WHAT DOES A GERIATRIC CARE MANAGER DO?
Each situation is different, and your Geriatric Care Manager will certainly tailor the services to your needs, but the typical services performed are listed below.
Step 1: Comprehensive Assessment
The Geriatric Care Manager will conduct a thorough comprehensive assessment with your loved one. They identify all the care needs and fully understand the challenges you and your loved one are facing. This assessment evaluates needs beyond what a standard medical examination covers. During the comprehensive assessment, the clinical and functional needs are assessed. With a holistic approach, so are a range of issues that impact your loved one’s quality of life. This range includes cognition, depression, the living situation, nutrition, safety, finances, and the ability to do every day activities. The results of the assessment will be compiled into a report. At the end of the report, a list of recommendations will be provided. These recommendations will meet the care needs identified during the assessment to enhance your loved one’s quality of life.
Step 2: Formulate a Care Plan
Following the assessment, your Geriatric Care Manager will work with you to formulate an individualized plan of care for your loved one. From the recommendations, you and your Geriatric Care Manager will discuss options available to meet your loved ones needs. In addition, they will address the steps to follow in order to implement the recommendations. The care plan will cover in detail the information obtained in the assessment and the prioritized recommendations. It will also detail the next steps for meeting the care needs and improving your loved one’s quality of life.
Step 3: Coordinate Care and Services
Even when services are not available directly through the Geriatric Care Manager, your Geriatric Care Manager is knowledgeable about all the geriatric services available. These also include services through other parties in the community and which ones are most effective and reputable. Your Geriatric Care Manager will find out what you can do yourself or what can be done by other family members. They will then help arrange for and monitor the services provided by resources in the community.
