Cindy lives 500 miles away from her 89 year old mother. She is becoming increasingly concerned about her mother’s safety as she is becoming more forgetful. She is worried about her mother living alone and wonders if she is taking prescribed medication and eating a well balanced meal. Cindy knows that her mother does not want her to worry as her mother has often said she does not wish to be a burden. With these growing concerns about her mother’s welfare, Cindy realizes she needs a professional to help her to determine what kind of help her mother needs while allowing her to maintain her independence. The solution…..A Geriatric Care Manager.
Geriatric Care management emerged as a result of demographic shifts in the United States. These shifts included the lengthening of the average life span and the trend for families to scatter across the U.S.
Geriatric Care management offers a solution to the long term care needs of older adults as they strive to “age in place” and maintain their independence. The services offered by Geriatric Care Managers can give sons and daughters “peace of mind” as they continue to pursue their career. In addition to peace of mind, the resulting service can be a true blessing for parents and other family members as well.
An estimated 2.5 million families can benefit from geriatric care management services. A Geriatric Care Manager can typically spend
Approximately 5 to 10 hours per month assisting older clients and their families in arranging personal care services, monitoring the quality of care and solving every day problems related to home healthcare services, transportation, housekeeping, home maintenance, meal preparation, medication management, respite care and many other services.
The Geriatric Care Manager can help families find answers to these questions:
Where can I find appropriate services to address the needs of my parents?
How can I be assured that my parents are eating a well balanced meal?
Does my mother or father get confused regarding when to take their medication or the proper dosage?
How can I be assured that my parents are living in a safe environment?
Are my parents living a meaningful and productive life?
Is my parents health in jeopardy?
Are my parents finances being handled appropriately?
A Geriatric Care Management-service can assist families with addressing the needs of older adults through a systematic personalized process. These services may include:
Planning for the long term care of parents.
Locating services, resources, supplies, and equipment for parents.
Evaluating and arranging for delivery of home healthcare and personal services.
Arranging and monitoring non medical services such as meal planning/preparation, housekeeping, laundry care, companion care and a host of other services.
Assistance in scheduling medical appointments.
Evaluating assisted living, nursing facilities and other living arrangements.
Identifying the supports needed for parents to “age in place” and maintain their independence.
Assisting in facilitating the transition from medical facilities to other living arrangements.
Referral to legal resources to assist with preparation of documents including advanced directives such as health care representative, power of Attorney and living wills..
Benefits planning and assistance
Long distance caregiving.
Fees for services are generally based on an hourly rate or individuals may qualify for other public funding
A Geriatric Care Management Service can offer a wide array of services to ensure that older adults age in place gracefully while simultaneously maintaining their independence in the least restrictive setting possible.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christine Davis, BA, MS, is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the State of Indiana. She has over 40 years of experience providing consulting services to older adults and people with disabilities. She is the author of “The Self- Directed Caregiving Guide.”
(December, 2021)
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