Geriatric Care Management

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A professional Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) is a health and human services specialist who helps families who are caring for older relatives. The GCM is trained and experienced in any of several fields related to senior care management, including nursing, gerontology, social work, or psychology. Following are some of the responsibilities of Geriatric Care Managers:

* Conduct care-planning assessments to identify problems and to provide solutions.
* Screen, arrange, and monitor in-home help or other services, including assistance in hiring a qualified caregiver for home care.
* Provide short- or long-term eldercare assistance for those engaged in local or long distance caregiving.
* Review financial, legal, or medical issues and offer referrals to geriatric specialists.
* Provide crisis intervention.
* Act as a liaison to families at a distance, overseeing care, and quickly alerting families to problems †especially important when families are engaged in long distance caregiving for a loved one.
* Assist with moving an older person to or from a retirement ...
... complex, assisted care home, or nursing home.
* Provide consumer education and advocacy.
* Offer eldercare counseling and support.

Some Geriatric Care Managers also provide family or individual therapy, finance management, conservatorship or guardianship assistance, and/or caregiving services. There are many benefits to using a Geriatric Care Manager:

* Professional Geriatric Care Management services are offered in a variety of settings. Geriatric Care Managers can serve the needs of their clients with the following services:
* Personalized and compassionate service †focusing on the individual’s wants and needs.
* Accessibility †care is typically available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
* Continuity of care management †communications are coordinated between family members, doctors and other professionals, and service providers.
* Cost containment †inappropriate placements, duplication of services, and unnecessary hospitalizations are avoided.
* Quality control †care management services follow NAPGCM’S Standards of Practice and Pledge of Ethics.

After you find the Geriatric Care Manager who is right for you, s/he will most likely visit you for an “on-site assessment.” During the assessment, you will be asked to give the Geriatric Care Manager the reasons you are seeking help and to meet all the parties involved. It is especially helpful that you are prepared with all relevant information for the care of your family member or friend. After you have discussed your situation, ask:

* What resources will it take to handle this situation?
* Are there any alternative courses of action?
* What are the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative?
* Who will be working with you?
* How many professionals may be involved? What about off-hours and backup?
* How are fees computed?
* How are travel time and mileage handled?
* How are services terminated?