April 17, 2012
Geriatric care management was originally an off-shoot of case management and has steadily grown along with the increased population of aging seniors. Its purpose is to rein in the costs of health treatment and rehabilitation, help make sense of service options, and explain the benefits patients should be receiving. Today, GCMs continue to ensure that clients’ care needs are foremost while helping them through the convoluted maze of healthcare services.
Geriatric care management is offered in a variety of settings and meets the needs of area seniors and their families with services such as:
- Care planning assessments to identify needs, problems and eligibility for assistance
- Mediation between siblings or family members who cannot agree on the planning of care for their loved ones
- Communication and coordination efforts across all medical and other care providers
- Liaison for families at a distance, reporting back with any adjustments in care or financial issues
- Client and family education on management of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, heart disease and diabetes
- Information on costs, quality and availability of resources, connecting to specialists
- Screening, arranging and monitoring in-home help or other services
- Containing costs by avoiding inappropriate placements, duplication of services, and crisis intervention to avoid hospitalizations
Care management embraces a comprehensive range of services, and the role of the care manager is multifaceted. If you are concerned about the care of a loved one, would like to implement geriatric care management services for your employees, clients or patients, or would just like further information on geriatric care managers, contact us at (314) 863-9912 or visit our Services page.