FAQ
Links to Additional Resources
Click here to view additional resources.
About Pathfinder Care Management:
- How many Geriatric Care Managers do you have and what are their professional credentials?
- When are your care managers available?
- Do you provide documentation of the services you are providing?
- How do you communicate with your clients?
- How long have you been providing geriatric care management services?
- Do your care managers receive any ongoing training?
- Are you affiliated with other companies?
- Do you provide other home care services and caregivers?
- Do you carry liability insurance?
- Do you have a contract?
- What are your fees?
- Does Medicare cover these services?
- Do you provide references?
About Geriatric Care Management:
- What is a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM)?
- What are the benefits of using a GCM?
- How do I find a GCM?
- Once you find a Care Manager - What issues should you cover?
FAQ about Pathfinder Care Management:
How many Geriatric Care Managers do you have and what are their professional credentials?
Pathfinder's staff consists of four care managers, along with support staff including an Operations Manager and Community Relations Liaison. Our care managers are Registered Nurses or Licensed Social Workers. They have specialty certifications either in gerontology or care management. Additionally, they have extensive experience working with seniors and their families and keep current on community resources.
When are your care managers available?
Our care managers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each client has a Primary Care Manager who is their main point of contact. Our electronic based record system and our all staff case review process allows for another Care Manager to fill in seamlessly if the Primary Care Manager is unavailable.
Do you provide documentation of the services you are providing?
Yes, Pathfinder invoices for our services once a month and to ensure transparency, each charge is listed separately with notes as to what the charge is for.
How do you communicate with your clients?
Communicating with our clients and their significant others is a key priority of our care managers. Pathfinder uses both in person visits, phone calls and emails to communicate, based on your preference or need. We are careful not to initiate any service without your knowledge and prior agreement.
How long have you been providing geriatric care management services?
Pathfinder Care Management has been providing care management services since 2002. See our detailed history for more information.
Do your care managers receive ongoing training?
Our Care Managers as Registered Nurses or Licensed Social Workers must complete mandated State of Minnesota continuing education to maintain licensure. Pathfinder supports Care Manager Involvement in both community and professional organizations focusing on issues related to seniors and aging. Our Care Managers also must complete continuing education for our specialty certifications.
Are you affiliated with other companies?
Pathfinder is not affiliated with any other companies. This ensures objectivity in our recommendations to our clients. Pathfinder does not give or accept referral fees.
Do you provide other home care services and caregivers?
No, Pathfinder's focus and expertise is in providing care management and care coordination services. This focus ensures our commitment to our client to offer them the best referrals possible.
Do you carry liability insurance?
Pathfinder carries malpractice and liability insurance for the business and each care manager.
Do you have a contract?
Yes, Pathfinder has a service agreement that must be signed prior to starting services. There is no minimum number of hours for services. Services can be terminated at any time without further obligations.
What are your fees?
Our client centered approach allows us to customize services in the most efficient manner according to our client's needs. Please call us at 612-729-9096 to obtain more detailed information on our current fee schedule.
Does Medicare cover these services?
Most Geriatric Care Management services are not covered by long-term care, private, or Medicare/Medicaid insurance policies at this time. Please check with your insurance provider.
Do you provide references?
Yes, we are happy to provide you with references to either past or current clients (with their permission) and/or other professionals.
FAQ's about Geriatric Care Management:
(Adapted from the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers website)
What is a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM)?
Geriatric Care Managers are professionals who specialize in working with seniors and their families to coordinate their care needs. A Geriatric Care Manager may be a nurse, social worker, counselor, psychologist or gerontologist who has training and experience in working with older people.
What are the benefits of using a GCM?
Below are some of the benefits of using a Geriatric Care Manager:
- An increased level of independence for seniors through coordination of personalized services.
- Centralized communication for families who have long-distance caregivers and/or members out-of-town.
- Dramatic reduction of miscommunication and stress for both the senior and their caregivers related to inadequate services and uncertainty about the future.
- Cost savings by finding the most appropriate services for the senior's needs and eliminating duplication of services or services that are no longer needed.
- Increased clarity of medical and health care options based on insider's knowledge of the health care delivery systems.
- Peace of mind knowing that a knowledgeable, compassionate and trust-worthy advisor is on your side.
- An objective viewpoint from a seasoned professional
- Highly trusted community referrals.
- Around the clock availability with a fast response to crisis or emergency situations.
How do I find a GCM?
Geriatric Care Managers can be found through the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers; by referral through your doctor, financial planner or other professional; through a nursing home or assisted living facility; by word of mouth; or in the phone book/Internet directory.
Once You Find a Care Manager, Issues to Cover: When you have found an appropriate care manager, an initial assessment of the situation will be completed;
After you have explained your situation, ask:
- What resources will it take to improve or resolve this situation?
- Are there any alternative courses of action?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative?
- Who will be working with you?
- How many professionals may be involved? What about off-hours and back up?
- How are fees computed?
- How is travel time and mileage handled?
- How are services terminated?
The answers to your questions will assist you in determining whether that particular care manager and agency/business has the qualifications important to you for a successful relationship.
For additional information about geriatric care management we encourage you to contact Pathfinder Care Management by email or by calling us at 612-729-9096.
Links to Additional Resources:
Local -
Aging Services of Minnesota - http://www.mhha.com
Care Providers of Minnesota - http://www.careproviders.org
Financial Planning Association of Minnesota - http://www.fpamn.org
Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging - http://www.tcaging.org
Minneapolis and St. Paul Senior Workers Association - http://www.seniorworkers.org
Minnesota Department of Human Services - http://www.dhs.state.mn.us
Minnesota Help Info - http://www.minnesotahelp.org
National -
Family Caregiver Alliance and National Center on Caregiver - http://www.caregiver.org
Medicare Site for Caregivers - http://www.medicare.gov/Caregivers
MetLife Mature Market Institute - http://www.metlife.com/mmi
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys - http://www.naela.org
National Association of Geriatric Care managers - http://caremanager.org
Disease Specific -
Alzheimer's Association - http://www.alz.org
American Diabetic Association - http://www.diabetes.org
American Lung Association - http://www.lungusa.org
Parkinson's Disease - http://www.parkinson.org
American Heart Association - http://www.americanheart.org
National Osteoporosis Foundation - http://www.nof.org
