What is a Professional Geriatric Care Manager (PGCM)?
A Professional Geriatric Care Managers (PGCM) is a health and human services specialist who helps families who are caring for older relatives. The PGCM is trained and experienced in any of several fields related to long-term care, including, but not limited to nursing, gerontology, social work, or psychology, with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care.

The PGCM assists older adults and persons with disabilities in attaining their maximum functional potential. In addition, the PGCM is an experienced guide and resource for families of older adults and others with chronic needs, including helping those suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinsons or exhibiting symptoms of dementia.

Geriatric care managers who are members of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) are committed to adhering to the NAPGCM Pledge of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Who uses a PGCM?
PGCMs provide services that assist individuals and families. Businesses and professionals in the legal, health, and financial arenas, utilize PGCMs to ensure that their clients understand their options, have their needs met, and they receive quality care.

Do I Really Need a Professional Geriatric Care Manager?
When considering to engage the services of a PGCM, you should evaluate whether you have the time, inclination, or skills to manage the challenges of geriatric care. If you are not sure, ask a trusted advisor to help you decide if an elder care expert may be helpful. Enlisting the support of other family members to consult a professional is a good way to build a consensus on the solutions.

Questions that you may wish to consider:

• Are the problems that you or your loved ones are facing becoming larger and more complex than you can comfortably manage?
• Are other demands and responsibilities now so great that you are not able to provide the desired level of supervision and attention to your loved one’s problems?

How can PGCMs assist family caregivers?
PGCMs assist families and caregivers in numerous ways. They conduct elder care-planning assessments to identify problems and to provide solutions; screen, arrange, and monitor in-home care or other services; provide short- or long-term assistance for caregivers living near or far away; review financial, legal, or medical issues and offer referrals to geriatric specialists; provide crisis intervention; act as a liaison to families involved in long distance caregiving, overseeing care, and quickly alerting families to problems; assist with moving an elder person to or from a retirement complex, assisted care home, or nursing home; provide consumer education and advocacy; offer counseling and support. Some PGCMs also provide family or individual therapy, finance management, conservatorship or guardianship assistance, and/or caregiving services.

What are the Benefits of Using a PGCM?
Professional Geriatric Care Management services are offered in a variety of settings. Professional Geriatric Care Managers (PGCMs) can serve the needs of their clients with the following services:

• Personalized and compassionate service — focusing on the individual’s wants and needs.
• Accessibility — care is typically available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Continuity of care management – communications are coordinated between family members, doctors and other professionals, and service providers.
• Cost containment — inappropriate placements, duplication of services, and unnecessary hospitalizations are avoided.
• Quality control – care management services follow NAPGCM’S Standards of Practice and Pledge of Ethics.

Click here to download, “Why Hire a Geriatric Care Manager?”

Making that First Phone Call
Ask lots of questions before choosing your PGCM. Start with the initial phone call.

• Is the call professionally answered?
• If you leave a message, is it returned promptly?

This is your first indication of the kind of professional relationship you might expect.

You should also ask:

• What are the primary services provided by your agency/business?
• What other service does your agency/business provide?
• How many PGCMs are in this agency/business?
• Is there a fee for the initial consultation and if so, how much is it?

The answers to your questions will assist you in determining whether that particular PGCM and agency/business has the qualifications important to you for a successful relationship. If you have a specific issue that requires immediate attention, be sure to inform the PGCM of this during the initial telephone conversation.

Are PGCMs licensed professionals?
Many Professional Geriatric Care Managers are licensed in their individual specialties as required by state laws; i.e. nursing, social work, psychology, etc. In 2006, NAPGCM members voted to approve a new requirement that ALL members must hold at least one of four approved care management certifications. All current and renewing Care Manager Members must hold one of these certifications as of Jan. 1, 2010. All new NAPGCM applicants for Care Manager membership must be certified beginning Jan. 1, 2008.

-Taken from National Association of Geriatric Care Managers