A geriatric care manager (GCM) is a professional who specializes in helping older people and their families with long-term care arrangements. GCMs often have training in gerontology, social work, nursing or counseling. They also have extensive knowledge about the cost, quality and availability of services in an older person's community. As a result, GCMs can help:
Conduct care-planning assessments to identify problems and determine eligibility for assistance and the need for services;
Screen, arrange and monitor in-home help or other services;
Review financial, legal or medical issues and offer referrals to geriatric specialists to avoid future problems and conserve assets;
Provide crisis intervention;
Act as a liaison to families living away from the parent, making sure things are going well and alerting families to problems;
Help move an older person to or from a retirement complex, care home or nursing home;
