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Professional Geriatric Care Managers (PGCMs) specialize in
assisting older people and their families manage the challenges
of aging, encouraging independence and attaining the highest
quality of life possible. They have training, and sometimes hold
advanced degrees, in fields such as a social work, counseling,
psychology, gerontology or nursing. Many care managers are
licensed in the field specialty as required by their state. The
services a care manager can provide vary and are based on what
the client and family require. They assess a person’s situation,
identify solutions and needed services and create a plan that
maximizes independence and quality of life. Care managers can be
essential for long-distance caregivers as they keep them updated
on their loved ones care, needs and options. Care managers
conduct a care-planning assessment, which identifies needs and
creates a plan of care to offer solutions. They provide family
consultations, locate, screen, and manage caregivers and medical
services and act as a liaison for families living out of the
area. Additionally, they can assist with moving an older person
to alternative housing, providing conservator or guardianship
services, attending medical appointments and communicating
concerns with physicians and families. Lastly, case managers
provide crisis intervention when needed, as well as education
about important issues to elders and their families so informed
decisions can be made about care. Care management usually
begins with a family consultation where a comprehensive
assessment of needs and plan of care is developed. Following the
assessment the family may choose to oversee care on their own or
hire the care manager for services. The senior and family
determine the amount of involvement they want from the care
manager; involvement may be short-term or ongoing. The
National Association of Professional Care Managers has over
2,000 members and has recently voted that all members be
certified by 2010 to assure professional quality. There are four
accepted certifications recognized:
- Care Manager Certified (CMC), from the National Academy of
Certified Care Managers (NACCM)
- Certified Case Manager (CCM), from the Commission for Case
Manager Certification (CCMC)
- Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM) from
the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM), from the
National Association of Social workers.
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