The Geriatric Care Manager assists older adults and persons with disabilities in attaining their
maximum functional potential.  In addition, the Geriatric Care Manager is an experienced
guide and resource for families of older adults and others with chronic needs, including
helping those suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinsons or exhibiting
symptoms of dementia.

Geriatric care managers who are members of the National Association of Professional Geriatric
Care Managers (NAPGCM) are committed to adhering to the NAPGCM Pledge of Ethics and
Standards of Practice.

What Can a Geriatric Care Manager Do for Me?

• Conduct care-planning assessments to identify problems and to provide solutions solutions.

• Screen, arrange, and monitor in-home help or other services, including assistance in hiring a qualified caregiver for home care.

• Provide short- or long-term eldercare assistance for those engaged in local or long distance caregiving.

• Review financial, legal, or medical issues and offer referrals to geriatric specialists.

• Provide crisis intervention.

• Act as a liaison to families at a distance, overseeing care, and quickly alerting families to problems – especially important when families are engaged in long distance caregiving for a loved one.

• Assist with moving an older person to or from a retirement complex, assisted care home, or nursing home.

• Provide consumer education and advocacy.

• Offer eldercare counseling and support.

• Some Geriatric Care Managers also provide family or individual therapy, finance management, conservatorship or guardianship assistance, and/or care giving services.

Excerpt from The National Association of Professional Geriatric Case Managers http://
www.caremanager.org/index.cfm

Accreditation

Is the agency accredited (certified and licensed) by a nationally recognized group, such as the Joint Commission?  The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits health care organizations and programs.  It is an important resource in selecting quality health care services.

Certification

Is this hospice program certified by Medicare?  Medicare-certified programs have to meet at least minimum requirements for patient care and management.

Licensure

Is the program licensed by the state, if required by your state?

Consumer information

Does the agency have written statements outlining services, eligibility rules, costs and payment procedures, employee job descriptions, and malpractice and liability insurance?  Ask them to send you any brochures or other available information about their services.

References

How many years has the agency been serving your community?  Can the agency give you references from professionals — such as hospital or community social workers — who have used this agency?  Ask for names and telephone numbers.  A good agency will give you these if you ask for them.  Talk with these people about their experiences with the hospice.  Also, check with the Better Business Bureau, your local Consumer Bureau, or the State Attorney General’s office.

Admissions

How well does hospice work with each patient and family to apply policies or negotiate differences?  If the hospice imposes conditions that do not feel comfortable, it may be a sign that it is not a good fit for you.  If you are not sure whether you or your loved one qualifies for hospice, or whether you even want it, is the agency willing to meet with you to help you talk through these concerns?

Plan of care

Does the agency create a plan of care for each new patient?  Is the plan carefully and professionally developed with input from you and your family?  Is the plan of care written out and are copies given to everyone involved?  Check to see if it lists specific duties, work hours/days, and the name and telephone number of the supervisor in charge.  Is the care plan updated as your needs change? Ask if you can look at a sample care plan.

Primary caregiver

Does the hospice require you to have a primary caregiver as a condition of admission?  What responsibilities are expected of the primary caregiver?  Will someone need to be with you all the time? What help can the hospice offer to organize and assist the family’s efforts?  Can the hospice help you fill in around job schedules, travel plans, or other responsibilities?  If you live alone, what other options can the hospice suggest?

Initial evaluation

Does a nurse, social worker, or therapist come to you to talk about and evaluate the types of services you may need?  Is this done in your home, rather than over the telephone?  Does it highlight what you can do for yourself?  Does it include input from your family doctor and/or other professionals already involved in your care?  Are other members of your family included in this visit?

Personnel

Are there references on file for home care staff? Ask how many references the agency requires for each staff member who gives home care (2 or more should be required).  Does the agency train, supervise, and monitor its caregivers? Ask how often the agency sends a supervisor to the patient’s home to review the care being given to the patient.  Ask whether the caregivers are licensed and bonded.  Who do you call if you have questions or complaints?  What is the procedure for resolving issues?

Costs

How does the agency handle payment and billing?  Get all financial arrangements — costs, payment procedures, and billing — in writing.  Read the agreement carefully before signing.  Be sure to keep a copy.  What resources does the agency provide to help you find financial assistance if it is needed?  Are standard payment plan options available?

Telephone response

Does the agency have a 24-hour telephone number you can call when you have questions?  How does the hospice respond to calls?  Does the telephone staff seem caring, patient, and competent from the first contact, even if they need to return your call?  Do they speak in plain, understandable language? What is the procedure for making and resolving complaints?

How did the hospice respond when you made the very first contact with them?  How a hospice responds to your first call for help may be a good sign of the kind of care to expect.

Emergency

Does the agency have an emergency plan in place in case of a power failure or natural disaster?  Ask to see a copy of the plan.  In case of an emergency, you need to know whether the agency can still deliver services to your home.

Services

How quickly can the hospice start services?  What are its geographic service boundaries?  Does the hospice offer specialized services such as rehabilitation therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, or family counselors when these could improve your comfort?  If needed, does the hospice provide medical equipment or other items that might improve your quality of life?

Limits on treatment

During your first visit be sure to talk about all of the treatments you are currently getting.  If you want to continue these things you must make that clear to the hospice provider.  Some hospices will not cover things like dialysis, total parenteral nutrition (TPN, or intravenous feedings), blood transfusions, or certain drugs.  But some hospices, most often the bigger ones, do offer open-access care which allows you to add hospice care to your current medical treatment.  Still, this is not always an option.  Find out how the hospice would handle your current treatments before committing to their services.

You may also want to find out how the hospice would manage it if you should get a health problem that is curable, such as a urinary tract infection or pneumonia.  Even though they cannot cure your cancer, you may be more comfortable if they are able to treat these smaller problems.

Inpatient care

What are the policies regarding inpatient care?  Where is such care provided?  What are the requirements for an inpatient admission?  How long can the patient stay?  What happens if the patient no longer needs inpatient care but cannot go home?  Can you tour the inpatient unit or residential facility?  Which hospitals contract with the hospice for inpatient care?  What kind of follow-up does the hospice provide for inpatients?  Do nursing homes contract with the hospice?  Does the hospice provide as much nursing, social work, and aide care for each patient in the nursing home as it does in the home setting?

Patient’s rights and responsibilities

Does the agency explain your rights and responsibilities as a patient?  Ask to see a copy of the agency’s patient’s rights and responsibilities information

Excerpt from the American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/FindingandPayingforTreatment/ChoosingYourTreatmentTeam/HospiceCare/hospice-care-questions

Hospice Help for Texans

http://www.dads.state.tx.us/services/faqs-fact/hospice.html

Signs of Dehydration

Dry, sticky mouth
Thirst
Confusion
Headache
Disorientation
Decreased urine output

Nothing found at this website should be construed as medical advice or treatment recommendations.   For any symptoms you may have, you should see a medical professional.

• A minimum of 2 years experience or CNA license
• You must be eligible to be bonded
• You must have a valid driver’s license and insurance

If you are interested in a fulfilling and rewarding position providing care for the elderly, please click here to >>>>> download the application and submit your application by one of the following options:

• Email your application to info@eldercarelp.com
• Fax your application to 972.361.0050
• If you send a resume, please include 3 work references.

Any questions may be directed to info@eldercarelp.com.

We look forward to providing you with professional quality equipment and supplies at competitive prices.

Suggestions to add to your gift of personal care:

• Birthdays- cake, flowers, lunch out with friends, a visit to the beauty shop
• New Moms- flowers, balloons
• Special Occasions- cookies, cupcakes

Let our caregivers help you with all of those chores and errands that you don’t have time for. We can take care of

• Meal Preparation
• Light Housekeeping
• Grocery Shopping
• Much, much more

Need an unusual and extra special gift for a new mom? Give a gift of care to a new mom so she can relax and enjoy her new bundle of joy.

Your Hospice team will take care of all of the medical aspects of your family member’s care. Yet you still want to make sure that your loved one is comfortable and someone is always there if they need assistance.

Let our caregivers be there with them when you can’t be there. We can provide hourly respite care or around the clock care, so that you can also get the rest you need. We can also help with all of the things that you no longer have time for.