A Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) is a social service professional who specializes in assisting older and disabled individuals and their families with long or short-term care arrangements.

After conducting a thorough assessment, the GCM creates and coordinates a plan of care with the goal of improving the client’s quality of life, while allowing the individual to maintain independence as long as possible.

Professional Geriatric Care Managers have extensive knowledge of area resources including costs, quality and availability. They possess psychological expertise in counseling and the geriatric field. Based on the client’s level of functioning, health, emotional state and finances, a GCM can identify needs and problems and offer timely, practical and cost-effective solutions.

We integrate health care and psychological care with the appropriate combination of services such as: housing, home care services, programs for socialization, financial and legal planning. Care plans are modified as needed and services are monitored on an ongoing basis. The GCM is available around the clock to assist in crisis intervention. We also act as a liaison for families who are not living near their elderly loved one.

During a time of transition and challenge for the client and his or her family, a Geriatric Care Manager is an invaluable source of information, as well as an advocate for the client.  The GCM will maintain regular contact and open communication with clients and families, as well as an awareness of their ever-changing and evolving needs.

Services Provided by the Geriatric Care Manager:

• Conducting care-planning assessments to identify needs, problems and eligibility for assistance
• Screening, arranging and monitoring in-home help and other services
• Reviewing financial, legal or medical issues
• Offering referrals to specialists to avoid future problems and to conserve assets
• Providing crisis intervention
• Acting as a liaison to families at a distance; including providing regular updates and alerting families to problems as they arise
• Providing client and family education and advocacy
• Counseling and support
• Assisting with moving clients to or from a retirement complex, assisted living facility, rehabilitation facility or nursing home

Online Resources and Helpful Links:

Watch a short clip about Geriatric Care Managers on CBS News:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/06/earlyshow/main20051284.shtml

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM)
Describes role or GCM’s, what to ask and how to get started. Also contains helpful articles. www.caremanager.org

NAPGCM, New England Chapter
www.gcmnewengland.org

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
The largest group of professional social workers in the world, NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies. Learn about standards and find local chapters.
www.socialworkers.org