Geriatric Care Managers in Valley Center Have a Measurable Impact on Seniors’ Well-Being

Some scientists at Johns Hopkins University recently conducted a detailed study to find out just how beneficial it is to employ the services of geriatric care managers. In Valley Center and throughout the country, care management is becoming a more prominent solution to the difficulties of helping loved ones age comfortably, and the results of the study show that the system really does have measurable benefits.

Higher Percentages Stayed Home

While many families try to keep elderly loved ones at home as long as they can, the experiment often ends due to logistical and safety problems, giving way to long-term care at a nursing home. In a control group, the research team found that only about 50 percent of those trying to stay at home were actually still living there by the end of the study. But in the group that benefited from the work of care managers and a small team of other experts, the statistic was much higher—70 percent.

What it Means for Care Coordination in San Diego County

While you may not be familiar with the concept of care coordination, in San Diego County it can be just as successful as it was in the Johns Hopkins study. While methods vary based on the needs of the senior, the basic idea is that a geriatric care manager leads a small “team,” centered around family caregivers but also including experts such as doctors and nurses. With periodic visits and adjustments to care policies, the manager ensures that the senior and their family get all the help they need to fulfill their desires for their loved one.

An Ideal Solution

For many families facing the confusing challenges of aging loved ones, and even additional pressures like the onset of dementia, a geriatric care manager is an answer to prayer. By hiring one to coordinate your family’s caregiving efforts, you give your family the best possible chance to function the way everyone wishes it could.

Originally posted 2013-03-07 10:30:50.