What Is A Geriatric Care Manager?

JackieVerdoorn is one of the few certified Geriatric Care Managers in Austin.

A Geriatric Care Manager is a professional who has been specifically trained and is experienced in any of several fields related to care management. These include, but are not limited to, nursing, social work, physical or speech therapy, gerontology or other health service areas. Jackie is a registered nurse who has received both her Bachelor of Science as well as Master of Science in Nursing. She has received special certification from the National Academy of Certified Care Managers which reflects her additional training and knowledge in dementia and other geriatric-related issues.

The Geriatric Care Manager’s role is to assist elderly people and their families meet day-to-day needs and long-term care needs associated with caring for an aging family member. The unique function of a Geriatric Care Manager is to develop a cohesive plan of care for each “client” and to see that the care plan is followed throughout the care. Modifications may need to be made to the care plan as the condition of the client changes. At Hill Country Care Providers, individualized care plans are developed by Jackie on all clients, and the plans are carefully monitored to see that the caregivers adhere to the various tasks set forth in the plans.

Jackie uses her knowledge of all the disciplines of health and human services and numerous resources available to strive to improve the client’s quality of life while maintaining their independence as long as possible. Some of the duties she performs are as follows:

• Integrates the services of home health agencies, medical specialties and other medical supply groups to coordinate the necessary nursing, psychological, and medical care.
• Works as a liaison for family members living at a distance to provide vital information on their family member.
• Provides crisis intervention in emergencies situations.
• Works as an advocate for her clients.
• Coordinates assistance with legal and financial planning.
• Assists with relocating clients to the next level of care once identified.

As you can, see it is to your advantage to select an in-home care agency for your loved one that uses Geriatric Care Managers!