Has anyone worked with an independent GCM?

A professional geriatric care manager will provide you with the type of reports you need and are very familiar with the legal ins and outs and working with attorneys. The members of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers adhere to a strict code of ethics and standards of practice. You can locate members in your area by searching at caremanager. Members list their areas of practice. It's a great start to finding a care manager that works well with you and can meet your needs.

A care manager helps to reduce caregiver stress too. When you are ill or need a vacation they can help to support in your absence and if needed they can be the bad guy so you don't have to.

Thanks everyone for this helpful information! My situation is a little different in that I am very involved in her care but because of a legal settlement need to have quarterly reports. It is good to have someone knowledgeable besides the doctors as well.

A good GCM will offer a service agreement that outlines their rate of pay and their services. They will do an assessment and create a care plan with long and short term plans and ongoing communications, written reports. You need them to document everything they do. We have a web based documentation system that you can log in and see all the case notes. Our nurses go to medical appointments and show up in emergencies if needed.

"I still however, need to provid reports as part of the agreement."

WHAT "agreement"?

I am a GCM and I own an IKOR franchise in Pittsburgh PA. IKOR has very experienced Registered Nurses on our team and we provide comprehensive services in this area. I am a Counselor by training but strongly recommend haing a Registered Nurse involved in the process. I would see if there might be an IKOR office in your area and if not call the best elder law attorney or Trust Banker in your area and ask them if they refer to someone who does Case or Care Management. Also a Life Care Planner will often do case or care management or know someone who does. Life Care planners handle very complex cases and know others who do the same.

I would not rely only on the national organization to locate a geriatric care manager because many don't belong to that organization. Your mom's physician and/or Area Council on Aging may have a good resource for you... Good luck!

The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers makes it easy to find qualified care managers in your community. Use the "Find a Care Manager" tool at caremanager.