Geriatric Care

Today, people live longer than ever before. Although 40% of people over age 65 may occasionally require a stay in an extended-care facility, only 5% of elderly people require long-term supervised care; the rest can maintain their independence. However, about 80% of elderly people have at least one chronic health problem—usually arthritis, heart or respiratory disease, hypertension, or impaired vision or hearing. These problems commonly occur simultaneously, straining the patient's and his family's ability to function.

Geriatric care management is the professional assessment, planning, coordination, supervision and management of healthcare and quality-of-life services. It is a preventive, proactive approach to healthcare that reduces the risk of hospitalizations, nursing home admissions and healthcare costs. Assets can be preserved through planning, cost control and supervision of daily needs.

When caring for an elderly patient, you'll usually implement procedures similar to those you would use for any other adult. However, you'll need to take into account the psychosocial, physiologic, and biological changes that normally occur during aging. Because age-related changes in body function may affect drug action, you'll need to understand how certain drugs affect elderly patients. Your aim is to improve compliance and avoid adverse reactions and interactions.

A geriatric care manager will listen to the concerns of you and your loved one, visit the home and recommend options for improved quality of life, healthcare services and cost containment. Services include:

• Special needs assessment and management
• Creation of a full-spectrum care plan
• Referrals to professionals and specialists
• Coordination of services to maximize quality of life
• Assistance with medical and financial planning
• Daily telephone assurance service
• Healthcare bill auditing, review and payment services
• Surviving spouse programs
• Alternative living arrangement assessment and planning
• Medication management
• Nutrition and dietary management
• Pre- and post-hospitalization care coordination
• Nursing home advocacy
• Video inventory of valuables
• Environment and safety evaluations
• Coordination of in-home help
• Identification and reduction of exploitation risks
• Benefits and entitlements procurement

You'll also help an elderly patient learn to deal with other concerns, such as falls or urinary or fecal incontinence. While providing physical care, you may also alert your patient and his family to community health and social service agencies that can help improve the patient's quality of life and enable him to remain independent for as long as possible.