A private professional geriatric care manager helps to coordinate and manage the care of older adults. This is a fee-based service.
Geriatric care managers can:
- conduct assessments to identify problems and eligibility for assistance-need services;
- coordinate medical care, including physician contacts, home health and other necessary screenings;
- monitor in-home help;
- review financial or legal issues;
- offer appropriate referrals;
- find community resources;
- provide crisis intervention;
- ensure everything is going well with the older adult and alert the family when it is not; and
- assist in moving a senior from a retirement complex to a nursing home or personal care home.
How do you know if you need geriatric care management services? Here are some questions to consider:
• Are health problems making it challenging for you to maintain your independence at home? Would you like recommendations to help you remain in your own home?
• Does your family live a distance away from you, and so you find it difficult to keep track of all your doctor appointments?
• Do you lack information on community and support services to fit your needs?
• Are you having difficulty managing your medications?
• Would you benefit from someone arranging help for you to pay bills on time and keep track of finances?
• Are you a caregiver who spends a lot of time going to medical appointments with your loved one?
• Do you want peace of mind regarding appropriate healthcare for yourself and your loved ones?
• Would you like to decrease emergency room visits or hospitalizations?
• Do you need help coordinating household chores and personal care? Would you like someone to assist you or coordinate your care needs?
• Are you interested in Meals-on-Wheels or other home-delivered meals?
• Do you feel isolated?
• Would you like help with arranging transportation?
Information provided by the UPMC Senior Services: Aging.UPMC.com