A professional geriatric care manager (PGCM) can help families realize cost savings, but the biggest advantage is the emotional peace of mind knowing that a relative or loved one is being cared for with the most appropriate level of care as recommended by the PGCM.
A PGCM will help your loved one:
Save in care costs
Recommending live-in care when appropriate in place of (more expensive) shift care.
Make the most of insurance
Ensuring that secondary insurance is being appropriately applied.
Avoid paying unnecessary bills.
Realizing benefits from public programs including (VA) benefits, Medicare and Medicaid. Helping clients enroll in the most appropriate Medicare Part D (pharmacy benefit) plans.
Avoid expensive duplication
Ensuring that seniors aren't paying for duplicative insurance, aren't donating repetitively to a charity or aren't buying duplicative clothing or food.
Avoid lost wages
Monitoring caregiving. Some adult children take leave from work after vacations have been exhausted, to check on Mom or Dad. A PGCM can be the person on site to monitor the caregiving level.
Save on household expenses
Identifying cost saving programs. Utility companies or other providers offer discount programs for seniors. PGCMs are aware of these programs and can recommend and sign up these services for the loved one.
Save on time and efficiency
A PGCM can assist the family in finding resources quickly and efficiently.
A PGCM also:
- Educates families about the VA benefits. The VA provides a variety of programs including free hearing aids and hospital care to veterans and their spouses.
- Recommends the most cost effective level of care. A PGCM can recommend the best living situation that also maximizes cost efficiency. Sometimes the most expensive nursing home is not the best option.
- Helps families create the most cost effective care plan including caregivers, agencies, and care management.
- Helps families advocate for the client’s needs in skilled nursing facilities.
- Helps families with consumables like incontinence supplies, saving the family both time and money.
- Advocates for more time in acute care or skilled care to prevent premature discharges home.
- Sources free items like hearing enhanced phones or other communication devices from state agencies.
- Educates families about Medicaid and Medicare coverage benefits and limitations.
- Finds low cost transportation options.