How to hire a Geriatric Care Manager:

We found this article from www.Bestassistedliving.com.

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1. Does your geriatric care manager have the right credentials?
The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers has strict requirements for membership. Members must have a Masters degree in a relevant field like nursing or social work, supervised experience, and certain accreditations. Members of this association are usually a good bet. Care For Life’S Founder Mary Peters Is A Certified Care Manager And Member Of NAPGCM.

2.  Get referrals.
Asking for referrals from nurse professionals, therapists, rehab practitioners, attorneys, friends, and geriatricians is always a good idea – you can learn a lot from other people’s experiences.

3. Look for relevant skills
If your elder has a lot of medical issues you might want to find a care manager with a nursing background. But if there are social issues, a social worker background might be more useful. [Care For Life Has Two Nurses On Staff To Oversee Our Caregiving.]

3. A consultation or an assessment
Most geriatric care managers charge by the hour or by the project. You could begin by arranging a consultation to help you get started evaluating the care needed for your elder.
From there a geriatric care giver might provide you with a more detailed assessment. That will give you a baseline to see if the elder’s current facility is the right place for him or her, plus a care plan for your elder.  If a move is recommended, they can help you find a qualified facility that suits your loved one.

4. Nurse Care Manager as your elder’s advocate
All elders need an advocate acting on their behalf. The care manager can be especially useful as an interface between the assisted living facility and family members. For example, is your loved one getting the right help with daily tasks, preferred recreation, and medical issues. So if you can’t be there to oversee these mattes, the geriatric care manager can provide a valuable resource to help improve your elder’s quality of life and care.

5. Flexible service as you need it
Some families use geriatric care managers to manage extra care help. For example, the elder might need help getting to meals, dressing, or bathing. Or they just might be lonely and need someone to visit with them.  [Care For Life Has Screened, Trained And Compassionate Caregivers On Staff.]

For further reference:
New York Times article: “When Elder Care Problems Escalate, You Can Hire an Expert“