Geriatrics CARE
A specialty that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults.
Geriatric care management is the process of planning and coordinating care of the elderly and others with physical and/or mental impairments to meet their long term care needs, improve their quality of life, and maintain their independence for as long as possible. It entails working with persons of old age and their families in managing, rendering and referring various types of health and social care
Geriatric care management integrates health care and psychological care with other needed services such as: housing, home care services, nutritional services, assistance with activities of daily living, socialization programs, as well as financial and legal planning (e.g. banking, trusts). A care plan tailored for specific circumstances is prepared after a comprehensive assessment has taken place, and is continuously monitored and modified as needed. A comprehensive geriatric care assessment is thorough and can take anywhere from two to five hours in length, this of course is broken down into two or three assessment visits with the patient/family members.
Professional care managers help individuals, families and other caregivers adjust and cope with the challenges of aging or disability
Planning
- Conducting care-planning assessments to identify needs, problems and eligibility for assistance;
- Screening, arranging, and monitoring in-home help and other services;
- Reviewing financial, legal, or medical issues;
- Offering referrals to specialists to avoid future problems and to conserve assets
- Providing crisis intervention;
- Acting as a liaison to families at a distance;
- Making sure things are going well and alerting families of problems
- Assisting with moving their clients to or from a retirement complex, assisted living facility, rehabilitation facility or nursing home;
- Providing client and family education and advocacy;
- Offering counseling and support.
