Geriatric Care Management is a relatively new
profession that has emerged in strength over the
past decade. Although Care Management as a
profession has been around for a long time, it
has come into its own as the parents of the
Boomer generation live in to their 80s and 90s
and their grown children have started looking
for help managing often very complicated care
situations.
Check with any senior care resource and you will
see the recommendation that you consult with a
Geriatric Care Manager for a thorough assessment
of your elder's status, help with making
important decisions, and assistance with
arranging for care or relocation.
A good Care Manager can be a lifesaver. When you
don't know where to turn for unbiased advice,
information about what's available in your
community, or tips on how to navigate the
medical maze, a good Care Manager will help you
and your senior construct a map. Some will
represent you, almost like a surrogate son or
daughter, if you can't be there to do it
yourself. Some will regularly monitor your
elder's care, and even attend doctor visits.
What You
May Not Know About
Geriatric Care Managers
|
Anyone Can Be A "Geriatric Care Manager"
(GCM)
While some resources will claim that Geriatric
Care Managers are health and human services
specialists, in fact there are no requirements
to hang out a "Geriatric Care Manager" shingle.
Your GCM could be a high school graduate (or
less) with no professional education and little
or no experience. He may be the marketing arm of
a senior service provider. Geriatric Care
Manager is a title that anyone may assume. Many
do, because it sounds so "professional."
It is very important to know how a GCM has
prepared for the profession and who, exactly, he
or she works for now. Ask whether your GCM has a
license to practice as a professional in your
state. Maintaining a professional license as a
nurse, a social worker, an attorney, or in a
related profession insures that he or she meets
and maintains educational and professional
standards for that professional field.
Background Determines Approach
Many extremely well qualified Care Managers come
from backgrounds in either social work or
medicine/nursing. Your care manager's focus will
most likely reflect previous education and
experience. A nurse will be more likely to focus
on a senior's medical issues, often considering
social and environmental needs second. A strong
social work background gives a Care Manager
strengths in managing social needs and finding
community resources. These GCMs sometimes lack
the medical knowledge necessary to manage
complex health needs.
Assess your GCM's strengths and weaknesses
before making a choice. Like all humans, every
Care Manager will have strengths and weaknesses.
Good ones will be happy to discuss them frankly,
and they will have colleagues to consult with
and who will back them up when necessary.
Many Care Managers are Part-Timers
Especially when starting out it is difficult to
make a full time income as an independent GCM.
Many Care Managers also work elsewhere. Others
are trying to work around the needs of young
children. As long as you and your Care Manager
are clear about the hours your GCM will be
available this should not present a problem.
If your senior is prone to emergencies and
you will be depending on your Care Manager to be
available 24/7, a part-timer may not be
available when most needed. No care manager will
take the place of 911. However, if an emergency
takes your senior to the hospital, will you want
your GCM to be there in the emergency room? If
so, you will want to work with a full-time
Geriatric Care Manager who also has backup for
emergencies.
Hiring a GCM for advice and help with senior
care is often the best thing a caregiver can do
for an aging relative. Knowing what to watch for
and what to ask a prospective GCM will put you
on the fast track to finding the right Geriatric
Care Manager for your particular needs.
|
