Geriatric Care Managers: Helping Seniors and Their Families
What is a Geriatric Care Manager?
Geriatric Care Managers are invaluable in helping seniors and their families figure out how to get the care they need.
Seniors health care policies are extremely complicated and to try and understand the benefits and exclusions of these policies can be challenging for seniors and their families.
These are trained professionals who can help you or your loved one with all aspects of the care management and caregiving process.
The Geriatric Care Manager Role
A Geriatric Care Manager works with the family and senior to create and implement a comprehensive short and long-term care plan which enables the senior to maintain their health and independence.
This is accomplished by putting in place staff and services with the highest quality care at the best price. Geriatric care managers have a specialization in caring for seniors, and some can also provide care to people with disabilities, no matter the care needs or age of the client.
Qualifications of a Geriatric Care Manager
Care managers typically have graduate-level degrees in nursing, psychology, social work, or gerontology, and most are certified or licensed.
The Process of Getting Help
When the Geriatric Care managers begin their work, they typically start with an assessment of the person’s needs, which includes exploring the available family and community resources, financial resources, as well as the physical and mental health of the client.
Once the initial evaluation is made and the care plan created, the Geriatric Care Manager continuously monitors and re-evaluates the plan by either advising the family about existing resources or by becoming a member of the long-term care team.
What Do Geriatric Care Managers Do
Generally, geriatric care managers will help with the following:
- Screen and Assess care needs.
- Determine the client’s eligibility for financial assistance, problems, and services required.
- Arrange for and monitor in-home medical care and related services.
- Provide counseling and support for families, client, and others involved in the caregiving process.
- Provide advocacy for the client and/or family.
- Assist a client in changing their living environment, if needed.
- Assist with coordination and communication between family members and caregivers.
- Offer crisis intervention, as needed.
- Make referrals to specialists for medical, legal, dietary, or financial matters.
Custom Care
Geriatric Care Managers tailor each care plan to each individual’s custom needs. Therefore, it is important to make all of your needs known to the Geriatric Care Manager initially when you meet with them.
Benefits of Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager:
Convenience: Not all, but some are available around the clock
Continuity: It is easier for the caregiver to ensure continuity of care
Control of Costs: They coordinate to help keep costs down
Custom Care: Care manager tailors care to your loved ones needs
Flexibility: Having a person who is available at times when you need them, enables you to resume many of your normal activities
Higher Quality Care: Geriatric care managers are governed by standards of quality care set forth by the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
About Unique HomeCare Services
Unique HomeCare Services provides in-home care for elders and people who are recuperating from illness, injury, or surgery.
We offer a full range of in-home care services such as personal care, grooming and incontinence care, bathing and dressing, post-hospitalization care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, and medication management.
We also provide non-medical support services such as meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, caring companionship, shopping/errands, accompanying to medical and other appointments, as well as case management services.
Our services are available for long-term and short-term care needs from as little as a one 4 hour day visit a week to 24 Hour and Live-In Care.
We also offer Respite Care services to assist family caregivers going away or with caregiver fatigue.
It is our pleasure to assist our veteran clients with VA Aid and Attendance Benefit approval at no cost.
We have an extensive Directory of Online Senior and Caregiver Resources for the information you need.
Our service area is Boston, Norwood, Dedham, Westwood, Walpole, Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, Avon, Braintree, Easton, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth, and surrounding towns.
To schedule a no cost and no obligation full In-Home Assessment to determine the home care needs of you or your loved one please call us at (800) 296-9962 to speak to a Case Manager or fill out our Free Quote Contact Form.