Geriatric care management can be a valuable option for older persons and their families who can afford such services. Care management generally is defined as a service that assesses your medical and social service needs.
The care manager then coordinates assistance from paid service providers and unpaid help from family and friends to support living with as much independence as possible. From assessment of needs to advice on available resources, a well-trained care manager can help you to remain as independent as possible, to live in your own home with assistance, or to assess other living arrangements such as supportive housing or assisted living facilities.
The care manager should be a professional who is trained to assess medical and functional impairments or limitations. He or she will be able to advise you on appropriate services and providers. You need to be comfortable that the geriatric care manager has the right education and training to do so. Many geriatric care managers are licensed nurses or social workers. These licenses do not necessarily guarantee an ability to address your financial or legal questions or provide comprehensive knowledge of all service options. In addition, many geriatric care managers are not members of any licensed profession. In most states, any person can call him- or herself a geriatric care manager and offer services to the public. You could receive uninformed advice or experience outright fraud.
The use of care managers has become common in publicly funded state and local community-based care programs across the country. These programs employ or contract for trained nurses or social workers to assess a person's need for long-term care services and to organize the delivery of services. Many geriatric care managers began their careers in these publicly funded programs, then resigned from their positions to practice in the public sector. There can be different designations that certify if someone is a professional care manager. If you would like to hire a geriatric care manager, check his or her credentials and work history.
For more information or to find a professional geriatric care manager, visit the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers web site.
You might also see the National Institute on Aging publication, So Far Away: Twenty Questions for Long-Distance Caregivers.
For information on Hiring and Working Successfully with In-Home Care Providers, visit Oregon State University.
