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Florida Geriatric Care Managers Association
A Chapter of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
 
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What is a Geriatric Care Manager?

 

A geriatric care manager is a professional who specializes in assisting older persons and their families in meeting their long-term care needs. FGCMA members have training in gerontology, social work, nursing, and/or counseling. They have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of services in their communities. FGCMA's Online Membership Directory provides a list of names and contact information of qualified care managers in your area and throughout Florida.
Services Provided

Geriatric care managers help families adjust and cope with the challenges of aging by

  • Conducting care-planning assessments to identify problems, eligibility for assistance, and need for assistance,

  • Screening, arranging, and monitoring in-home help or other services,

  • Reviewing financial, legal, or medical issues and offering referrals to geriatric specialists to avoid future problems and conserve assets;

  • Providing crisis intervention,

  • Acting as a liaison to families at a distance, making sure things are going well and alerting families to problems,

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

  • Providing consumer education and advocacy,

  • Offering counseling and support.
Benefits of Care Management Services
Care management services are offered in a variety of settings. We believe the care management model utilized by FGCMA members best serves the clients and their representatives. Practitioners can offer

  • Short-term or ongoing assistance for long-term caregivers,

  • Personalized services designed specifically to meet the client's wants and needs,

  • Continuity of care management to reduce miscommunications, time, stress, and costs to clients,

  • Efficiency and flexibility because care management services are streamlined and client-centered, not complicated by bureaucratic red tape,

  • Cost control because FGCMA members strive to reduce inappropriate institutional care and overuse of services. They match the services to the client's needs and help contain costs. Ongoing monitoring can prevent costly crises and unnecessary hospitalizations,

  • Quality control because FGCMA is a chapter of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, which has adopted standards of practice for all its members. In addition, all full members are reviewed for educational and experience requirements prior to acceptance into the National Association.
Who Uses Care Management Services?
Geriatric Care Management Services have been provided by FGCMA members to

  • Families around the country,

  • Banks and trust officers,

  • Physicians and allied health professionals,

  • Attorneys,

  • Hospitals,

  • Social service providers,

  • Gerontology professionals,

  • Senior housing communities.
Geriatric Care Management Fees
Care management fees are billed privately on a fee-for-service basis. They are not covered by Medicaid, Medicare nor by most health insurance policies. However, clients may be able to bill some services to insurance carriers, depending on the history of the individual case. FGCMA members will help outline the general cost of services to insure the most advantageous way to provide cost effective services for the older person.
Code of  Ethics
FGCMA members pledge the following:

  • Provision of Services: I will provide ongoing service to you only after I have assessed your needs and you, or a person designated to act for you, understands and agrees to a plan of service, the results that may be expected from it, and the cost of service;

  • Self-Determination:  I will base my plan of service on goals you, or a person designated to act for you, have defined, and which enhance the decisions you have made concerning your life;

  • Loyalty:  My first duty is loyalty to you. I will always provide service based on your best interest, even if this conflicts with my interest or the interests of others;

  • Substitute Judgment:  I will not substitute my judgment for yours unless I am acting in the role of your guardian, appointed by a Court of Law, or with your approval or the approval of someone designated to act for you;

  • Confidentiality:  I will hold in trust any confidence you give me, disclosing information to others only with your permission, or if I am compelled to do so by a belief that you will be seriously harmed by my silence, or if the laws of this State require me to do so;

  • Referrals / Disclosure:  I will refer you only to services and organizations I believe to be appropriate and of good quality. I will fully explain to you any business relationship I may have with any service I propose, and give you information on alternatives, if at all possible, so that you, or a person designated to act for you, can make an informed decision to accept or reject the services I recommend to you;

  • Cooperation:  I will strive to assure cooperation between all of the individuals involved in providing service and care to you;

  • Qualifications:  I am fully qualified in my profession to provide the services I undertake. I continue to improve my skills and knowledge by participating in professional development programs and maintaining certification and licensing in my profession;

  • Discrimination:  I will not promote or sanction any form of discrimination.

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