Glossary

What is Geriatric care manager?

A geriatric care manager, also called an aging life care professional, is a paid professional, usually a nurse or social worker, who assesses an older person's needs and coordinates their care.

They visit, assess, draw up a care plan, find and supervise services, attend medical appointments, and report back to the family. Families who live far away often hire one to be the person on the ground.

Fees are hourly and paid privately; Medicare does not cover them. The Aging Life Care Association maintains a directory of members who meet its standards.

Why it matters

For a long-distance family, a care manager is the difference between reacting to crises by phone and having someone who saw your parent on Tuesday.

Further reading: Aging Life Care Association

Geriatric care manager where you live

The local guide on this, for each city we cover.

Related terms

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