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A New Strategy To Meet The Needs Of The Elderly
By Alan Lipton, Sat Dec 10th
Geriatric Care Management: Getting older isn't what it used to be. There was a time whensenior members of the community lived amongst their extendedfamily, relying on their children or grandchildren for support.But as the Baby Boomer generation pushes the population's mediaage higher and higher, and as each generation seems to movefarther and farther from its geographical roots, the act ofyounger generations caring for their elderly relatives isbecoming less common. Nowadays, the elderly must findalternative ways to receive the type of care they need, thoughmany seniors are reluctant to move into retirement homes orassisted living facilities. This demographic shift and the elderly's general aversion toretirement homes point to the need for something calledgeriatric care management. Once the unpaid job of a relative,neighbor, or community member with a heart of gold, thisemerging profession serves a growing population of seniors witha blend of social work, psychology, gerontology and advocacy.When younger family members are too distant or busy to helptheir elders adapt to declining health or ability, someone hasto do the job. That person must have a case-by-caseunderstanding of what options are practical, what resources areavailable, and how to connect clients with the services theyneed. He or she must have the personality to invite confidenceand the resilience to be there for minor or major emergencies.
If you're considering a career as a geriatric care manager(GCM), you should be proficient in six areas: * Assessing your client means evaluating his or her medical,social and economic situation. Does this person show signs ofdementia? Is there a support network, and is it reliable? Ishome care an affordable option over a move to assisted living?Many of the decisions facing your client's family members willbe the basis of your assessment. * Planning involves setting goals that are both optimal andrealistic for your client, and that will maximize availableresources. As a case manager working for a family, you mustrespect your clients' wishes and ideas. * For implementation of these goals, be available and ready tointervene, whether dealing with current crises or preventingthem from happening. * Through coordination, you connect your client to anyappropriate services, such as medical care or home assistanceprograms. * Monitoring your client's ongoing care means that you're theliaison between all members of the team you've assembled. * Evaluation is similar to your first assessment, but as anongoing view from an insider's perspective. Now that your clientis on track toward a specific goal, it's your job to determinehis or her progress and whether those goals might need to change. This can be a demanding workload, especially if you're handlinganywhere from five to 30 simultaneous cases. But when youconsider that GCMs' average hourly rate is $74, with someestablished professionals charging up to $200 and billing in15-minute increments, it's easy to see the advantages ofentering this growing profession. While there are no legal requirements for establishing a GCMpractice, at the minimum you should have an understanding ofgerontology, whether through previous professional background orextensive self-study. You should also be familiar with the legaland
financial realities of the elderly, and know how to bestfocus your motivational and conflict resolution techniques.There are many ways to build your skill set, although acomprehensive approach will save time and money. Consider, for instance, the online certificate program inGeriatric Care Management from Kaplan University's School ofContinuing and Professional Studies, which is recommended forhealth and human services professionals actively interested inthis evolving sector of the health care industry. DuringKaplan's 12-month, non-credit program, you'll work through sevencourses that should provide all the information you'll need. Introduction to Geriatric Care Management begins with aprofessional overview of what this market demands and whatyou'll require to succeed in it. Aging as a Reality approaches the science of gerontology Hereyou'll learn about age's physical and mental effects on thehuman system, along with medical intervention, culturalperceptions and public policy. Psychosocial Issues in Aging examines how elderly people handlegrief, isolation, family dynamics, sexuality, change and hope. Balancing Age and Independence addresses how, as a GCM, you canbuild the support systems that will allow seniors to continueliving on their own or to transition with comfort and dignityinto an assisted living situation. Financial Considerations of the Elderly explores the world ofinvestments, pensions and retirement plans, the maze of Medicareand other public assistance programs, and practical concernssuch as housing and long-term care. Legal and Ethical Issues in Geriatric Care Management discusseselder abuse or neglect, and end-of-life decisions. GCMs willalso learn about mandatory reporting laws in the states wherethey intend to practice. Successful Aging introduces health and wellness strategies,empowerment, adjustment to change, and the positive trends amongan aging population in a youth-oriented culture. Kaplan University, headquartered in Davenport, IA, operates 69campuses in 16 states and is accredited by the Higher LearningCommission of the North Central Association of Colleges andSchools. The GCM certificate program, launched in December 2004,is the latest addition to Kaplan's Health Care Pathways series.You can participate from anywhere in the world with a personalcomputer, email and web access, and the ability to handle MSWord documents. During the recommended 8 to 12 hours of weeklystudy time, online message board discussions will put you onequal footing with your fellow students. Instructors can easilymonitor your progress through the coursework, and you'll haveaccess to faculty members and academic advisers throughout theprogram. With the American population living longer and the elderlyrequiring a more integrated approach to their care than everbefore, certificate programs like Kaplan University's GeriatricCare Management program play a large role in preparing theworkforce to handle this growing need. At the same time, itempowers its graduates to jumpstart a great career while makinga big difference in the lives of elderly persons who can use ahelping hand.
About the author:Information about Kaplan University,Click here for information about online education Youcan also learn about online education news
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