When considering whether or not the services of a professional geriatric care manager would be a good choice for a particular situation, consider the following questions:
- Are the senior’s issues becoming more numerous and complex than can be comfortably managed?
- Are other family needs and responsibilities getting in the way of providing the desired level of supervision and attention to the senior?
- Are care responsibilities interfering with paid employment?
- Is the current caregiver unable to provide the desired level of care and supervision due to health or other reasons?
- Is the current caregiver finding it difficult to coordinate all medical appointments and fulfill all documentation requirements?
- Is the caregiver finding it difficult to manage the senior’s finances and/or household?
- Are care decisions and questions causing conflict and disagreement within the family or among responsible parties?
- Is more knowledge of appropriate and applicable resources desired (community resources, state and federal programs and alternate living arrangements, etc.)?
- Is more support and education on the presenting health or frailty issues desired (chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease and COPD)?
- Does the senior require services that family and friends do not have the time, skill or inclination to provide?
- Does the family live far away from the senior requiring care?
If the answers to three or more of the above questions are “Yes”, a professional geriatric care manager will be beneficial for the situation.
Professional geriatric care management services are offered in a variety of settings, providing:
- A personal and compassionate advocate focused on an individual’s wants and needs
- Assistance typically available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Assurance of quality care and quality referrals
- Continuity of care management with communications coordinated between family members, doctors and other service providers
- Avoidance of inappropriate placements, duplication of services, and unnecessary hospitalizations
To learn more about geriatric care management services, call Live Free Home Health Care today.
Source: National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers