National Association

of

Professional Geriatric Care Managers

 

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Geriatric Care Management Care Plan Outline

 

Introduction:

 

The following Care Plan Outline was developed by the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) as a guide to care managers seeking to provide their clients with the highest possible quality of service. This Outline represents the collective experience of care managers practicing during the past 25 years.  It meets Standard 7 of  NAPGCM’s Standards of Practice for Professional Geriatric Care Managers: “Development of Plans of Care: The PGCM should strive to provide quality care using a flexible care plan developed in conjunction with the older person and/or client system”.  The term “care recipient” is used throughout this document to refer to the individual to whom services will be provided. This Outline is comprehensive in scope.  Any particular Care Plan may not include all of the information included here.  However, a comprehensive assessment/care plan should touch on all of the topics listed below.

 

1.      Reason for Assessing the Care Recipient

State the primary reason for the visit/assessment. Include the name and relationship to the care recipient of the person who requested the assessment/plan and the primary reason that the assessment/plan was requested.  Include the date and place in which the assessment was conducted and how any additional information was gathered.

 

2.      Demographic Information

Thoroughly document the demographic characteristics including vital statistics or quantifiable characteristics of the care recipient. These would include gender, date of birth, age, ethnicity, language spoken, living situation, marital status, income, family size, occupation, and or educational level.  Other specific information can be included such as interests or goals, spirituality, socialization, activities, and the general personality of the care recipient.

 

3.      Medical History/Medical Needs

Document care recipient’s primary medical diagnoses. Include the care recipient’s current or past diagnosis(s), current medication regiment, and how the care recipient’s medical needs impact their quality of life. Include the care recipient’s primary physician’s name, address, and phone.  Other medical specialist can be listed also.

 

4.      Cognitive Needs

Document care recipient’s cognitive abilities and ability to function in his/her day to day life.  Document any cognitive tests if you conduct any, describing the test used and the results, or any tests available in the medical record. Be sure to discuss how the results impact the care recipient’s daily activities and socialization. Include in the discussion the perception the care recipient has of his or her life.

 

5.      Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)

Document the level of assistance the care recipient needs with ADL’s including bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, and eating. Document the level of assistance the care recipient needs with IADL’s including shopping, preparing meals, housework, money management, transportation, use of telephone, and ability to make and keep appointments. Explain how ADL’s and IADL’s were measured such as observation, conversation, or if a specific test was administered.

 

6.      Environment

Document the care recipient’s environment including the condition of the living quarters.  If there are possible safety hazards that would cause harm to the care recipient document them here.

 

7.      Assessment of Care Recipient’s Support Structure

Provide detail information about the care recipient’s support structure.  Include their level of commitment to the care recipient and their ability to manage the needs of the care recipient. Also, document if the care recipient receives support from religious or other community groups.

 

8.      Financial

Assessment of the care recipient’s financial situation is very important in order to recommend services that would be cost effective and affordable. Document the care recipient’s economic status and ability to pay for care and support. If the care recipient has other financial needs or issues document them here.

 

9.      Medical Benefit Coverage

Document the any medical benefit coverage and long term care insurance, if any.

 

10.    Legal Needs

Review and document the care recipient’s legal needs including a power of attorney for

health care and finance, need for guardianship, or will.

 

11.    Emergency Planning

Review any need the care recipient may have regarding planning for any natural disaster such as hurricanes, tornados, snow storms, etc., and/or the emergency plans that may be in place.

 

The following information should be documented in the

recommendations section of the assessment:

 

A.     Introduction

Below is a list of possible areas that need to be addressed to improve a care recipient’s quality of life. Using a list such as this highlights concerns that where identified in the assessment.  Reminder: If areas of concern are identified in this section your plan for addressing them needs to be in the recommendations that follow.

 

*                  Fall/Home safety

*                  Homebound/isolation

*                  Personal care (ADLs)

*                  Household management (IADLs) Nutrition

*                  Nutrition

*                  Cognitive/Memory Impairment

*                  Depression/Mental well being

*                  Medical/Medicine Management

*                  Primary caregiver burnout

 

B.     Description of Risks, Issues, and Problems

Areas of Concern

Each risk, issue, problem or area of concern the care recipient is experiencing should be described in this section. Include a potential goal or objective which the care recipient has agreed to in the assessment interview, or which the care manager believes the care recipient desires to achieve. List the risks, issues, problems or concerns by order of importance from the highest priority to the lowest. Reminder: If areas are identified above they should be described in this section.

 

C.     Services

Document any services that may be of assistance to the care recipient to resolve the risk, issue, problem or area of concern identified in the sections above. Services may include community programs, support groups, educational materials, counseling, or adaptive equipment. All services recommended should include contact information and the cost of the service, which should be affordable to the care recipient.  Reminder: Each area of concern should be accompanied by services to resolve the concern.

 

D.     Recommending Next Steps

This section should include the care manager’s suggestions on what steps are needed to accomplish the above recommendations and a timeline to do so. If on-going care management services are recommended, they should be explained here, with an estimate of the time needed to accomplish the care management interventions and the estimated cost for this time.


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National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

1604 N. Country Club Road ¤Tucson, AZ 85716-3102

phone 520.881.8008 ¤ fax 520.325.7925 ¤ www.caremanager.org