The Importance of Choosing The Right Geriatric Care Manager

The Importance of Choosing The Right Geriatric Care Manager

Periodically, we will be creating short articles that are based on most of the commonly asked questions when it comes to Home Health Care. We hope these articles will help you better understand the process and find the right Home Health Care Provider for you or your loved one.

With the American population aging—(just wait till 2021 when the first Boomers turn 75) our parents are living longer than ever before. With advanced age, often comes disease and frailty which leads many elderly needing care and or becoming caregivers. Florida is still a top retirement destination which means many seniors have moved away from their sons, daughters and other family.

When an elderly parent needs help, whether because of a fall or dementia the adult child is usually too far away to give hands on, in home care. Long distance caregiving, especially in a crisis is frustrating, tiring and usually less effective.

A growing field within Social Work is professional Geriatric Care Management (GCM).  This person is trained to assess an older person’s functioning, need for level of care, social network, finances, and safety, and memory, psychological and emotional states of mind. They act as a liaison to the family caregiver, usually son or daughter. Following an assessment with report, they will help to fulfill the plan of care. They will visit the older adult regularly and communicate with the son or daughter. This will include going to doctor’s visits and being an advocate for the senior.

Choosing the right GCM is like choosing most other professionals. There needs to be a “click” between the GCM, you and your parent.  Ask about their credentials (usually a Master’s in Social Work and other certification), years of experience with situations similar to your parent’s. Where they are located?  What their rates are and what the rate includes or doesn’t include? Who covers their cases when they are away? Are they insured?

You may also want to know how long they have been in the community and who are some of the other professionals in their network? Your GCM is going to be your family’s guide to Elder Care Services, Home Health Care, benefits, legal advice, and so forth.

If you have any Elder Care information or resources that you believe can help our readers, we’d love to share them. Become a Guest Blogger. For more information, contact us.

Related posts:

1. Choosing the Right Home Health Care Provider: Part 1
2. Choosing the Right Home Health Care Provider: Part 3
3. Choosing Home Care Services That Meet Your Needs