What Is a Geriatric Care Manager and How Can They Help? (Updated October 2025)

Watching a parent or loved one struggle with daily tasks can be overwhelming. Maybe they're forgetting to take their medications, or you've noticed they're not keeping up with housework like they used to. Perhaps you live across the country and worry about who's checking in on them. These moments often signal that it's time to consider more support—but knowing where to start can feel impossible.

This is where a geriatric care manager can step in. These professionals specialize in helping families coordinate care for aging loved ones, acting as a bridge between family members, doctors, and various service providers. If you're feeling stretched thin trying to manage your loved one's care from afar, or if you simply need expert guidance on what steps to take next, understanding what a geriatric care manager does could make all the difference.

What is a Geriatric Care Manager?

A geriatric care manager is a trained healthcare professional who specializes in coordinating and advocating for older adults. They're often called "professional relatives" because they step in to provide the kind of support and oversight that a family member would offer if they could be there full-time.

Most geriatric care managers come from backgrounds in nursing or social work, bringing years of experience in healthcare settings before transitioning to this role. They understand the medical system inside and out, which means they know how to get things done when families hit roadblocks.

You might also hear them called aging life care professionals, elder care managers, or senior care managers. Whatever the title, their job is the same: to make life easier and safer for seniors while reducing stress for their families.

The Difference Between Care Managers and Case Managers

While the terms sound similar, care managers and case managers serve different roles. Case managers typically work within hospitals or insurance companies, focusing on managing benefits and discharge planning. They're usually social workers who help patients transition between levels of care.

Care managers, on the other hand, work directly with individual patients and families on a more personal level. They provide ongoing, hands-on support that extends well beyond a single hospital stay or insurance issue. According to IntelyCare, care managers tend to come from nursing backgrounds and work more closely with patients on their day-to-day medical needs.

What Does a Geriatric Care Manager Do?

Geriatric care managers wear many hats, adapting their services to meet each family's unique needs. Their work starts with a thorough assessment and continues for as long as you need their support.

The assessment process typically begins with an in-home visit. During this visit, the care manager evaluates your loved one's living situation, checking for safety hazards like loose rugs or poor lighting. They assess physical health, cognitive function, and emotional wellbeing. They also look at what help is already in place and what gaps need to be filled.

From there, they develop both short-term and long-term care plans. These aren't just generic checklists—they're tailored roadmaps that consider your loved one's health conditions, personal preferences, financial situation, and family dynamics.

Core Services Provided

According to the Aging Life Care Association, geriatric care managers typically provide these services:

Coordination across providers: They keep track of all the moving pieces—specialist appointments, therapy sessions, home health visits—and make sure everyone is on the same page. This is especially important when your loved one sees multiple doctors who may not communicate with each other directly.

Medication management: They monitor prescriptions, watch for dangerous drug interactions, and ensure medications are taken correctly. If your parent has five different pill bottles and three different doctors prescribing them, a care manager can create a system that works.

Crisis intervention: When emergencies happen—a fall, a sudden hospitalization, a diagnosis that changes everything—care managers step in to help navigate the chaos. They know what questions to ask and what resources to access quickly.

Family communication: For families spread across different cities or states, care managers serve as the central point of contact. They provide regular updates, coordinate family meetings, and help everyone stay informed without requiring constant phone calls back and forth.

Resource connections: Need to find a reputable home health agency? Looking for adult day programs? Trying to figure out which assisted living facilities accept your parent's insurance? Care managers know the local landscape and can connect you with quality services.

When Should You Consider Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager?

Not every family needs a geriatric care manager, but certain situations make their expertise invaluable. The Virginia Navigator notes that they're especially helpful when geographic distance makes hands-on caregiving difficult.

Geographic Distance

If you live far from your aging parent, you probably worry constantly. Who's making sure they're eating properly? What if they fall and no one finds them for hours? A geriatric care manager can be your eyes and ears on the ground, checking in regularly and keeping you informed.

Complex Medical Needs

When your loved one has multiple chronic conditions, keeping track of all their care becomes a full-time job. According to A Place for Mom, geriatric care managers excel at coordinating care for people with conditions like dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and mobility issues.

Dementia care presents unique challenges. Your parent might refuse help, become verbally aggressive, or forget entire conversations you just had. A geriatric care manager brings professional experience handling these behaviors and can often get through to someone who won't listen to family members.

Communication Breakdowns

Sometimes the problem isn't that your loved one won't talk—it's that they won't talk to you about their health. Maybe they don't want to worry you, or perhaps old family tensions get in the way of honest conversations. A geriatric care manager offers a neutral presence that can open up these discussions.

Similarly, if you're having trouble getting straight answers from doctors or home health agencies, a care manager can translate medical jargon and advocate more effectively because they speak the language of healthcare professionals.

Family Conflict

Deciding on care for a parent can tear families apart. One sibling thinks it's time for assisted living while another insists on keeping Mom at home. Someone questions whether Dad really needs round-the-clock care or if he's exaggerating. A geriatric care manager provides an objective, professional assessment that can help resolve these disputes.

Caregiver Burnout

If you're the primary caregiver, you might be running on empty. You've cut back your work hours, you're exhausted, and you can't remember the last time you did something just for yourself. Before you reach a breaking point, a geriatric care manager can step in to share the load.

Warning Signs in their Day-To-Day Life

Pay attention to how your loved one is managing activities of daily living.

• Are they bathing regularly and keeping up with personal hygiene?
• Is the house noticeably messier or does it smell different than usual?
• Are bills piling up unpaid, or are there signs of financial mismanagement?
• Have you noticed weight loss or an empty refrigerator?
• Are they taking their medications correctly?
• Can they still drive safely, or have there been close calls?

When these activities start slipping, it's often a sign that more support is needed.

How Geriatric Care Managers Help Families

Beyond their practical services, geriatric care managers provide something even more valuable: peace of mind. Families often describe feeling like a weight has been lifted once they have a professional managing their loved one's care.

Reducing Stress and Overwhelm

Caregiving is exhausting, both physically and emotionally. According to research cited by AARP, family caregivers who work full-time experience higher stress levels than those who work part-time, largely because they lack the flexibility to handle caregiving emergencies.

A geriatric care manager takes on the research, phone calls, appointment scheduling, and problem-solving that consume so much time and energy. Instead of spending your weekends calling insurance companies or researching adult day programs, you can actually spend quality time with your loved one.

Expert Navigation of the Healthcare System

Healthcare is complicated under the best circumstances. For older adults with multiple conditions, it becomes a maze of specialists, insurance rules, Medicare benefits, and service providers. Geriatric care managers know this system intimately.

They understand what Medicare covers and what it doesn't. They know which services require prior authorization and how to get it approved. They've built relationships with quality providers in the area and can steer you away from problematic ones.

Ensuring Safety and Quality

One of the most important roles a care manager plays is monitoring the quality of care your loved one receives. If you hire a home health aide, who's making sure that person is doing their job properly? If your parent moves to assisted living, who's checking that the facility is meeting their needs?

Care managers conduct regular visits, watch for red flags, and intervene when necessary. They're trained to spot signs of neglect, abuse, or declining health that family members might miss or might not know how to interpret.

Facilitating Communication

Getting all family members on the same page can be like herding cats. One sibling wants daily updates while another prefers to hear from you only if there's an emergency. Someone always feels left out of decisions.

A geriatric care manager can streamline family communication through regular reports, scheduled conference calls, and neutral facilitation of difficult conversations. As one care manager explained, they're able to evaluate clients in all dimensions and tailor care to individual needs while keeping everyone informed.

Financial and Legal Guidance

While geriatric care managers aren't financial advisors or lawyers, they understand the landscape well enough to identify what legal and financial planning needs to happen. They can help you understand which documents should be in place—like advance directives, powers of attorney, or wills—and refer you to appropriate professionals when needed.

They also know how to assess what level of care your loved one can afford and can connect you with resources like Medicaid programs or veterans' benefits if finances are tight.

The Cost of Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager

Understanding the financial commitment upfront is crucial when considering a geriatric care manager. These are private services, which means families typically pay out of pocket.

Typical Fee Structure

According to Czepiga Law, care managers charge by the hour, with rates generally ranging from $90 to $250 per hour depending on your location and the care manager's experience level. In major metropolitan areas, you'll pay toward the higher end of that range.

The initial comprehensive assessment typically costs between $800 and $2,000. This assessment involves an in-home visit, detailed evaluation of all aspects of your loved one's situation, and creation of an initial care plan. While this might seem expensive, it provides a thorough roadmap that can save money in the long run by preventing crises and connecting you to resources you didn't know existed.

After the initial assessment, you'll pay for ongoing services as needed. Some families use care managers intensively during transitions or crises, then scale back to monthly check-ins once things stabilize. Others prefer consistent weekly or bi-weekly involvement.

Insurance Coverage

Unfortunately, neither Medicare nor Medicaid cover geriatric care management services. Most private health insurance plans don't cover these costs either.

However, if your loved one has long-term care insurance, there's a chance that policy might cover a portion of geriatric care management fees. It's worth reviewing the policy carefully or calling the insurance company to ask.

Some employers offer assistance programs that help defray the cost of geriatric care managers. These programs exist because companies recognize that employees who are stressed about aging parents are less productive at work and more likely to need unexpected time off. Check with your human resources department to see if your employer offers this benefit.

Weighing the Investment

While the costs add up quickly, many families find the investment worthwhile. Consider what your time is worth and how much it costs you—financially and emotionally—to manage everything yourself. If you're taking unpaid time off work, paying for last-minute plane tickets to handle crises, or making expensive mistakes because you don't know the system, a care manager might actually save you money.

More importantly, there's the intangible value of reduced stress and improved quality of life for both you and your loved one. As one expert noted, having an impartial advocate can help you save time, reduce stress, and ultimately improve the quality of time you spend with your loved one.

How to Find and Choose a Geriatric Care Manager

Finding the right care manager requires some research, but several resources can help streamline your search.

Where to Look

Start with the Aging Life Care Association, the leading professional organization for geriatric care managers. Their website includes a directory where you can search for certified members in your area.

You can also ask your loved one's doctor for recommendations. Many physicians work regularly with local care managers and can point you toward professionals they trust.

The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, can connect you with local resources and may have information on care managers in your area. You can reach them at 1-800-677-1116.

Don't overlook support groups for specific conditions. If your parent has Alzheimer's disease, for example, the local Alzheimer's Association chapter may know which care managers have the most experience with dementia care.

Questions to Ask

Before hiring a geriatric care manager, interview several candidates. According to the National Institute on Aging, you should ask:

About credentials and training:

• What is your professional background (nursing, social work, other)?
• Do you hold any certifications specific to geriatric care management?
• Are you licensed in your original profession (if applicable)?
• How long have you been working as a geriatric care manager?

About experience:

• Have you worked with cases similar to ours (specific conditions, living situations)?
• Can you provide references from other families you've worked with?
• What geographic area do you serve?

About services and approach:

• What specific services do you provide?
• How often will you visit or check in?
• How will you communicate with our family?
• What happens during emergencies or when you're unavailable?
• Do you have backup coverage?

About costs and contracts:

• How do you structure your fees?
• What does the initial assessment include?
• What additional costs should we anticipate?
• Do you require a contract, and what are the terms?
• How much notice do you require if we decide to end services?

Trust your instincts during these interviews. The right care manager should listen carefully to your concerns, ask thoughtful questions about your loved one, and explain their approach clearly without overwhelming you with jargon.

Certifications and Professional Organizations

While geriatric care managers don't need state-level licenses in most places, professional certifications signal commitment to the field and adherence to ethical standards.

The Commission for Case Manager Certification in New Jersey and the National Academy of Certified Care Managers in Arizona both offer certification programs. These require specialized degrees, relevant experience, and successful completion of examinations.

The National Association of Social Workers also provides certifications for social workers who specialize in aging life care.

Membership in the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) indicates that a care manager has met certain professional standards and stays current with best practices in the field. While ALCA doesn't certify care managers, membership shows a commitment to professional development.

How a Solace Advocate Can Help

While geriatric care managers provide valuable services, the costs and limited insurance coverage can put them out of reach for many families. This is where a Solace advocate offers an alternative approach to healthcare support and coordination.

Solace advocates are dedicated healthcare professionals who provide comprehensive support throughout your healthcare journey. Unlike traditional geriatric care management services that you pay for entirely out of pocket, Solace works with many major insurance plans, making professional healthcare advocacy more accessible.

What Makes Solace Different

A Solace advocate serves as your single point of contact across your entire healthcare experience. They help you prepare for doctor's appointments, join visits remotely to ensure nothing gets missed, help you understand complex medical information, and coordinate care across multiple providers.

If you're dealing with insurance denials or coverage issues, your Solace advocate can help appeal claims and fight for the coverage you deserve. They handle the phone calls, paperwork, and follow-up that consume so much time and energy when you're trying to coordinate care for an aging loved one.

For families concerned about care coordination, Solace advocates ensure all your healthcare providers have the information they need and that nothing falls through the cracks during transitions between care settings. They track medical records, follow up on referrals, and make sure everyone on the care team communicates effectively.

Services You Can Access

Your Solace advocate can help with many of the same challenges that lead families to seek geriatric care managers:

• Understanding diagnoses and treatment options: They translate medical jargon into plain language and help you make informed decisions
• Medication management support: They can help track medications, identify potential interactions, and ensure you understand what you're taking and why
• Insurance navigation: From understanding your benefits to appealing denied claims, they know how to work the system
• Appointment coordination: They help schedule appointments, prepare questions, and ensure follow-up happens
• Crisis support: When urgent health issues arise, you have someone to call who knows your situation and can help you navigate next steps

Unlike geriatric care managers who typically work with seniors specifically, Solace advocates support patients of all ages dealing with complex healthcare needs. Whether you're caring for an aging parent, managing your own chronic condition, or supporting a family member through treatment, a Solace advocate provides personalized support tailored to your specific situation.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Geriatric Care Managers

Do I need a geriatric care manager if my parent lives nearby?

Even when you live close to your aging parent, a geriatric care manager can be helpful. If you're juggling work, your own family, and caregiving responsibilities, you might not have the bandwidth to research resources, coordinate multiple providers, or spot problems before they become crises. A care manager brings expertise that can improve the quality of care even when you're actively involved. That said, if distance isn't an issue and you have the time and knowledge to coordinate care effectively, you might not need this level of support.

Will Medicare pay for a geriatric care manager?

No, Medicare does not cover geriatric care management services. These are considered private services that you pay for out of pocket. Medicaid also doesn't cover these costs, nor do most private health insurance plans. Some long-term care insurance policies may provide partial coverage, so it's worth checking your policy if you have one. This is one reason why many families look for alternative support options like Solace advocates, which may work with insurance plans.

What's the difference between a geriatric care manager and a home health aide?

A home health aide provides hands-on personal care—helping with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and other daily activities. A geriatric care manager, on the other hand, coordinates and oversees all aspects of care without necessarily providing direct personal care themselves. In fact, a care manager might be the person who helps you find and hire a qualified home health aide, then monitors to ensure that aide is doing their job properly. Think of the care manager as the quarterback who coordinates the team, while the home health aide is one player on that team.

How often will the care manager visit my loved one?

This varies based on your loved one's needs and what you arrange with the care manager. After the initial comprehensive assessment, some families opt for weekly visits while others need only monthly check-ins. During transitions or health crises, visits might become more frequent. During stable periods, they might be less often. The care manager should work with you to determine a schedule that provides adequate oversight without being unnecessarily expensive.

Can a geriatric care manager make medical decisions for my loved one?

No, geriatric care managers cannot make medical decisions on behalf of your loved one. They provide information, guidance, and recommendations, but the actual decision-making authority rests with your loved one (if they have capacity) or their designated healthcare proxy or power of attorney. Care managers can help facilitate decision-making by gathering information, explaining options, and coordinating family discussions, but they don't have legal authority to consent to treatment or make other medical choices.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be substituted for professional advice. Information is subject to change. Consult your healthcare provider or a qualified professional for guidance on medical issues, financial concerns, or healthcare benefits.

Related Reading

• A Definitive Guide to Taking Care of Your Aging Parents (Updated August 2025)
• Elderly Home Care: Benefits, Costs, and How to Choose the Right Care
• Will Medicare Pay for a Caregiver? (Updated May 2025)
• Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Prevention, and Recovery
• What Is a Health Advocate and How Can They Help You?

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