A geriatric care manager is a health specialist, often a social worker or a licensed nurse, who assesses, supervises, and coordinates with families for the well-being of older adults.
The importance of geriatric managers increases as seniors age, and they serve as a crucial resource for older adults and their families to plan for the future properly. Although they focus on who will eventually become residents of long-term care homes, a geriatric care manager also guides and influences seniors’ personal decisions, including planning their transition into the eventual need for long-term protection.
What Is A Geriatric Care Manager?
To ensure seniors live healthy, safe, and happy daily lives, geriatric care managers develop a long-term care plan, offer assistance in processing necessary referrals, and help identify potential financial planning needs as seniors age.
The field also includes professionals who work in long-term well-being homes under the supervision of a geriatric care manager, which Medicare and private health plans cover.
What To Look For In A Geriatric Care Manager
There are several factors to consider when choosing a geriatric care manager. Adequate information and experience, qualified training and professional certifications, and a specialty in long-term well-being are some criteria that should be considered.
Obtaining the right information to ensure you have the best-matched geriatric care manager may require considerable time and effort. The medical information provided by health providers and articles is limited in what it can reveal about an individual’s lifestyle, health, and overall financial situation; these factors are essential to the selection process.
Below are some of the factors to consider when choosing the best geriatric care manager:
Background and Training
A geriatric care manager must have knowledge and experience in the long-term well-being protection industry and the ability to communicate effectively with various individuals. Qualified geriatric care managers must also provide information about their specific training, certifications, experience, and background in geriatrics, nursing, or a related field is also essential.
As much as 30-40% of the general population suffers from chronic illnesses of some type, making the services of senior care managers necessary to consider the needs of older adults with multiple health concerns. Geriatric care providers are trained to identify & meet these unique needs and help families stay connected through the difficult times that may lie ahead.
Trained in a variety of disciplines, geriatric care managers can provide a comprehensive assessment to ensure each senior’s comfort. They can also review doctor-prescribed medications and other interventions that could prove helpful in the patient’s best interest.
Certifications
Certifications are a major focus of Geriatric Care Management. Registered RNs must obtain Geriatrics certification or be certified in some other health field that recognizes it as part of the credentials needed to practice and become a Geriatric Protection Advocate.
Living wills are a crucial document for ensuring the senior’s wishes shall be followed in the event of their disability. It is a legal document that outlines what health care the patient will receive should they be diagnosed with an illness or disease that hinders or limits their ability to make decisions or communicate effectively.
It is required at every level of a patient’s protection, from the hospital level to the community living center, so that all information can be considered for decision-making purposes.
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Costs
Most Geriatric Managers pay some type of costs for services, usually during the process of placing an initial meeting with a client, which varies according to the demand for availability and the quality of the services required.
Funds are available with Medicare Prescription Drug coverage, and medical upkeep is covered through Medicare, Medicaid, and most other private paying plans. Many State assistance programs have also been established for financial assistance in finding a Geriatric Manager. Cost can vary, but in general, Care Managers may charge anywhere from $125 per hour or more depending on how much time is spent on the client’s file and the state area.
Personal Qualities
Geriatric Managers must be able to communicate effectively with patients as well as their primary tender physician when necessary. Personal qualities geriatric care managers must include patience, kindness, and compassion for the patient and their family members. The ability to listen and assess any needs the patient may have is also an essential aspect of the process.
There are several facilities a geriatric care manager can specialize in, including home health well-being, assisted living homes, and nursing homes. It’s important to find someone well-versed in your situation to get your questions answered and your concerns put at ease with reasonable recommendations.
Health and Disability
Aging carries a wide range of difficulties and challenges that can impact many areas of the patient’s life. Talking with a qualified geriatric care manager can prepare you to handle many potential situations that could arise in the future. Disability identification is a crucial point of the process and can help save the family from making poor decisions on the patient’s behalf in the case of a sudden event.
Housing Options
A geriatric care manager can help identify the best housing options for a patient entering a nursing home or assisted living facility. This process can be challenging and stressful for the family members involved, and it’s important to have someone to work with you. A geriatric care manager can outline your options and help locate facilities that best fit your or your loved one’s needs.
Crisis Intervention
A geriatric care manager can help you prepare for emergencies that may require a doctor’s care or hospitalization for your loved one. Illness, injuries, or sudden changes in physical or mental health can happen at any time, and it’s crucial to have someone qualified & trustworthy develop plans with you, and your senior loved one should these situations arise. A geriatric care manager can help outline your emergency needs and identify the best course of action for the patient and their family.
Care managers work with patients, families, and loved ones to provide their tender and supportive direction. In some cases, this involves helping a patient or their family member find appropriate in-home well-being services, which requires a strong understanding of the patient’s needs and wants and the ability to communicate effectively with all parties involved.
How Can A Geriatric Care Manager Help Your Family?
The responsibility of the family members plays a vital role in the elder’s well-being. With so much emphasis on obtaining health insurance, there can be a lack of attention to the individual’s overall health. Too often, families rely only on medical advice from their physician or the hospital instead of exploring other options and consulting a care manager who may have other ideas that may benefit their elder’s well-being.
Senior citizens are considered adults who require financial responsibility from their children and families. Below are some of the critical roles that a geriatric care manager can help families with:
Chronic Disease Management
Geriatric care managers specialize in assessing and managing care plans for patients with chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults 50 years and older have the most risk factors for chronic disease, which are responsible for about two out of every three deaths in seniors, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A medicare consultant explains that lack of knowledge regarding chronic disease management is a significant issue for seniors. They may not be aware of the preventive measures they must take to remain healthy. In addition, they often suffer from multiple chronic conditions and do not know how to address all their symptoms.
Medication Management
A geriatric care manager prioritizes medication orders and ensures medication adherence and safety. They also assist with appointments to ensure medications are taken on time. Aging ears and eyes are affected by age-related visual and hearing loss, which places older adults at risk for falls during bathroom trips or other daily activities.
Geriatric care managers are responsible for medication management to alleviate the senior’s health issues. Depending on the patient’s living situation, the geriatric care manager may assign the responsibility to the caregiver, designated family member, or the home health well-being provider. A geriatric care manager may also work with the nursing staff to ensure medications are taken.
Lifestyle Support
Concerns about the senior’s health and safety are the most common reasons older adults consider moving into a residential care home. Family caregivers often need help finding resources to assist with the care of older adults and help them stay at home.
Geriatric care managers assess a client’s living situation and help connect clients to in-home services, other community resources, and local transportation options. They may also provide family members with lifestyle support and suggest ways for families to maintain good mental health while caring for an older loved one who is ill or has disabilities.
The lack of resources among seniors is a concern geriatric care managers must help address, which includes connecting them with in-home caregivers or senior care facilities. Alternatively, these professionals may help seniors find funding to pay for their home tender and provide information about services that assist with financial planning.
Geriatric care managers also assist families with the long-term well-being needs of their senior loved ones, which requires a thorough assessment to ensure the patient receives their required level of care.
Preventive Care
Geriatric care managers help seniors with chronic conditions by reducing the risk of falls, injuries, and infections. As such, the number of older adults treated for acute injuries and conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and skin cancer continues to decline. Geriatric care providers assist in making lifestyle changes that may improve health, decrease the risk of injury and promote self-care abilities.
A care plan should be created with a geriatric care manager, which includes health assessments, goals, and interventions for chronic conditions. Geriatric care officers work with patients to develop a care plan that includes strategies to maintain independence, adhere to the senior’s needs and wishes, and ensure their quality of life.
The plans may also include referrals to community resources that provide transportation, home maintenance services, and adult day services. They may assist loved ones in applying for government assistance programs or access volunteer support through community organizations.
Aging-in-place Assistance
Geriatric care managers help family members stay at home by providing case management assistance, referrals to in-home well-being providers, and home environment assessments. They may also help seniors find affordable services such as personal well-being assistants and home health aides, which can reduce the number of falls and improve quality of life.
Support from a geriatric care officer can help families plan for long-term protection or adult day programs that provide seniors with social opportunities and support. Some issues the aging population faces include health, support, and financial planning. As such, geriatric care managers assess a patient’s needs based on the chronic condition, home environment, and personal preferences.
They can also provide recommendations for family members and loved ones to help maintain a healthy lifestyle by evaluating and maintaining fall prevention and promoting good nutrition, fitness, and life skills. Geriatric care providers also work with families to manage financial issues that may arise as elders age.
Long-term Well-being Planning And Oversight
Geriatric care managers create personalized evaluation guides for clients in making proper long-term decisions at major life junctures such as divorce, retirement, or health crisis. The geriatric care management process begins when a client is healthy and active and continues after long-term protection questions arise.
Geriatric Care Manager Support
A few of a geriatric care manager’s responsibilities include determining the best protection settings for clients depending on each individual’s situation and preferences. The geriatric care manager evaluates requests for placement or transfer.
After assessing a client’s risk of falling and various mental states, their geriatric care manager helps them choose the type of long-term residential protection facility most suitable for them. Home Care Providers has been a trusted in-home care provider for over 30 years. We offer a wide range of senior care services with varying levels of care depending on each patient’s requirements. For more information on geriatric care manager services or how we can help, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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