Geriatric care focuses on the needs and well-being of the elderly population.
The Institute of Medicine's 2008 report "Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce" states that the country's 78 million baby boomers will be 65 years of age or older by 2030. With so many people aging over the next two decades, there will be a greater need for geriatric care services targeted towards a graying population. Geriatricians and geriatric care managers will be important intermediaries in helping to ease the transition for families caring for elderly relatives who can no longer live independently.
Function
Geriatric care focuses on improving the physical and mental health of older people. A geriatrician works with geriatric nurses, primary care providers and pharmacists to create a comprehensive health plan that is geared towards making an older person healthier and more independent. Usually, older persons suffering from dementia, memory loss or other signs of aging qualify as candidates for geriatric care.
Benefits
Providing geriatric care to older persons is important because it grants them access to health care, medical resources and services that they would otherwise have trouble reaching if they lived alone or with family with limited financial resources. Geriatric care managers are mediators who can be hired to help families with specific tasks such as locating housekeeping, grocery shopping, transportation and live-in care services for elderly relatives who are immobile or live long-distance.
Considerations
Because psychiatric or other medical symptoms exhibited by an older person may be mistaken for dementia or Alzheimer's, it is important that a qualified geriatric assessment team reviews and properly diagnoses the patient. This team might include physicians, social workers, physical therapists, dieticians, psychologists, pharmacists and geriatric nurses. Primary care physicians can provide referrals to a geriatrician or you can check your local hospital for the nearest geriatric assessment center.
Cost
According to Helpguide, a non-profit group that provides guidance on dealing with mental, physical and emotional health issues, fees for hiring private geriatric care managers ranged from $50 to $200 as of March 2010. An intake fee ranging from $50 to $300 may be charged for an initial geriatric assessment. Geriatric care is not paid for under Medicare or Medicaid but may be subsidized through a company insurance plan, community center or non-profit organization that specializes in elderly care services.
Interesting Fact
A study conducted by the National Alliance of Caregivers and MetLife Foundation found that American companies lost $34 billion each year due to employees missing work to care for older relatives and loved ones. According to a February 2007 article "Elder Care Benefits" published by CBS News, only one out of four U.S. companies offer elderly care benefits to their employees. Companies such as Prudential Financial Inc. and McGraw-Hill give employees the option of paying a $100 co-payment for geriatric care and enrolling one elderly relative under their company sponsored health insurance plan at the same cost as their dependents and spouse.
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