Mid-Atlantic Geriatric Care Managers Association (MAGCMA)

Overview:

Profession(s): Geriatric Care
Member Type(s): Professional Geriatric Care Managers
Scope: Regional - Mid-Atlantic
Formed: 1980
Members: 110
Address: 6018 Woodlake Lane, Alexandria, VA, 22315, USA
Phone: 703-313-6114
Fax: 703-313-7815
Website: www.midatlanticgcm.org

Description:

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers is an organization of practitioners whose goal is the advancement of expert assistance to the elderly and their families.

Mission/Aims:

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter is committed to maximizing the independence and autonomy of elders, and strives to ensure the highest quality and most cost-effective health and human services. Through education, advocacy, counseling and service deliver, GCM members assist older persons and their families to cope with the challenges of aging.

Member Benefits:

Information on the latest research, legislation, and practice techniques in geriatric care management

Opportunities to network with other care professionals

Educational programs at chapter meetings and conferences

New ideas to enhance your practice

Publications - Inside GCM, the GCM Journal, and the GCM Membership Directory

Training/Licensing/Certification:

GCM's annual meeting, usually held in the fall, features nationally recognized speakers, informative workshops, exhibits, and networking opportunities. Educational opportunities increase with regional meetings and seminars. Care Managers are kept abreast of the latest methodology, research, legislation, information, and practice techniques in geriatric care management, which better serve the clients.

Affiliations:

Associations to which we are a member:
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

Verification Criteria:

People calling themselves care managers have many different backgrounds. Very few states have licensing for these professionals; however, many are licensed in their state in other fields. The professional organization (GCM) recognizes the following certifications as being a "Certified Care Manager": CMC, CCM, C-ASWCM and C-SWCM. These require testing and continuing education. It is important for the wise consumer to ask questions.

Additional Information:

The Geriatric Care Manager receives inquiries from adult children or other family members (including those living at a distance from their elders), and referrals from attorneys, hospitals, nursing homes, physicians, community agencies, employee assistance programs, and the general public.

Throughout the elder care process, many find it helpful to bring in a professional with expertise in senior care issues. A Geriatric Care Manager specializes in assisting older people and their families with long-term care arrangements. Private care managers remain independent from the resources they recommend in order to provide an unbiased assessment of the situation.

Care managers who primarily work with older adults bring more to their practice than an expertise in geriatrics. They bring knowledge of aging issues that allow them and their staff to overcome the myths relating to aging and to focus on the problems at hand. At the same time, they will bring an experience of working with resources in your community. They are more aware of real life problems, health and otherwise, that emerge as persons age and what tools are available to address them. They are tied into a formal or informal system of social workers, nurses, psychologists, elder law attorneys advocates, and other elder care professionals who may be of assistance to you.

Geriatric Care Managers can work with families and elders to develop a plan prior to the need for services in addition to intervening in situations that have occurred suddenly. The goal is for care managers to identify issues before they arise and develop contingency plans, rather than wait until they become a major problem. Sometimes, care managers are brought into a situation by another professional who is seeking guidance from a geriatric specialist. Care managers offer services to clients along a continuum; some may still be living independently in the community while others are residents of a senior housing complex or nursing facility. Geriatric Care Managers can:

Conduct care-planning assessments to identify problems, and need for services; Screen, arrange, and monitor senior services;Act as a liaison to families at a distance; Offer counseling and support; Provide information, referral and placement; offer crisis intervention and care management services.