Your Questions

1. What is a certified Geriatric Care Manager? 

A certified Geriatric Care Manager is an individual who holds a Baccalaureate, Master's or Ph.D. degree related to the field of care management such as gerontology, counseling, nursing or social work. This individual must be primarily engaged in the direct practice, administration or supervision of client-centered services to the elderly and their families and have at least two years of supervised experience in the field of care management. A Geriatric Care Manager recognized as "certified geriatric care manager" must hold at least one of four certifications; CMC (Care Manager Certified), CCM (Certified Case Manager), C-ASWCM (Certified Advanced Social Worker in Case Management) or C-SWCM (Certified Social Work Case Manager).  

Your Geriatric Care Manager at SeniorWise Care Management is certified through the National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM) and is a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers Association (NAPGCM).

2. What is included in the initial Geriatric Care Management Assessment?

The Geriatric Care Manager meets with the older adult in their place of residence i.e. home, assisted living community or skilled nursing facility to assess their safety, care needs and emotional well-being.  Many times their family caregiver is present.  Based upon that comprehensive assessment, a plan of care is developed.  The plan of care includes the results of the assessment, recommendations and referrals for local care options.  Recommendations will cover a range of issues relevant to your loved ones’ health status and living situation, including activities of daily living, nutritional status, safety, memory issues, finances, legal needs, medical insurance, and more.  After the plan of care is provided, the Geriatric Care Manager will explain the details of the plan and prioritize short-term and long-term recommendations. 

After the completion of the Geriatric Care Management Assessment, the SeniorWise Care Management Geriatric Care Manager is available to screen, arrange and monitor appropriate in-home services on an ongoing basis.

3. I’m an out-of-town caregiver, how can you help my parent and myself?

If you live far from your elderly parents or loved one, a Geriatric Care Manager can become your “eyes and ears”.  A Geriatric Care Manager will stay in constant contact with you through phone calls, mailings and emails to keep you apprised of your loved one’s well-being, make care recommendations and answer any questions.  Through home visits your Geriatric Care Manager can provide local caregiving supervision and guidance while you continue to be your loved one’s concerned family member and long distance caregiver.

SeniorWise Care Management’s goal is to work in partnership with the out-of-town caregiver to ensure that their loved one is enjoying the most independent, safe and dignified lifestyle possible.

4. My parents think that they are doing fine.  I’m not so sure.  How do you suggest that I convince my parents to have a Geriatric Care Manager visit?

Many times an elderly parent listens to a professional who isn’t a family member, such as a Geriatric Care Manager.  The Geriatric Care Manager may be making recommendations very similar to those made by the adult children, but the parent is hearing what is said more clearly without the “family dynamic baggage”.  If the adult child presents the Geriatric Care Manager’s visit as just that, a get-to-know you visit, with creative suggestions that will enable their loved one to remain safely in their home, this may open the door to a home visit and enable the Geriatric Care Manager to begin developing a trusting relationship with the elderly parent. 

A skilled Geriatric Care Manager with SeniorWise Care Management listens carefully to the older adult’s wants, needs and desires and responds with genuine concern, helpful information and support.