Geriatric Care Management
Fancy Name, Valuable Service
04/28/2010
Care managers help older adults achieve their maximum functional potential by helping them figure out what services they need and how to pay for them. Services generally start with a global assessment, which looks at all of the areas that may cause potential challenges, for example, medical, psychological, social, financial, and legal.
They'll also assess the safety and security of the person's home, and his or her ability to perform daily-living activities. Once needs are confirmed, a care manager can identify available resources and put together a plan of care, in collaboration with the client and his or her family. Individuals can then choose to implement the plan themselves, or use the care-management team to coordinate and provide the services.
Schedule demands, geographic location, and lack of specific knowledge are just a few of the difficulties family caregivers face. According to the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM), when considering whether to engage the services of a geriatric-care manager, you should evaluate whether you have the time, inclination, and skills to manage the challenges of geriatric care yourself. The NAPGCM Web site lists questions you may consider:
- Are the problems you or your loved ones facing becoming larger and more complex than you can comfortably manage?
- Are other demands and responsibilities now so great that you are not able to provide the desired level of supervision and attention to your loved one's problems?
To learn more about Glenmeadow's geriatric-care-management services, call 413-567-7800 and ask to speak with Torrie Dearborn.
