"I function as a bridge between the system and seniors."

EDUCATION | BA in Economics from Washington University, St. Louis, MBA in Finance from Boston and New York Universities

HOW TO GET STARTED | The best way to start is to volunteer. Work as a care manager for a friend or family member, someone who can vouch for your honesty, trustworthiness and complete confidentiality. If you help them, you can be assured they will recommend you to others. I fell into this work and my client list grew gradually through word of mouth. I had no idea what to call my profession until I read a recent article in the New York Times describing "senior care managers." That was me!

MUST HAVE TRAITS | The biggest "must have" is integrity. As a care manager, you are invited into peoples' lives, so you have to be absolutely trustworthy. You have access to their bank accounts, their pin numbers, their secure information, so its essential that you inspire complete trust, because there are enormous risks to exposing this information. You also have to be patient, a good listener, a great trouble-shooter and a quick study. I didn't know anything about Medicare or secondary insurance before I began doing this. Reading, learning and being unafraid to ask questions were essential. Beyond that, it helps to have a strong financial background to help you understand the intricacies of investing and budgeting. In addition, solid computer skills are important. And it helps to be super organized. These are all things that you either have naturally or acquire. I don't know of any educational preparation, yet, for the field of senior care manager.

how I got started | I worked as a credit analyst in banking before I left to do one-on-one computer consulting. One client - a very sharp elderly man--initially asked me to help him learn Quicken to track his philanthropic contributions. It soon became clear that he really preferred having someone actually do the work for him. I started coming once a week to help straighten out his records. As he aged, his paperwork grew and his capacity to handle it diminished. He hired me on a regular basis to keep track of everything. Then he began to recommend me to other friends, who were generally wealthy seniors, had lots of disposable income, and were struggling to organize all the chores that go with being a senior. I'm now very knowledgeable about Medicare, secondary insurance, medical record keeping and all kinds of related areas. As word spread about my availability, the number of clients and the scope of work I was doing for them expanded. Now, my responsibilities seem to evolve on a daily basis.

why this job?| I love working with older people. My clients are delightful, eclectic people who've lived fascinating lives. They're still vital, vibrant and intellectually curious. One was an attorney who argued his case before the Supreme Court. Their minds still work as quickly as ever, but their bodies don't always keep up.

why I love this job!| This job is about daily acts of kindness. I can make a difference in peoples' lives simply by reducing the unbelievable stress that paperwork causes. My clients are incredibly grateful for the help, and they are generous in referring me to others. Plus, its so lovely to be a sole proprietor. As a mother of three kids, it makes my life far more manageable and allows me to be available when I'm needed. For example, when there was a blackout and my family was stuck in a hotel a few days, I was easily able to reschedule appointments. It was no problem.

my typical day| I usually see two clients in the morning, spending a few hours sorting through their mail, separating the junk from the bills, tracking their expenditures. Many of them are very philanthropic. They tend to donate to whatever cause asks for money, and they often give more than once because they forget about previous contributions. One client wrote a check each time he got a request, doubling and tripling donations to the same charity. I helped him create a spreadsheet to track his contributions and regain control. I carefully go through their checking accounts, credit card bills, donations - everything. Most clients prefer having me come once or twice a week. Occasionally I have a one-off client, like the university professor who hires me every six to eight weeks when his desk becomes overwhelming. I regularly organize his projects, set up filing systems, pull out, check and pay the unpaid bills and stay on top of things. I try to keep the late afternoons free to be available to my three kids. Because I set all my appointments myself, its easy to do that.

what they are | Going to a doctor can generate seven or eight sets of bills. Since my clients are terrified of leaving a bad credit score behind for their children or relatives, they tend to pay every bill immediately. That can leave them open to potential abuse. Sometimes, they mistakenly cover a medical expense that is reimbursable by Medicare. I double-check and get a refund if there's an extra payment, or I examine the secondary insurance. If there's an extra bill, I call the doctor and get a refund. For people who automatically - and, sometimes, unthinkingly - pay bills in full, I act as a buffer between their money and those who might be too quick to send those bills. Some of my biggest challenges involve the seniors' families; sharing information and coordinating schedules. When you do this kind of work, you walk into family history that existed long before you arrived. Thankfully, when someone is not a relative, occasional crankiness or difficulty doesn't matter. You can see the behavior as wacky or amusing, not as a personal threat. And when an older person loses her temper, you understand what it is really about; frustration with a slower body or brain, not a personal attack.

all about growth | There are times when I feel like part of the family. I know that my presence makes a difference. For example, I was helping a couple where the husband was struggling but the wife was younger and more vibrant. Suddenly, she became sick and died within four months. I gently guided the family through the funeral process, and helped with all the events and paperwork connected with it. I learned so much in the process, from finding ways to transfer airlines miles to getting and distributing the right official documents to the right people. It saved the family time and anguish.

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