During my career of over 20 years as a personal care giver to the elderly I have often worked with geriatric care managers. These professionals are often a great service to family members supporting an aging parent. Unfortunately there is no easy way to know in advance if the geriatric care manager you work with will be the right one for you. Some care managers are connected to organizations dedicated to elder care. Other geriatric care managers are not connected to a single organization but do a phenomenal job for their clients. There are not any firm guidelines and no required certifications in this field. Here are some questions to ask when you are looking to work with a geriatric care manager:
Where have they worked before? As with any job, experience matters. If they have experience with an agency that works directly with the elderly or home health care agency, that is usually a great sign. Public health experience is a very important factor and should be considered an essential requirement. Of course, the care manager should be able to provide you with references of previous employment and you should remember to ask for them.
What is their professional training? Do they have a license or degree on public health nursing, social work, health management or other relevant fields? If they don’t they shouldn’t be disqualified but you should make sure they have an extensive work history that compensates for the lack of a degree or license.
Does the geriatric care manager belong to any professional organizations? Belonging to professional organizations does not guarantee the quality of the member’s work. But it is usually a good indicator of a professional attitude and the willingness to have their credentials verified.
What is their fee structure? Find out in advance what you will pay and exactly what you will get for your money. This can range greatly. Some places offer special or free assistance for qualifying individuals. Others offer a flat fee structure, while others charge an hourly rate. Make sure to clarify this and to get in writing.
Do they have any clients or former clients who will be willing to give them a personal recommendation? To me this is the most important question of all. You can have all the licenses and degrees in the world. If you can’t supply at least one person who will vouch for the quality of your work, that is a big problem. Speaking with someone who has used their services in the past may also give you a good idea of what to expect if you do decide to work with them.
These are not the only questions you should ask when deciding on what geriatric care manager you should work with but these are a good starting point. Take some time and write down questions you feel are necessary to be answered so you are comfortable with your choice.