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Do you need a geriatric care manager?
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Question:
My 90-year-old mother lives with me, but it may be time to move her to an assisted living facility. How do I find out what options are available in the new city in which we recently settled?
Answer:
“You might want to hire a geriatric care manager to help guide you through the health care and living options available in your new community,” says Monika White, MSW, PhD, vice president of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. “Not only are these professionals knowledgeable about the various services in their area, they’re also experts on the needs of aging adults.”
Geriatric care managers—usually gerontologists, nurses, social workers, or psychologists—specialize in elder care, Dr. White says. Cost may be an issue; many charge $60 to $150 an hour or more, with a one-time charge of up to $350 for an initial assessment. But a care manager could also save you lots of frustration and days lost from work. Here are some of the services they provide.
Determining your loved one’s needs
A care manager does a thorough assessment to make sure your loved one is getting the appropriate care and services, says Dr. White. For example, if your mother is confused, a care manager asks questions to determine the cause of her mental state, which will determine how many services and what level of care she’ll need.
Identifying services and options
“Managers develop a care plan, outlining which local services can meet their specific needs,” Dr. White says. If your mother needs to move to an assisted living facility, a geriatric care manager can tell you what’s available. “They can also offer options for people who wish to remain independent, such as at-home help or adult day care,” she adds.
Assessing local services
“Care managers know who provides the services you need, how to best access them, and how much those services cost,” says Dr. White. “They know local physicians and other health care professionals as well people involved in home care, day care, meals, transportation, and living options.”
Making choices easier
Although care managers leave final decisions up to families and their loved ones, they screen services, assist with paperwork, deal with administrators, and arrange interviews, explains Dr. White. They also help you weigh different options and make conversations between you and service providers easier.
Offering objectivity
Making critical decisions is stressful, and profound stress can test even the closest relationships. When disputes erupt among family members, geriatric care managers step in. “Because they see situations objectively, they can help mediate problems between family members,” says Dr. White.
Monitoring health care
“After the geriatric care manager has made contacts and arranged services, they become your eyes and ears if you and your loved one live far apart,” Dr. White says. “If services don’t work out, or a home health care worker suddenly quits, for example, a geriatric care manager can help.” As part of their duties, geriatric care managers may also visit your loved one and find transportation to doctor’s appointments, if needed.
You can hire a geriatric care manager to provide any or all of the services offered. In fact, some families ask care managers to only assess a loved one’s needs and the options available, Dr. White says. “Once they have the basics, they feel comfortable doing the rest of the work on their own.”
The trouble is, most families and caregivers wait until the last minute to call in a geriatric care manager, often when the situation has reached a boiling point. “It’s much more difficult to make decisions, let alone good ones, during a crisis,” says Dr. White. “It makes more sense to hire a care manager earlier, as soon as you have any questions about a loved one’s care. That will help you avoid a crisis in the first place.”
Regular contributor Linda Rao writes about health and senior issues for many national publications.
Ask About Certification
Before you hire a geriatric care manager, White suggests you ask about their training and experience, and whether they are certified. “Certification tells you they have core knowledge and skills, and have passed a certification exam,” she says. Two common certifications include: CMC (Care Manager, Certified) and CCM (Certified Case Manager).
To Learn More
To find a geriatric care manager in your area, ask your doctor, local hospital, Area Agency on Aging, senior services organization, or senior center. Or look in the yellow pages under “Care or Case Management or Elder Care Services.” You can also contact:
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
1604 N. Country Club Road
Tucson, AZ 85716-3102
www.caremanager.org
www.findacaremanager.org
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