Geriatric care managers oversee issues that involve the elderly population. Find out about the graduate level study that's required for this profession, salary projections and options for professional certification.
What Are Some Training Options for Geriatric Care Management?
You can find geriatric care management training as a concentration in master's degree programs or in graduate certificate programs. In each case, you must hold a bachelor's degree. For a master's degree program, you may be required to sit for the graduate records examination (GRE). For a certificate program, you may have to demonstrate qualifying work experience.
Typical course topics you might encounter include ethical, legal and financial issues related to aging, gerontology, physiology of aging, housing alternatives, patient assessment, geriatric care, nutrition and elderly services management. All programs require you to complete a specified amount of practical or clinical training at a school-partnered facility.
Since certificate programs and master's degree programs can be geared toward working professionals, you may have the option of pursuing the requirements on a part- or full-time basis. For the same reason, you may be able to complete a number of courses online. Internships and practicum components must be completed in a live setting.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Program Types</b></td><td>Graduate certificate and master's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Certification</b></td><td>Optional exams through the International Commission on Health Care Certification or the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Licensure</b></td><td>Requirements vary by state</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Career Locations</b></td><td>Home and community health programs, hospitals, non-profit agencies, adult care centers</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhatCertificationsAreAvailable">What Certifications Are Available?</h3><p>While certification isn't a legal requirement, you may find that it can enhance your employment and advancement possibilities. The International Commission on Health Care Certification (ICHCC) administers an examination leading to the certified geriatric care manager (CGCM) designation.
</p><p>In order to qualify to sit for the exam, you must hold an appropriate bachelor's degree and have accumulated a minimum of 120 postgraduate or post-specialty degree academic hours. Areas of study must include ethical and legal issues of geriatric care, gerontology, patient assessment and planning. You must also have amassed at least 50 hours of appropriate clinical experience.
</p><p>The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) also offers a CGCM certification designation that is a bit different from that offered by ICHCC. In order to qualify for NAPGCM geriatric care certification, you must hold a bachelor's or master's degree or doctorate in a field related to care management and be currently employed in geriatric care. You must also have at least two years of post-degree supervised care management experience. Finally, you must hold a certification recognized by NAPGCM in social work or case management, as listed at the NAPGCM website.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatLicensesWillINeed">What Licenses Will I Need?</h3><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) mentions that all states and the District of Columbia require you to be licensed if you're an administrator at a nursing care facility. Although licensure requirements can vary between states, most require you to hold at least a bachelor's degree, complete an approved training program, pass a licensure examination and complete continuing education units. Some states also require administrators of assisted living facilities to be licensed.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeEmploymentAndWageProjections">What Are Some Employment and Wage Projections?</h3><p>As a geriatric care manager, you may have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including home and community health programs, long-term and residential care facilities, government agencies, hospitals, non-profit agencies and adult care centers. The BLS projected that employment opportunities for all medical and health services managers were expected to increase 32% from 2019-2029 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>).
</p><p>In 2020, the BLS determined the median wage for all medical and health services managers. The bottom-earning ten percent made $59,980, while the top-earning ten percent made $195,630. The median came in at $104,280.</p>
