There is much demand for care and support for seniors and older adults. As more seniors require specialized care, the demand for professional caregivers also increases. Geriatric care managers provide such specialized and personalized care. They play a crucial role in promoting the health and well-being of the elderly.
The contributions of these care managers are significant and varied. They support the elderly and their families, share their expertise and provide resources to ensure that aging individuals enjoy a higher quality of life.
Who are geriatric care managers?
They are professionals who specialize in helping the elderly by providing comprehensive support and guidance and advocating for their well-being, health, and independence. With backgrounds in gerontology, nursing and social work, these care managers can navigate and address the challenges faced by the elderly.
As advocates for older adults, these care managers act as the voices of the elderly to ensure that they get the rights and needs that they deserve, that they receive proper care and support. With the intervention of care managers, their preferences and desires are respected.
They play an important role in ensuring the health and well-being of the elderly. The following are other ways care managers help out older adults:
Coordination of Care
Care managers coordinate with various healthcare professionals such as therapists, medical professionals and caregivers in Central Coast California. This ensures continuity of care and seamless communication and coordination between and among various healthcare providers to reduce risks of medical issues, prevent fragmented care, and enhance overall quality of care.
Personalized Care
Thorough assessments are conducted to identify the unique needs and demands of each client. In creating the personalized care plan, care managers take into account various factors such as social, emotional, cognitive and physical well-being and function. Through comprehensive strategies, care managers develop a care plan that covers a wide array of aspects such as financial management, social activities, medical care, home modifications and others.
Emotional, Social and Psychological Support
Aside from medical care, care managers also assist with the different emotional, psychological and social needs of both the elderly and their caregivers. They provide compassion and valuable emotional and psychological support. They help older adults cope with anxiety, feelings of loneliness, isolation and grief. They refer to mental health professionals and counselors when needed to ensure the mental well-being and quality of life of the elderly.
Financial Management
Another aspect that elderly care managers assist with is financial management. They help seniors with budgeting, organizing bill payments, and coordinating with estate planners and financial advisors. This is especially helpful since older adults may have a hard time managing their finances considering the medical and other challenges that they are facing. This gives peace of mind and reduces stress on the part of the older adults and their families.
Connecting with Resources
Community resources and connections are something that geriatric care managers have. They can easily tap into various resources and help older adults connect with senior centers, transportation services, support groups and home care services in Central Coast California. With easy access to various resources and communities, older adults can comfortably maintain an active lifestyle and receive the support that they need.
In sum, geriatric care management services include the following:
- Assessing, monitoring, evaluating and arranging for hired professional caregivers and health aides.
- Arranging transportation, following up on and coordinating medical appointments.
- Helping older adults and their families understand and navigate the complexities of aging.
- Providing constant updates and communication between older adults and their families.
- Making short-term and long-term personalized care plans for the elderly.
- Arranging respite care for family caregivers and hired caregivers.
- Identifying and coordinating various health programs and social services that could be beneficial to the elderly.
- Tapping community resources and making referrals to medical, legal and financial professionals.
- Addressing the various concerns of family members with regards to the health and well-being of their elderly loved ones.
However, you need to make sure that the professional you are in contact with is a real geriatric care manager. Before making appointments, make sure that you carefully check if the care manager has the proper qualifications. Searching on Aging Life Care Association and using Eldercare Locator may help you verify whether the person is indeed a care manager for the elderly.
With the help of such care managers, the connection between professional caregivers and care recipients is strengthened and well-coordinated. They work hand-in-hand with various medical and care providers to promote what is best for the care recipient. They help bring out the best both for the care recipients and their caregivers. They ensure that all the medical, practical and personal needs of the elderly are covered. This way, they can enjoy a higher quality of life in terms of their health and overall well-being.
