrats on being a new DMM!!

Most of my clients pay at time of service and this isn’t an issue since payment arrangements are discussed at the initial consultation. Some clients prefer to receive an invoice after the service, and on the invoice (which I’ve discussed with the client previously) I include a time limit when payment must be received. I prefer having the flexibility to do this and would not want to include specific language in my general contract.

[Karen Ethridge]

I did receive several notifications from different forum topics in my email this week, which led me to believe the system is now working. I wonder if it has to do with the settings? You do have to click on the notification button after submitting a post.
I do appreciate the feature of hearing from other DMMs. Thanks for mentioning this.

Barbara Boustead
608-515-4083

[Karen Ethridge]

Hi Janis,

Actually received this email just as I was scanning a dozen documents which I was able to send without a problem using my Android phone and the Genius Scan app. I looked at the list of recommended scanner apps we received from Beth Z. our keynote speaker at the annual conference. I have no need for a fax but when I did need one for a document earlier this year, I went to Staples and used their fax for a small fee.

I wouldn’t invest in a fax but I’ve heard other DMMs report that they can only send some documents via fax for security reasons. I can encrypt my scans if I choose and that is what I’m using now.

Barbara Boustead
barbara@marysdaughterllc.com

[Karen Ethridge]

Yes, I agree! I’m considering switching over in January. Thanks for the mention Stacey and Steve. I like the customer service the waveapps seem to offer!

Barbara Boustead

[Karen Ethridge]

Thanks Roxanne, I missed this earlier!

Tia, the information is under Chapters and Regional groups

Susie Marbury is the Coordinator

Here’s the info

Susie Marbury – Email: susie@checksandbalances4u.com
Checks and Balances for You, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Next Conference Call:
All calls are held the first Monday of the month (unless there is a holiday) at 9 am Pacific, 10 am Mountain, 11 am Central, and Noon Eastern..
October 2, 2017
November 6, 2017
December 4, 2017

[Karen Ethridge]

Roxanne,
That is a great point, and a good suggestion as well! Especially considering our time constraints. I actually thought about that when I made my comment at the end of the last session. I was aware people can’t always hear in the back so I wanted to make sure there were no other questions before I went up to the microphone. I love the idea of using these forums more and appreciate the explanation that these take the place of the listserv of previous years!

Thanks!

[Karen Ethridge]

Hello Ben,

I agree with Julianne and wanted to add that speaking with other DMMs was a great help to me in the beginning, especially DMMs who were working with my target population of seniors and veterans.

Business Basics which is offered by AADMM was not available online when I joined in 2012 so I went to the class and learned quite a bit about how DMMs structured their business processes. There were a lot of variables including whether or not the DMMs worked with their clients in person or remotely. I have a social work background not a financial or legal one so had to get up to speed with some of the financial processes, like Quicken and QB at the annual conference workshops. I also attended classes in my community. You are asking great questions Ben. I encourage you to participate in the monthly AADMM virtual calls, request an AADMM mentor and attend the annual conference if possible. These are great opportunities to meet experienced DMMs who will be happy to share with you. Let me know if I can be of assistance! Barbara Boustead

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