Most families don't know which professional handles which problem. A geriatric care manager is not the same as a placement advisor. An elder law attorney is not the same as an estate attorney. Getting this wrong costs time, money, and sometimes the window to act.
What they do: Assess your parent's current physical, cognitive, and social needs. Coordinate care across multiple providers. Serve as a day-to-day advocate when you can't be present. Develop a care plan and help implement it.
When to call one: When you're not sure what level of care is actually needed. When you're managing a parent's care from another city. When the situation is complex — multiple health conditions, family conflict, rapid decline. When you need someone who has the full picture.
What to expect to pay: $100–200/hour in Texas. Typically charged hourly; some offer care management packages.
How to find a good one: The Aging Life Care Association (aginglifecare.org) maintains a national directory. Look for a member with the ALCA credential. Ask for references from families in similar situations.
Important distinction: A geriatric care manager is not the same as a placement advisor. A GCM assesses and coordinates. A placement advisor finds communities.
What they do: Know the local senior living community inventory — which communities have beds, what their care levels are, what they cost, and which ones are worth touring. They make introductions and often accompany families on tours.
When to call one: When you've established what care level is needed and are ready to find a specific community. When you're overwhelmed by options. When time is short.
What to expect to pay: Usually free to the family. Placement advisors are typically compensated by the communities they place into. This is worth understanding — ask the advisor to explain how they're paid and whether it affects their recommendations.
How to find a good one: Ask your geriatric care manager, physician, or hospital social worker for a referral. National networks include A Place for Mom and Caring.com, but independent advisors who know the local market well are often preferable.
Important distinction: A placement advisor is not a care coordinator. They find communities, not care plans. If the care situation is complex, work with a GCM first.
What they do: Draft and update durable and medical powers of attorney. Structure assets for Medicaid eligibility. Handle guardianship and conservatorship. Create trusts. Navigate Texas-specific legal structures including Lady Bird Deeds, community property issues, and the Medicaid income-cap rule.
When to call one: As soon as possible — ideally before there's a crisis. Specifically: when POA documents don't exist or need updating, when Medicaid may become relevant, when the home needs to be structured correctly for the transition, when there's any question about who has legal authority.
What to expect to pay: $300–500/hour in Texas, or flat-fee packages for standard documents ($1,500–3,500 depending on complexity).
Important Texas note: An elder law attorney is not the same as a general estate attorney. The specialty matters — especially for Medicaid planning, which has Texas-specific rules that a general practitioner may not know well. Ask specifically about their elder law and Medicaid practice.
How to find a good one: The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) maintains a directory. Ask for referrals from your financial advisor or geriatric care manager.
What they do: Help families understand the full financial picture of a senior transition — income, assets, long-term care insurance, benefit eligibility, and how to sequence liquidation to minimize tax impact and preserve Medicaid eligibility.
When to call one: When the financial picture is complex. When there are significant assets to consider. When long-term care insurance is in play. When a home sale is being planned and the tax implications matter. When the family wants to optimize rather than just survive.
Important Texas note: The Texas community property step-up in basis at death is a planning opportunity that a knowledgeable CPA or financial advisor can help a family use correctly. If the home is owned by a married couple, this matters.
Coordination note: Financial advisors and elder law attorneys need to work together on Medicaid planning. Make sure yours know about each other.
What they do: Handle the home sale component of a senior transition — which is typically the largest single financial transaction in the process. A senior real estate specialist understands care timelines, the emotional complexity, and the full range of options available to sellers in this situation.
When to call one: Earlier than you think. The home sale decision — when to sell, which approach to use, how to sequence it relative to the care move — affects the financial picture downstream. Having this conversation before the crisis is almost always worth it.
Three paths in the Houston market: Traditional listing (maximum proceeds, requires time), direct cash purchase (AS IS, 30 days or less, no cleanout required), or expanded buyer access (broader marketing and creative financing for homes with a limited traditional buyer pool).
Disclosure note: When a licensed real estate agent also purchases homes as an investor, Texas law requires written disclosure of their licensed status before any offer is made. This is a standard disclosure, not a red flag — it means the agent has a legal obligation to be transparent about which role they're playing.
Houston-area families: The Houston edition of Senior Move Roadmap handles real estate directly — all three paths, and the judgment to know which one fits.
What they do: Help veterans and surviving spouses apply for VA benefits — including Aid and Attendance, which can provide significant monthly financial assistance for qualifying seniors in assisted living or memory care.
When to call one: Any time a senior is a veteran or a surviving spouse of a veteran. Even if you don't think they qualify, get an assessment. The Aid and Attendance benefit is substantially underutilized because families don't know it exists or believe the parent doesn't qualify.
What to expect to pay: VSO services are free. Never pay someone to file a VA benefits claim — accredited VSOs provide this service at no charge.
How to find one in Texas: Start with the Texas Veterans Commission (tvc.texas.gov) or your county's veterans services office. Each Texas county has a Veterans Service Officer.
What they do: Handle the practical financial tasks a senior can no longer manage alone — paying bills, organizing financial records, sorting mail, reconciling accounts, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. They work directly with the senior (or the POA holder) on day-to-day financial management.
When to call one: When bills are going unpaid. When the senior is confused about their finances. When the family notices financial disorganization but doesn't have the bandwidth to manage it directly. When there's concern about financial exploitation.
How to find one: The American Association of Daily Money Managers (aadmm.com) maintains a national directory.
Important distinction: A daily money manager is not a financial advisor. They don't give investment advice — they handle administrative financial tasks. Think of them as a trusted organizer for a senior's day-to-day money life.
"The neutrality is the point. This guide routes families to the right professional without selling that professional's service. That's the trust signal no one else can replicate."
The Texas planning companion guide has a full "When to call which professional" table organized by the gaps you find in the workbook. It's free to download.
Texas Planning Hub →
Hospital Social Worker / Discharge Planner
What they do: Facilitate hospital discharge planning — identifying appropriate next-level care, connecting families to community resources, and coordinating the logistics of a safe discharge. They do this every day and know the local landscape well.
When to call one: The moment a parent is admitted to a hospital. Don't wait until discharge day. Ask for the social worker or discharge planner on day one and start the conversation early.
What they cost: Nothing to the family. Hospital social workers are employed by the hospital.
What they can do that most families don't know: They can provide a list of skilled nursing and rehab facilities that accept your parent's insurance, often within a few hours. They can facilitate fast placement when time is short. They are your most underutilized resource in a crisis.
See also: The Crisis Path Guide for the full 72-hour discharge playbook.