Toward understanding the clinical aspects of geriatric case management.

Despite the prominence of complex psychosocial problems in aging clients, geriatric case management has generally emphasized the provision of concrete resources and services as its primary function. However, some of the literature as well as the findings of this study, point to competent case management as being contingent on interventions that successfully address key psychosocial problems. This paper presents a qualitative study involving experienced geriatric care managers. Psychosocial problem and intervention categories are identified as well as overarching themes with significant implications for practice. The paper argues that a grounded, thorough, well-explicated and generalizable model for clinically-focused geriatric case management practice is necessary; it also suggests additional research towards the development of such a model.

Geriatric care managers: a collaborative resource to the physician practice.

Strongly independent and/or socially isolated elders with multiple health problems are often a physician's most challenging patient. These patients typically require intensive follow-up including phone calls from concerned long distance relatives, frequent and urgent same day physician visits and recurrent hospitalizations. This article will describe the role of a professional geriatric care manager (GCM). This article will discuss how a GCM can greatly assist both frail elders and physicians through comprehensive and ongoing assessment of an elder's needs, implementation of an optimal plan of care and close monitoring and management of information and supportive services.