How do I Become a Geriatric Care Manager?

To become a geriatric care manager, you will need to be a registered nurse or a licensed social worker. Many employers prefer to hire people who have an advanced degree for these positions. Generally, a master's degree in social work or a master's in nursing are the most desirable. For people who are registered nurses, some employers will consider hiring you even if you only have a bachelor's degree. If this happens to be your situation, you will probably stand a better chance of being hired if you have several years of practical work experience in a geriatric setting.

If you want to become a geriatric care manager, it is very helpful if you have previous experience working in a capacity where you have dealt directly with the elderly. For the most part, this means that individuals who have worked in a long-term care facility, nursing home, or for a home care agency will be the best candidates. One of the most important aspects of this type of job is being able to manage the care of older adults. If your education and experience reflect that you have this ability, you will more than likely have an advantage over other applicants.

Anyone who wants to become a geriatric care manager should generally have excellent customer service skills. This may include handling patient accounts to a certain extent. A large part of this job is usually working directly with elderly patients and their families, so having a pleasant demeanor and an outgoing personality are likely to be considered positive assets. Additionally, having a solid understanding of how to tactfully deal with different family members is a desirable quality.

In order to become a geriatric care manager, you should be willing and able to drive to client locations when necessary. Keep in mind that not all positions will require you to travel to work with clients, but it is a possibility with some jobs. This is particularly true of home care companies since they are more likely to have elderly clients who live in their own home, but are not able to travel for appointments.

Some employers will require candidates to possess a license in geriatric care management, though this is not always the case. With this type of career, you may also be asked to work a flexible schedule that includes nights, weekends, or holidays. This arrangement could be on a regular or a rotational basis.