2008/06/19 00:00:00
By Nanette Lavoie-Vaughan — June 19, 2008
In my last column, we discussed the challenges of long-distance caregiving. This month, I’d like to talk about a possible solution for those who might not have the time or energy to address the many issues facing their loved ones: the professional geriatric care manager (PGCM).
The job of these professionals is to make sure the needs and wants of seniors requiring assistance are met. Currently, more than 1,000 geriatric care managers are certified by a national organization in 47 states.
A PGCM can be a social worker, counselor, gerontologist, or nurse. PGCMs have their professional credentials and specialize in assisting older people and their families.
A sampling of services provided by care managers includes:
- phoning adult children regularly to provide status reports and address concerns;
- screening, arranging for, and monitoring in-home services;
- scheduling medical appointments and transportation;
- arranging for home repairs;
- assessing the need for and ordering specialized aids and equipment;
- arranging for home safety upgrades;
- linking to community resources;
- conducting care-planning assessments to identify problems and provide solutions;
- providing short-term or long-term assistance to long-distance caregivers;
- providing crisis intervention;
- assisting with moving an older adult; and
- offering counseling and support
Those with specialized degrees and training also can provide family therapy, finance management and conservatorship, and guardianship assistance.
You can find a geriatric care manager through your local Area Agency on Aging, in the Yellow Pages, or by visiting the Web site for the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers at www.caremanager.org. Once you have found a care manager, interview that person to find out if he or she can provide the services you need and meet your expectations. Some questions to consider are:
- What are his or her areas of expertise?
- What is his or her experience with your particular situation?
- What are his or her professional credentials?
- Is he or she a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers?
- How long has he or she been in practice?
- Are emergency services available?
- How will you receive communication about assessments, plans, and problems?
- Does he or she have references?
- What are his or her fees?
While each PGCM bills differently, all have an hourly rate for services and then charge incidental fees for out-of-pocket expenses such as mileage, long-distance phone calls, and caregiving supplies.
Once you have selected a care manager, it is important to get in writing what services will be provided, a list of fees, and a billing schedule. In addition, you might want to have a communication schedule, emergency plan, and list of services or referrals that require your prior approval. This can be accomplished in a contract for services, a letter, or a set of documents that outlines each of these areas.
There are distinct advantages to hiring a geriatric care manager. You will receive personalized service based on your and your loved one’s needs. You will have regular communication with a professional whose focus is continuity of care and accessibility of services for your parent. You are hiring a credentialed individual who practices under a code of ethics and is accountable to you for his or her services. Utilizing a PGCM can ease the burden of long-distance caregiving.
Nanette Lavoie-Vaughan is an adult nurse practitioner and professional consultant. She is a featured speaker at national professional conferences and writes about geriatrics for multiple publications. If you’d like to send Nanette a comment, question, or suggestion for a future column, please e-mail
rolereversal@moaa.org.