Become a Geriatric Care Manager

A Professional Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) is a human service professional who specializes in assisting elders and their families with long term care issues.

Over the years, the field of geriatric care management has has identified a range of effective methods for helping elderly clients. Typically GCM involvement enhances the elder’s ability to manage his or her overall health care while also fostering collegiality and more efficient communication with the physician and the increasingly complex long term care service network.

Aging is a difficult process that can generate stress for the older person as well as for family members and others. People involved in long term care often grow quickly frustrated with the overall lack of available resources. Typically GCM involvement enhances the elder's ability to manage his or her overall health care while also fostering collegiality and more efficient communication with the physician and the increasingly complex long term care service network.

Special Feature: Day in the Life of a Geriatric Care Manager

Who Should Take This Program?
Health and human services professionals including registered nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, rehabilitation counselors, case managers, psychologists, and medical doctors.

Courses Include:

• Introduction to Geriatric Care Management
• Aging as a Reality
• Psychosocial Issues in Aging
• Balancing Aging and Independence
• Financial Considerations of the Elderly
• Legal and Ethical Issues in Geriatric Care Management
• Successful Aging

Career Opportunities
Geriatric care management provides experienced health and human services professionals with the opportunity to assure the delivery of optimal quality of life and care for their elderly clients. Work as an independent practitioner or with insurance companies, government agencies, assisted-care facilities, home health agencies, long-term care facilities, and social service agencies.

Typical Workplaces
Independent practice, insurance companies, government agencies, home health agencies, assisted-care facilities, long-term care facilities, and social service agencies.

Time and Cost Commitments
The online self-study program can be completed in 12 months. Program tuition is $3,550.00. Payment plans are available.

*Based on a survey published in AARP Data Digest, No. 82, November 2002.