Geriatric Case Management

Hospitals, social service organizations and government agencies have geriatric case managers who serve their patients or clients. As the health care system grows increasingly complex and new aging issues emerge, like the prevalence of dementia, it has become popular and necessary for families to hire private geriatric case managers to work for the family. The case managers provide objective advice and advocate for the needs of the family’s loved one. Click to learn more about Anne’s geriatric care management experience and professional background.

Case managers are advocates for the elderly person and a resource for the long-distance caregiver.

Case managers are useful in numerous situations. They can fill the gaps for the family caregiver who is busy working and raising children and cannot attend mom or dad’s appointments. They can facilitate transitions in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation centers and provide guidance based on their health conditions and financial circumstances. Sometimes, the case manager is a valuable resource to facilitate end-of-life care discussions with family members.

Specifically, a case manager helps with some or all of the following steps:

Assessment

Evaluating an individual’s overall health including a general review of medical records, financials and legal documents. They also look at one’s social support and coordinate family discussions, keeping in mind the desires of the older person.

Planning

Based on the findings of the assessment and the desires of the individual and family, options will be provided and the case manager will assist with the transition into the next phase.

Coordination

As the older person enters the next stage, the case manager will organize all the professionals and organizations working on the situation to ensure that everything is executed properly.

Monitoring and referrals

The case manager stays engaged with all organizations and experts to ensure that the care is delivered on a consistent basis. The case manager will keep all parties, including family members abreast of the situation. The care manager can also provide a broad range of case management consultative services.