Geriatric Care Management
Geriatric Care Management Offers Care Options to Johnson County Seniors
Geriatric Care Managers with the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging (JCAAA) dedicate their time to helping seniors remain as independent as possible in their own homes. They make home visits and coordinate multiple services for their clients who are facing complex situations and need help. Their focus is to present options to seniors and their caregivers which empower them to make the most informed decisions about living with an appropriate level of support.
The initial home visit geriatric care managers make includes a thorough assessment of each person’s ability to complete activities of daily living, risk factors, health issues, financial resources, and existing support systems. After the initial visit, care managers will contact individuals as needed, at least every 90 days, and be available to respond to ongoing client needs. Geriatric care managers do not provide in-home care, but they help individuals find the care they need through a variety of public and private sources. They develop Plans of Care and recommend care options that suit their clients’ needs and resources.
When care managers are not involved in home visits, they spend time finding out about community resources for seniors in meetings and training programs. They also keep records and process paperwork to ensure each senior’s needs are noted and addressed. The greatest skills of the care managers comes from their understanding of social service systems, and their ability to interview seniors and their caregivers to find out how that system can meet their unique needs.
Geriatric care managers address family issues, solve problems, advocate for seniors, and offer understanding, a listening ear, a kind word, and assertiveness to assist in initiating appropriate services in coordination with other agencies and organizations. Many seniors appreciate the value of just knowing there is someone they can talk to and call for help.
Geriatric Care Assessors also provide insight and assistance to seniors, but spend most of their time doing annual assessments and reassessments of seniors who are receiving only one or two services through the JCAAA, often-times meals on wheels, homemaker, attendant care, or respite services. They do not follow and assist seniors on an ongoing basis, but will refer a person to Geriatric Care Management if a home visit indicates that the person has a multitude of other ongoing and complex service needs.
To find out more about Geriatric Care Management through the JCAAA, call 913-715-8861 for Aging Information.
Geriatric Care Management – Through A Senior’s Eyes
Case management services for one couple in their 70s has been a godsend. Mr S. has Multiple Sclerosis and was experiencing frequent falls. His wife, Mrs S. had a history of strokes, and was recovering from surgery on her shoulder and wrist. A social worker from their doctor’s office called and requested meals on wheels and light housekeeping services for them. A Geriatric Care Assessor visited them, and with their o.k. set up those services.
Two years later, Mr S. fell and broke his leg. A home health agency placed a call to the JCAAA for additional help, and Geriatric Care Management was requested. The couple agreed to a home visit to see what kind of care was available. A home visit and subsequent calls from Mrs S. revealed needs for transportation and additional caregiver services.
Mrs S said the services started with an assessment of their health situation and their financial resources. Then, the Geriatric Care Manager got them a young lady who comes over and goes to the store or helps with laundry. Over the course of the past year, her husband has had frequent medical appointments and taken medications which required regular bloodwork. Wheelchair transportation was arranged by the Care Manager. She even turned in their name to receive holiday gift baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Mrs S. says: “Everything was tremendously helpful. We know how to reach our Care Manager, and can always leave a message. The best thing about our Care Manager is that you have someone who is very aware of what your needs are and can help specifically with problems we may have. She is really very lovely and nice and we trust her very much.”
For Mrs. S., who is a retired nurse, this is saying a lot. She knows about caregiving from a lifetime of experience. Though it is hard for her to accept help, she welcomes the assistance, because she knows she cannot do it all. She still has enough caregiving to do, and pampers her husband. She also says, she has a grand-daughter studying social work. She says, she may send her over to meet her Care Manager sometime.
Human Services & Aging
11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite #1300
Olathe, KS 66061-7056
(913) 715-8800 : voice
(913) 715-8825 : fax
(913) 894-8822 : TTY
E-mail