If you've never heard of a geriatric care manager, you're not alone. Most families find us after something has already gone wrong: a fall, a hospital stay, a new diagnosis, or a holiday visit that raised questions. Here's what a geriatric care manager does, and the signs it may be time to call one.
A geriatric care manager, in plain words
A geriatric care manager (also called an aging life care manager) is a professional, often a nurse or social worker, who helps older adults and their families plan and coordinate care. Think of it as having a nurse in the family: someone who looks at the whole picture and helps you make good decisions.
At Solutions for Seniors, that person is Lindsey Bankert, MSN, RN, CMC, a certified care manager with nearly 25 years of hospital nursing experience.
What a geriatric care manager looks at
Health: diagnoses, symptoms, and how your loved one is really doing day to day
Medications: what's prescribed, what's actually being taken, and anything that could cause problems
Memory and mood: changes that may need a doctor's attention
Safety at home: fall risks, stairs, bathrooms, lighting
The care team: doctors, specialists, pharmacies, in-home help, and family members
From there, the care manager builds a personal care plan and helps carry it out: going to appointments, following up with doctors, arranging the right help at home, and keeping the family updated.
What a care manager is not
A geriatric care manager is not a home health agency or an in-home caregiver. We don't provide hands-on care. Instead, we help you find and coordinate the right people, and we keep an eye on the whole plan.
Signs it may be time to call
Appointments, medications and specialists are getting hard to keep track of
A parent has had a fall, a hospital stay or a new diagnosis
You're noticing memory changes or confusion
Siblings disagree about what Mom or Dad needs
You live far away and can't be there
You're the main caregiver and you're worn out
You don't need to wait for a crisis. Families who plan ahead usually have more options and less stress.
How to get started
Solutions for Seniors serves families in Zionsville, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville and greater Indianapolis. Call (317) 316-9933, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, to talk with Lindsey about your family's situation.