Jones & Bartlett Learning Nursing Blog

The recently published Handbook of Geriatric Care Management, Fourth Edition by Cathy Jo Cress just earned a four-star review. According to Carolyn N. Martin, BS, LNHA, from MU Sinclair School of Nursing, writing for Doody's Review Service,

"This handbook is a collection of significant topics, problems, and solutions…to support care managers in achieving the goal of holistic care for the older population."

As the population continues to age, geriatric care management has never been more important. The just published Handbook of Geriatric Care Management, Fourth Edition by Cathy Jo Cress is a comprehensive and practical guide for care managers that addresses the multiple needs of aging adults and their families. An ideal teaching tool, it guides students and professionals along the journey of becoming a successful care manager.

After publishing Handbook of Geriatric Care Management, Third Edition, author Cathy Cress answers some questions about the geriatric care management field and profession.

What is geriatric care management?
Geriatric Care Managers (GCMs) are healthcare professionals trained as social workers, nurses, and gerontologists. They often hold master’s degree in their field and have many years of practice. Many new GCMs hold new master’s degrees or certifications in geriatric care management, which now are offered an eight universities nationally.

What does a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) do?
Geriatric Care Managers solve the problems of older people and aging families with tools of geriatric assessment and care plans. They solve the changing needs of older clients and their family and private and family caregivers by regularly monitoring and assessing their needs.

Geriatric Care Managers are available on a 24/7 basis.  They usually step in when the older person and their family are in crisis, to solve elder care problems like elderly parents needing care because of a fall or some other issue that spirals the older person’s stability out of control. GCMs also offer preventative services like helping older people and their families plan for care needs in the future.