FAQ

Housing – helping families evaluate and select appropriate level of housing or residential options

Home care services – determining types of services that are right for a client and assisting the family to engage and monitor those services

Medical management – attending doctor appointments; facilitating communication between doctor, client and family; and, if appropriate, monitoring client’s adherence to medical orders and instructions

Communication – keeping family members and professionals informed as to the well-being and changing needs of the client

Social activities – providing opportunity for client to engage in social, recreational, or cultural activities that enrich the quality of life

Legal – referring to or consulting with an elder law attorney, providing expert opinion for courts in determining level of care

Financial – may include reviewing or overseeing bill paying or consulting with accountant or client’s Power of Attorney

Entitlements – providing information on federal and state entitlements and connecting families to local programs

Safety and security – monitoring the client at home, recommending technologies to add to security or safety, observing changes and potential risks of exploitation or abuse

Long-distance care – coordinating the care of a loved one for families that live at a distance, including crisis management

When considering engaging the services of Geriatric Care Manager/Aging Life Care Professional, you should evaluate whether you have the time, inclination, or skills to manage the challenges of geriatric care by yourself. 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.

A Geriatric Care Manager/Aging Life Care Professional can provide you with planning, monitoring, and prevention support for your loved one to help you avoid expensive and painful crises such as a fall or hospitalization.

With extensive experience working with the elderly clients and their families, a Geriatric Care Manager/Aging Life Care Professional can help you stay clear of the emotionally/financially costly mistakes — fewer days of work; fewer moves, an easier transition.

A Geriatric Care Manager/Aging Life Care Professional possesses a deep knowledge of community resources and eligibility requirements helping you take advantage of available free or low-cost services that may mean the difference between staying at home or having to move to an expensive facility.

A thorough understanding of Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care insurance helps assure that the proper billing occurs and that all covered medical, hospital and facility expenses are paid to the fullest extent allowable.

Many Geriatric Care Managers/Aging Life Care Professionals are licensed in their individual specialties as required by state laws, i.e. nursing, social work, psychology, etc. The members of the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) are committed to rigorous standards of practice and a code of ethics. They meet high standards set for each membership category, through verified formal education, work experience, and related industry certifications. Clients can depend on ALCA members to represent excellence in elder care.

The services provided are fee for service. Some long-term care insurance policies will pay for care management or care coordination provided that the Geriatric Care Manager/Aging Life Care Professional has the appropriate license and certification.