OUR SERVICESHere are answers to seome of the most frequent questions asked about Geriatric Care Managers.
1. What is a Geriatric Care Manager?
A geriatric care manager is a professional who specializes in assisting older people and their families in making their long-term care arrangements.
Geriatric Care Managers develop a care plan, and provide immediate and long term support. Care managers may locate and arrange for services, including home care providers, financial and legal services, home maintenance, meals, transportation, pet care and other services.
Care managers may accompany clients to medical appointments, coordinate services, monitor health and other care providers, and periodically reassess the client. They are also available for telephone assurance.
Their job is to maximize the elder’s independence and autonomy.
2. Why would I use a Geriatric Care Manager?
You have serious concerns about a frail or disabled adult and need information and assistance to ensure safety, independence and quality of life. Geriatric Care Managers are here to help. Not as a replacement for family, but as an extra member on whom you can rely to advocate for you. A professional who knows how to determine needs and link you to appropriate services to give you peace of mind.
3. How does the process work?
An assessment is typically necessary for care managers to understand the environment that the older adult is living in, the level of functioning and the current support network. The assessment involves interviewing the older adult and family members, gathering relevant medical records, developing an individualized action plan and discussing the options with the older adult and caregivers.
4. When is Geriatric Care Management needed?
Geriatric Care Management is needed when an adult is faced with decreased capacity to function due to complications of aging, illness, disability, altered cognitive status and/or a loss of social support systems.
Geriatric Care Managers provide assistance when time and stress in providing care for a family member may conflict with the caregiver’s work, family or other obligations. Care management can be an essential link in the chain to assist long distance caregivers.
5. How does one pay for Geriatric Care Management Services?
Most Geriatric Care Managers provide private care management on a fee for service basis. You should ask ahead of time about billing fees. There is usually an hourly rate for care management services. Fees are stated in writing and approved by the person accepting responsibility for payment prior to initiation of services.
6. What are the qualifications of care managers?
Solutions at Home’s care managers are both licensed social workers and registered nurses and are licensed through their professional associations. At Solutions at Home they have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent training in gerontology, social work, nursing or counseling.
7. Are private care management services covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance?
No. Currently, care management fees are typically paid by the older adult, family members or other caregivers. Some long-term-care insurance policies cover care management services.
8. How can professional Geriatric Care Managers save you money?
Geriatric Care Managers can help you save money in several ways. First, they can help to plan effectively for the future and assist in avoiding a crisis. Second, care managers can often arrange for services to be delivered in an older adult’s home rather than requiring a costly move to a retirement or nursing facility. Third, because care managers are aware of both the needs of older adults and the available resources, they can be efficient in matching service needs with appropriate agencies.