A care manager is a professional who coordinates the pieces of an older adult's care, such as appointments, paperwork, and the people who help at home. Some are very good at it. Some are better at selling their time than at giving it back to you. You are allowed to ask every question below before you agree to anything.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Check the credentials yourself
Ask what certification or license the person holds, and what it actually requires. Then verify it with the organization that issued it, using the contact details you find on that organization's own site, not a link or phone number the care manager gives you. If they say they are licensed in a particular profession, check the state licensing board directly. A credential you cannot verify is not a credential you can rely on.
Get the scope in writing
Ask for a written description of what they will do and what they will not do. A good scope names the kinds of work included, such as scheduling, research, paperwork, and coordinating with the helpers you already have. It also names the work that stays with you, your parent, and the professionals who make the decisions. If the document is vague about who decides what, do not sign it yet.
Ask how they communicate, how quickly they return calls, who covers when they are away, and how they report back to you. Ask how many families they currently carry, and whether you would be one of many or one of a few.
Understand the fee before the first visit
Ask for a complete list of every charge, not only the hourly rate. Find out whether travel time is billed, whether phone calls and emails are billed, whether there is a set-up or administrative fee, and whether a minimum applies to each visit. Ask how the bill will look each month, and whether you will see the time entries behind it. A fee that is clear on paper is far easier to check against what you actually receive.
Look for these warning signs
Pressure to sign at the first meeting is a warning sign. So is a fee you cannot get written down, a refusal to explain the scope, and a request for authority over money or accounts that you have not had reviewed by a lawyer or by the bank. Any document that gives someone power over your parent's money deserves a second reader before you sign it. Walking away is a normal, acceptable choice.
Compare at least two
Interview at least two care managers using the same questions, and put their answers side by side. Note who answered clearly, who gave you the paperwork without being asked, and who made you feel rushed. Not every family needs a care manager, and it is fine to decide you can do the coordination yourself. If you are not sure where to begin, the Start Here page explains the order of decisions, and the Local Help for Caregivers in St. Louis page lists places to ask for referrals.