Become a Geriatric Care Manager
A geriatric care manager is a health and human services professional who assists families that are caring for elderly family members. The geriatric care manager is educated and skilled in any of number of health-care fields such as nursing, gerontology, social work or psychology. This person specializes in aging and other issues concerning care of the elderly.
The geriatric care manager helps older adults attain their best functional level. He is a resource for members of the familes of both the elderly and of others with chronic special needs such as those living with Alzheimer's Disease and related problems.
Instructions
1. The geriatric care manager should possess a degree in social work, nursing, gerontology, occupational therapy or a related health-care field.The geriatric care management (GCM) title does not require a specific degree, a license or any amount of experience.
2. Get a Geriatric Care Management Certificate if you choose. Many schools have online courses.
3. Keep current on the ever-changing Medicaid and Medicare laws. You need to know if your clients qualify for Medicaid or Medicare when they need nursing home care.
4. Market yourself to attorneys, clergy members, doctors and financial planners. Your client base does not come from advertising, but rather through referrals and word of mouth.
5. Establish a client base. A client may need only one or two visits, depending on the difficulty of the situation. The assessment phase can be the only assistance the client ever uses. But most clients and their family members develop a more comprehensive care plan that necessitates several visits by a GCM. Many clients continue to use a GCM for the remainder of their lives because their situation as seniors is always changing.
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