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Geriatric Care Management

Just When You Thought There Was No One to Help…Part 1 of 2

February 11th, 2008 by Kay Paggi

I first met Hank* 4 months after his heart attack. He was in his mid-seventies, living in a horrible nursing home: the kind with a foul smell, where two beds crowd one small room, and there are patients crying for help. Hank was on oxygen, tied to his bed, and had a permanent indwelling catheter. He was unshaven and dressed in a hospital gown. Hank was largely ignored by the staff because he was angry, combative, and had been...Read the rest of this article »

Face Sheet: Patient Information At-a-Glance

February 1st, 2008 by Gilbert Guide

A face sheet is used by physicians, caregivers and care managers so that an individual’s health and medical requirements along with personal preferences are listed in an easy-to-use format. Download Gilbert Guide’s Face Sheet. The file is in a pdf format. You will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader® if you do not have it installed on your computer. (Don’t worry; it’s free, safe and simple to use.)...Read the rest of this article »

Choosing a Home Health Agency: A How-to Guide

October 22nd, 2007 by Arleen Stern

During a hospital discharge, people who require additional skilled care in the home are usually referred to a home health agency by the hospital discharge planner. But many consumers are finding that they need to hire home health on their own. Finding the right agency to take care of a loved one can be daunting, and often comes at a crisis point. Take a deep breath—it is possible to find a good agency, and good people to help work...Read the rest of this article »

When to Consider a Geriatric Care Manager

February 13th, 2007 by Arleen Stern

Welcome, readers. In this first column, I discuss what a geriatric care manager like me does, and when to consider using a care manager. My following missives will be guided by your feedback, so please be in touch! Caring for an elderly loved one can be confusing, frustrating and overwhelming. There are many emotional pulls and no single easy solution to any situation you may be facing. Even if you feel you are moving in the right direction, other family...Read the rest of this article »

Helping Low-Income Seniors: One Geriatric Care Manager’s Story

December 15th, 2006 by Lara Belonogoff

My friend, Erin Koebler, who lives in Pittsburgh, works in a Medicaid waiver program sponsored by Allegheny County’s Department of Aging. Her department is the payor of last resorts for home care and modifications, when both private insurance and Medicare have denied needed services for seniors in their homes. I spoke with her recently about her job—as the Pennsylvania governor’s Long-term Living System Initiative is trying get people back in their homes and save Medicaid dollars—and as Erin said, “by...Read the rest of this article »

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