May is National Geriatric Care Managers Month, celebrating the work that care managers do to help elders and families throughout the country and aiming to raise awareness so families can access help when they need it.

Care management is still a relatively new profession and often an untapped resource for families struggling with elder or disability care issues. Please pass along our resources and articles if you know someone who could benefit!

A good place to start is by reading our Signs You Might Need a Care Manager. Though a bit tongue-in-cheek, many families and caregivers can relate to these challenges, but don’t know there is a place to turn to make things easier. We also outlined some of the situations that indicate a geriatric care management assessment might be needed in this article. Most importantly, we encourage families to seek advice and understand options, whether or not they decide to hire a professional care manager (our Senior Care Consultant does complimentary phone or in-home consultations–email or call 727-447-5845 to inquire). Caregiving is such a personal, family matter but getting outside help and advice can truly help you do the best job for your loved one.

As the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers shares, “Professional geriatric care management is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing ongoing health challenges.  Working with families, geriatric care manager expertise provides the answers at a time of uncertainty. Their guidance leads families to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love, thus reducing worry, stress and time off of work for family caregivers.”

A geriatric care manager is a health and human services professional, acting as a guide and advocate to help the elder achieve maximum potential and support the family system. Services are completely tailored to the individual client’s needs, making this a unique option for problem solving in a holistic way. A care manager can work with you in any setting, from setting up in-home care and resources for aging in place to advocating for you at the hospital or monitoring nursing home care. Some of the roles a geriatric care manager takes on include:

• Assessor
• Planner
• Advocate
• Mediator
• Counselor
• Liaison/coordinator
• Educator
• Coach

You can review some of our care management client testimonials and case studies to get a better idea of how care managers help with specific issues. We look forward to sharing more stories and information with you as we celebrate National Geriatric Care Managers Month!