As our family members get older, it can become challenging to provide them with the care they need. That’s where geriatric care managers come in. Geriatric care managers are licensed professionals who specialize in providing the elderly with the support and resources they need.
What Do Geriatric Care Managers Do?
Geriatric care managers work with the elderly and their families to develop plans that ensure that the elderly person receives all of the necessary care while still maintaining their independence as much as possible. To do this, geriatric care managers assess each client’s individual needs and then create customized plans to meet those needs. These plans may include things like coordinating medical appointments, helping with transportation to appointments or errands, managing medications, providing companionship and emotional support, securing home health aides or other in-home services, arranging for respite stays if needed, etc. In other words, geriatric care managers are there to provide whatever type of assistance is necessary to keep clients safe and healthy while at home.
In addition to helping coordinate services for clients and their families, geriatric care managers also act as advocates for their clients by communicating their needs to doctors and other healthcare providers, researching long-term care options such as assisted living facilities or nursing homes when needed, helping apply for benefits such as Medicare or Medicaid if applicable, assisting with legal matters such as guardianship or power of attorney documents if required, etc. All of these tasks help ensure that clients receive all of the necessary resources so that they can live comfortable lives while aging gracefully at home (or elsewhere).
How Can They Help Your Family?
Geriatric care managers can be a great resource for families who find themselves struggling to provide adequate support for an aging family member but don’t know where to start. Because geriatric care managers specialize in working with seniors and have extensive knowledge about the various resources available for them, they can be invaluable when it comes to developing a comprehensive plan that will meet each individual’s unique needs. In addition to providing practical help with everyday tasks like transportation or medication management, having a geriatric care manager on your side also provides peace of mind knowing that you have an advocate looking out for your loved one’s best interests every step of the way.