You hold the authority. I handle the moving parts.
When an older adult's needs change, families and authorized decision-makers may need help organizing information, communicating with professionals, and carrying out an agreed plan. FCMS provides defined coordination projects, including care transitions, records organization, local visits and reporting, and follow-through on approved arrangements.
We work with physicians, care managers, home-care agencies and other qualified professionals as appropriate. Clinical assessments and direct care remain the responsibility of the relevant licensed providers. Each engagement has a written scope, an agreed budget and a defined completion point. FCMS does not provide emergency response or around-the-clock monitoring.
What you can hire FCMS for.
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Records Organization
- What FCMS does
- Organizes care, insurance, contact and administrative information; identifies missing documents, open tasks and pending decisions
- What you receive
- Organized records index, missing-information list and action summary
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Care Transition Coordination
- What FCMS does
- Coordinates authorized arrangements with hospitals, care providers, home-care agencies, residential communities, transportation and other professionals
- What you receive
- Coordination tracker, confirmed arrangements, unresolved issues and final handoff
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Local Oversight & Reporting
- What FCMS does
- Makes a specifically authorized visit, obtains updates, documents observations and reports to the decision-maker
- What you receive
- Dated visit report and recommended follow-up items
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Administrative Support
- What FCMS does
- Assistance organizing essential records, insurance correspondence, bills and outstanding administrative matters. Ongoing financial services may be considered separately when appropriate authority and controls are established.
- What you receive
- Defined administrative tasks completed, with a written summary
FCMS coordinates approved tasks and works with qualified providers. Clinical decisions remain with the patient and appropriate medical professionals; legally authorized health care decisions are made by the person holding that authority.
Who this is for.
- Adult children who hold a parent's financial power of attorney, health care directive or trustee role — whether they live across the country or across town but can't be at every meeting.
- Trustees and professional fiduciaries who hold the authority but need local hands for a defined assignment.
- Seniors who can still make their own decisions and want a professional to organize and carry them out.
How it works.
You decide. I prepare the options. You approve in writing. I carry it out and document every step. Support can be a defined assignment or ongoing beneficiary coordination while the client or authorized decision-maker retains authority.
What I do.
- Attend hospital and skilled-nursing discharge and care conferences, with the right releases in place
- Gather and compare options — home care, assisted living, memory care — with costs, availability and risks. FCMS takes no commissions from any provider.
- Coordinate approved vendors, moves, pharmacies and follow-up
- Track every decision, approval, expense and deadline
- Send you a clear written report every week
Medications and cognitive changes.
Medications. FCMS helps organize medication information provided by clients and healthcare professionals, facilitates communication with the care team, and tracks follow-up items. Clinical medication reconciliation remains the responsibility of qualified healthcare providers.
Cognitive changes. FCMS documents observed changes in daily functioning, communication, and care needs, and coordinates appropriate follow-up with healthcare professionals.
What I don't do.
I don't make health-care or financial decisions that legally belong to you. I don't sign as your agent, move money from accounts, or provide medical care or legal advice. Medical emergencies always go to 911 and the treating clinicians.
The first 30 days.
This is an example of how a care transition can unfold. Actual timing varies by situation.
- First business day: confirm who decides, who pays, the deadlines and the immediate risks.
- Days 1–3: organize the information, contacts, tasks and pending decisions.
- Days 4–14: carry out the steps you approved; follow up with providers and vendors.
- Days 15–30: confirm things are stable and recommend what comes next — close, hand off, scheduled follow-through under an agreed budget, a Future Care Continuity Plan, or a formal fiduciary appointment.
Getting started.
We offer a complimentary 15–20 minute introductory call to understand your concerns and see whether FCMS may be a good fit. For situations requiring individualized discussion, a 60-minute consultation is available for $250; additional time is $250 per hour. If you begin a qualifying limited-scope project within 30 days, your $250 consultation fee is credited toward that project. The credit does not apply to formal fiduciary appointments. A paid consultation is not required when the scope of a project is already clear; in those cases, FCMS may provide a written project proposal directly.
When this isn't the right fit.
This service works best when someone already holds legal authority and there is a clear way to pay. If no one holds authority, there is an active family dispute over who is in charge, or you need around-the-clock coverage, I'll tell you on the first call and point you to the right resource.
Common questions.
Are you a care manager or a care coordinator?
The Aging Life Care Association uses the term "Aging Life Care Professional" for clinicians who do this work full-time. Our care coordination is the fiduciary-side version: we hold the operational rhythm and the records, and we coordinate with a licensed care manager when the clinical depth of a particular situation requires one. For some families, our coordination is sufficient. For others, we work alongside a separate care manager — different roles, both needed.
Can a consultation be confidential if I am not yet a client?
The initial consultation falls under the same confidentiality standards as an engaged matter, with one exception: our mandated-reporter obligation under Welfare & Institutions Code §15630 covers suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of elders and dependent adults whether you have engaged us or not. We explain this at the start of every conversation.
Do I need a paid consultation before hiring FCMS?
Not always. If you have a clearly defined need, FCMS may be able to propose a limited-scope project after a brief introductory call. If your situation involves several possible fiduciary roles, unclear authority, complex family arrangements, or questions requiring individualized review, a paid consultation may be the right first step. The consultation clarifies your options and next steps. A separate written agreement is required for any ongoing fiduciary role or implementation project.
Not sure whether you need a care manager, a fiduciary, or both? Our guide to what a geriatric care manager is and how the role differs from a fiduciary explains what that profession does, what it costs, and where it ends and ours begins.
Planning for yourself, with no spouse or children to step in? Our guide to planning ahead as a solo ager in California covers who can hold the key roles and why lining them up early matters.
Managing a parent’s California affairs from another state? Our guide for out-of-state family coordinating a California matter explains how the distance problem usually gets solved.
Ongoing coordination may be considered under a separate written agreement when appropriate.
How working with FCMS begins.
- Initial consultation.
- Definition of scope, deliverables, and budget.
- Project coordination or planning.
- Delivery of the agreed written report, plan, or handoff.
Consultations are by appointment and held in strict confidence.
Or call 760-33-TRUST (760-338-7878) directly.
Discretion and confidentiality are fundamental to our practice. Information submitted through this form is kept private and used solely for purposes of communication regarding potential fiduciary services.
