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One way to avoid long-term care
placement is to retain the services of a geriatric care
manager. If you do so, your loved one might be able to
avoid nursing home placement.
What is a Geratric Care Manager?
The geriatric care manager (GCM) is a
private practitioner in a relatively new area of
practice. GCMs contract independently with families to
provide medical oversight for elderly community-dwelling
seniors. This service is particularly helpful for adult
children who live hours away from loved ones. A GCM is a
professional who specializes in assisting older people
and their families in meeting their in-home health care
and long-term arrangements. GCMs are trained in
gerontology, social work, nursing, and/or counseling.
Some of the things a geriatric care manager may do
include:
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Acting as a contact person for family members who
live at a distance and providing information,
support, alerts to problems and reassurance.
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Conducting care-planning assessments to
identify problems. |
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Determining eligibility for assistance and
need for services |
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Screening, arranging, and monitoring in-home
health care or other services |
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Taking responsibility for financial, legal,
or medical issues |
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Arranging or offering referrals to geriatric
specialists to avoid future problems
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Taking charge in case of emergencies |
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Helping an elderly person find a retirement
complex, assisted living, adult foster care
home, or nursing home |
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Assisting an elderly person with moving from
her home to a facility |
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Advocating for the elderly with physicians,
hospitals, caregivers, and governmental
agencies
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Providing counseling and support.
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Some
geriatric care managers also provide therapy (family or
individual), money management, and guardianships or
conservatorships. GCMs have extensive knowledge about
services for the elderly in their community --
availability, cost and quality.
What
are the Benefits of Having a Geriatric Cafe Manager?
One of
the benefits of having a geriatric care manager is the
flexibility of services that may be offered. A contract
between a family member and a GCM will be tailored to
the specific needs of your family. A GCM can be
particularly helpful when you're the leader who
coordinates care for an elderly loved one who lives far
from your home. Other benefits of having a GCM include:
Short-term or ongoing assistance. This is important for
caregivers who live far away.
Services that are individualized. GCMs can offer
services that are client-centered and tailored to meet
the client's specific wants and needs.
Flexible scheduling. Many GCMs are available after hours
and on weekends.
Continuity of care management. GCMs can be the point
man, making decisions to reduce miscommunications and to
minimize time, stress, and cost to clients.
Avoidance of medical emergencies. GCMs can monitor your
loved one's medical, physical, and psychological health
consistently and can help prevent costly crises and
unnecessary hospitalizations.
Reduction of nursing home care. GCMs can help your loved
one to avoid inappropriate and costly institutional care
and overuse of services.
To find
a geriatric care manager in your loved one's
geographical locality, use the search engine at the
website of the National Association of Professional
Geriatric Care Managers at
www.caremanager.org
or
www.findacaremanager.org. |
