A geriatric care manager — also called an aging life care professional — is a specialist who helps older adults and their families navigate the complex world of aging, healthcare, and long term care. They assess a person’s needs, develop a care plan, coordinate services, and serve as an advocate for the older adult’s wellbeing and quality of life.
For families who live far from an aging parent, feel overwhelmed by the complexity of care decisions, or are struggling to coordinate multiple providers and services a geriatric care manager can be an invaluable resource.
What a geriatric care manager does
Geriatric care managers provide a wide range of services tailored to the needs of each individual client. Common services include:
- Comprehensive assessment — evaluating the older adult’s physical health, cognitive function, emotional wellbeing, living situation, and social support to identify needs and develop a care plan
- Care planning — developing a personalized plan that addresses the older adult’s needs, preferences, and goals
- Care coordination — arranging and coordinating services from multiple providers including home care agencies, medical specialists, therapists, and community programs
- Crisis intervention — responding to urgent situations such as a sudden hospitalization, a fall, or a sudden decline in function
- Family consultation and education — helping family members understand the older adult’s condition and care needs and facilitating family meetings and decision making
- Advocacy — representing the older adult’s interests in interactions with healthcare providers, facilities, and government agencies
- Monitoring — regularly checking in on the older adult to assess their wellbeing and the quality of care being provided
- Transition management — helping with transitions between care settings such as from hospital to home or from home to assisted living
- Financial and legal referrals — identifying when financial or legal assistance is needed and referring to appropriate professionals
Who geriatric care managers are
Geriatric care managers typically have professional backgrounds in social work, nursing, psychology, gerontology, or a related health or human services field. Many hold advanced degrees and specialized certifications.
The primary professional organization for aging life care professionals is the Aging Life Care Association — ALCA — formerly known as the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. ALCA maintains a directory of certified members at aginglifecare.org.
When to consider a geriatric care manager
A geriatric care manager may be helpful in a wide range of situations including:
- An older adult lives alone and family members are concerned about their safety and wellbeing
- Family members live far away and cannot be present to oversee care
- An older adult has multiple complex medical conditions requiring coordination among many providers
- A family is struggling to agree on care decisions
- An older adult has been recently hospitalized and needs help transitioning back home
- A family is overwhelmed by the process of finding and evaluating care options
- An older adult is showing signs of cognitive decline and needs ongoing monitoring
- A caregiver is experiencing burnout and needs support and respite
How geriatric care managers are paid
Geriatric care managers typically charge by the hour for their services. Rates vary by location and the professional’s experience and credentials but commonly range from $100 to $200 or more per hour. An initial comprehensive assessment may cost several hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on its scope.
Geriatric care management services are generally not covered by Medicare or standard health insurance. However they may be covered by long term care insurance policies that include case management benefits. Some veterans benefits programs may also cover geriatric care management services.
While the cost of a geriatric care manager can be significant families often find that the value of having a knowledgeable advocate coordinating care and preventing costly mistakes or crises far outweighs the expense.
Geriatric care managers and long distance caregiving
One of the most valuable roles a geriatric care manager plays is serving as a local presence for families who live far from an aging loved one. A geriatric care manager can:
- Make regular visits to check on the older adult’s wellbeing
- Respond quickly to emergencies or changes in condition
- Communicate regularly with family members about the older adult’s status
- Coordinate care and services locally so family members do not have to travel for every issue
- Serve as a trusted local contact for healthcare providers and facilities
For adult children who live in different cities or states from their aging parents a geriatric care manager can provide enormous peace of mind.
How to find a geriatric care manager
The best resources for finding a qualified geriatric care manager include:
- Aging Life Care Association — aginglifecare.org maintains a searchable directory of certified aging life care professionals organized by location
- Your local Area Agency on Aging — can provide referrals to geriatric care managers and other care coordination resources in your area
- Hospital social workers — social workers at hospitals and rehabilitation facilities often have referral lists for geriatric care managers
- Personal referrals — recommendations from physicians, elder law attorneys, financial advisors, or other families who have used geriatric care management services
Questions to ask when hiring a geriatric care manager
When evaluating a geriatric care manager consider asking:
- What is your professional background and training?
- Are you a member of the Aging Life Care Association?
- How long have you been working as a geriatric care manager?
- What is your experience with situations similar to ours?
- How do you charge for your services and what is included?
- How often will you visit or check in on our loved one?
- How will you communicate with our family and how often?
- What happens in an emergency?
- Do you have backup coverage if you are unavailable?
Key terms to know
- Geriatric care manager — a specialist who assesses the needs of older adults and coordinates care and services
- Aging life care professional — another term for geriatric care manager used by the Aging Life Care Association
- Aging Life Care Association — ALCA — the primary professional organization for geriatric care managers
- Comprehensive assessment — a thorough evaluation of an older adult’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs
- Care coordination — the process of arranging and managing services from multiple providers
- Long distance caregiving — providing care and oversight for an older adult who lives far from family members
- Crisis intervention — responding to urgent situations that require immediate action
Sources
- Aging Life Care Association — aginglifecare.org
- Administration for Community Living — eldercare.acl.gov
- National Institute on Aging
- USA.gov — Eldercare
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.