Geriatric care manager can be a valuable resource for families

By Elaine Gunter, RN, BSN, CCM, A-CCC
Aging Resources, Inc.
Bogart, Georgia

Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter

Geriatric care management is modeled after case management, which began in the United States during the 1800s. As more and more immigrants came to this country to start a new life, churches and local communities were not able to provide adequate assistance to everyone in need. To help address this growing concern, social service agencies evolved to help clients find the most cost-effective services available to them, a revolutionary concept in its time that eventually led to the beginning of case management.

As our population continutes to age, families today are facing ElderCare issues unlike those dealt with by our parents and grandparents. Adults now find themselves not only caring for their children and grandchildren, but also responsible for planning for and dealing with complex ElderCare issues faced by their aging and often feeble parents and relatives - issues about which most of us have no prior training and little, if any, expertise.

Team Effort Required

Caring for elderly individuals, especially those who are medically fragile, requires a team effort, and often hiring a geriatric care manager is just what the doctor ordered. Geriatric care managers can function as your eyes and ears as to what is happening in the life of your loved one. They coordinate services and information with all the professionals and family members in the client's circle of support. Geriatric care managers may also communicate with and offer referrals to physicians, elder law attorneys, financial advisors, CPAs, physical therapists, home care providers, pharmacies, and hospitals. They regularly keep the family up to date on important issues.

Geriatric care managers are either licensed professionals or experienced health care workers who can provide individualized services to seniors and disabled individuals. In fact, they often act as surrogate family members when no family is available. They have specialized knowledge, training, and experience with the needs of the elderly and know how to access and locate the most cost-effective services available to their clients.

Most professional geriatric care managers will provide a free telephone consult to briefly assess each situation, explain their services, and help seniors and their families determine if they can benefit from their services.

Families are encouraged to interview more than one care manager in order to find the one that best fits their needs.