Geriatric Care Managers

If you need help identifying, locating and organizing the range of home health and other long-term care services you need, then you're not alone. These are complicated issues. Some people find geriatric care managers to help them.  According to Business Week magazine (4/15/96) Geriatric Care Managers are the safest and most comprehensive source of qualified assistance in providing for your loved one.

Geriatric care managers are independent agents who can oversee all aspects of your loved one’s care, from hiring and monitoring aides to accompanying the elder to the doctor. GCM’s are most often social workers or nurses who are experienced in working with older adults. An effective care manager can help your family in three key ways:

	Assessing the financial situation to pay for long-term care services
	Arranging for those services to be delivered
	Monitoring the delivery of those long-term care services

Geriatric care management services may be offered through public agencies, such as your local Area Agency on Aging, and private sources such as insurance companies, social agencies and by individuals who provide care management for a fee. Fees for care management vary. Most providers charge an hourly fee for services. Costs for care management are not covered by Medicare, but Medicare does cover assessment and counseling services for the older adult. Care management expenses are sometimes covered by long term care insurance policies, may be tax deductible as a medical expense.

Before you ask a care manager to help you, however, do your homework: check references and ask questions. Although care managers should be licensed by the state in their specialty area, many are certified by the National Academy of Care Managers, a national credentialing board.

Among the questions that you should ask a geriatric care manager:

	What is the person's experience with older adults and families?
	What license(s) does the care manager hold, and are they licensed to work independently as care managers?
	In what ways would the care manager try to involve your loved one and other family members in arranging for a plan of care in the home setting? The care manager should respect individual rights of your parent or spouse in the decision making process.
	What counseling and management services does the care manager provide directly? Which services does the care manager arrange with outside providers of long-term care services? And what is the care manger's role once a referral has been made?
	What are the fees for the services? Will insurance or Medicare pay for some services?
	What community services can be utilized to help my loved one?
	How does the care manager keep family members informed of what is happening with your relative or friend? The care manager should be responsive to your requests and needs for information.
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