What is a Geriatric Care Manager?
Geriatric care managers are professionals who have training in social work, nursing, counseling, and/or gerontology. Geriatric care managers offer customized advice and consultations to each of their clients, helping them to make decisions that are appropriate for them, their family, their lifestyle, and their future needs. They can help evaluate an elderly person’s physical, functional, and emotional state. They are enlisted to help elderly individuals and their families make difficult decisions concerning needed services and care. After consulting with the client and family, the care manager designs and may help to administer a "care plan," which can be written or verbal and specifically outlines the necessary steps required to obtain the appropriate types and levels of care for the client.

What services can a Geriatric Care Manager provide?
Geriatric care managers provide a Comprehensive Assessment of the client’s needs. Utilizing their backgrounds and experience, geriatric care managers are able to perform an unbiased evaluation of the elderly client’s mental, physical, social, financial, and legal functioning. As objective and trained observers, it is easier for them to recognize situations that may be overlooked by loved ones; geriatric care managers are able to look at and analyze the whole picture.

What should I look for in a Geriatric Care Manager?
If you are about to hire a geriatric care manager, the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers suggests you ask a prospective caregiver these questions:

• What are your professional credentials?
• Do you have a state license in your profession?
• How long have you been providing care management services?
• Are you available for emergencies?
• Does your company provide home care services?
• How will you communicate with family members?
• What are your fees? (Be sure to get a written agreement before contracting for services.)
• Can you provide me with references?

How can I find out more about Geriatric Care Managers?
To find out more about Geriatric Care Managers visit the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Manager’s website: http://www.caremanager.org

You can also speak with social workers at Oakland Kaiser Social Services.

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