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Frequently Asked Questions What is a Professional Geriatric Care Manager? A Professional Geriatric Care Manager (PGCM) is a professional who specializes in assisting older adults to attain the highest quality of care that ensures the highest quality of life based on the senior’s circumstances. A care manager works with the family and senior to assess needs, and then develops a plan of care and arranges for community services to meet their needs and their budget. The care manager continually monitors the plan over time and adjusts the services. What is the difference in a care manager and a caregiver? A caregiver, or companion, will keep the senior company, do light housekeeping, prepare meals and assist in daily health routines. A care manager is a professional (nurse, counselor, social worker, gerontologist) who is trained to manage a range of health, psychological, emotional, functional, legal and financial issues relating to the older adult’s well being. One area of the care manager’s expertise is overseeing the recruitment, training and supervision of in-home caregivers to ensure medication compliance, safety, nutrition and overall well being of seniors. What qualifications should I look for in a Professional Care Manager? Expert credentials, high level of education, extensive experience in a healthcare related field and active memberships in professional associations are primary qualifications. Why do I need the services of a Professional Geriatric Care Manager? Anyone who wants, or is responsible for the health, safety and happiness of an older adult and who needs support, advice in decision making and assistance in delivering quality of life care can benefit from a care manager. More specifically, how can a Professional Geriatric Care Manager help me? The PGCM facilitates the care selection process for family members who live at a distance from their elderly relatives, as well as for those who live nearby but have employment obligations or small children and do not know how to locate appropriate local services. You can hire a PGCM for a single, specific task, such as helping you find a daily caregiver, or to oversee the entire caregiving process. The PGCM can help families or seniors who are:
What are some benefits of hiring a Professional Geriatric Care Manager? The PGCM can help streamline the sometimes complicated and confusing process involved in managing care related issues. They are most familiar with local community resources and will know the specific services and costs of those services. With the PGCM being proactively involved in your care and treatment, costly crisis can be reduced and even sometimes avoided. The PGCM can accompany seniors to the doctor or visit them in the hospital. The PGCM will discuss symptoms with doctors and nurses and inform the medical team of any adverse reactions or whether the course of treatment is working. The PGCM will act as a liaison between the senior and family to improve and streamline communication efforts with other local professionals. When family members live too far away or lack the considerable time to care for a loved one, a PGCM can even do shopping, pay bills, balance the checkbook, and protect a senior from scams. The primary benefit of a good PGCM is peace of mind. What is a Geriatric Assessment? A geriatric assessment is a comprehensive evaluation designed to optimize an older person’s ability to enjoy good health, improve their overall quality of life, reduce the need for hospitalization and/or institutionalization, and enable them to live independently for as long as possible. EMPower will examine the older person’s current status in terms of:
What is a Care Plan? A Care Plan is an outcome of a geriatric assessment and is essentially an action plan for future care. EMPower will create a plan that lists all identified problems, suggest specific interventions or actions required and make specific recommendations regarding resources needed to provide the necessary support services. What is the cost of care management services? EMPower Eldercare Management services are billed on an hourly basis based upon the scope of the older adult’s individual needs and care plan. In most cases, these fees are not covered by Medicare or MediCal and are therefore private pay. However, some employers and long–term care insurance companies are beginning to subsidize or cover these services for their members and clients. Fee schedules and estimates are available upon request. What are signs that a Professional Geriatric Care Manager is needed?
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