As posted on the Huffington Post 2/9/16 by Anita Kamiel, RN
Being a caregiver for an elderly adult can be filled with challenging and unforeseen situations that many relatives are not well prepared to handle. Managing all the details and logistics required for situating an elderly parent either in their home after a hospital stay or in a facility of some kind can be daunting for a child or senior spouse.
This is when it is often a good idea to hire a professional geriatric care manager (GCM). What is a geriatric care manager? GCMs are often social workers, but they could be nurses or psychologists or someone in a geriatric health related field, that specialize in the problems and care associated with the elderly. They are certified by an independent agency to manage all aspects of aging adults. GCM’s are totally familiar with Medicare, Medicaid, hospitals, rehab centers and home care through both private pay and long term care insurance. They can provide the all important continuity of care when there are multiple professionals to manage and/or when transitions need to be made. Lastly, they can also provide useful input for resources pertaining to a specific health situation.
GCMs work as advocates geriatric patients in a variety of settings and visit the client on a regular basis. They and their team are available for 24/7 by phone to the patient and family for emergencies, updates and consultation and are able to take charge if a problem arises. They charge by the hour after an initial consultation fee and can be a godsend if the family lives far away.
Click HERE to read the full article on Eldercareanswers.com