As the population ages and healthcare becomes increasingly complex, more families are seeking trusted professionals to help them navigate long-term care decisions, coordinate services, and advocate for aging loved ones. For experienced case managers, this growing demand presents an exciting opportunity: establishing a private practice in Professional Geriatric Care Management.
Private geriatric care management allows healthcare professionals to provide highly personalized advocacy and care coordination directly to individuals and families while building an independent business based on their expertise.
Empty space, drag to resize
Case managers already possess many of the skills required to succeed in geriatric care management. Daily responsibilities such as assessment, care coordination, discharge planning, resource identification, and patient advocacy closely align with the services provided by private geriatric care managers.
In many ways, geriatric care management represents a natural extension of traditional case management, allowing professionals to work more closely with families and provide ongoing support across the continuum of care.
Changing family structures and increasing longevity have created new challenges for older adults and their caregivers. Families are often faced with difficult decisions regarding:
- Aging in place and home safety
- Transitions from hospital to home
- Long-term care placement
- Caregiver stress and support
- Medication management
- Community resources and services
- Emergency preparedness
- Ongoing care monitoring
Professional Geriatric Care Managers serve as trusted advisors who help families avoid costly mistakes while promoting safety, independence, and quality of life.
Unlike many traditional healthcare roles, Professional Geriatric Care Management is primarily a private-pay service. Services may be funded through out-of-pocket payment, long-term care insurance, or Employee Assistance Programs.
Hourly rates commonly range from approximately $75 to more than $200 per hour, with comprehensive assessments frequently ranging from $300 to $600.
This private-pay model allows professionals to monetize their specialized knowledge and provide concierge-level support to families seeking expert guidance through a fragmented healthcare system.
While clinical expertise forms the foundation of geriatric care management, building a successful business requires additional entrepreneurial skills.
Successful private practitioners understand the importance of:
A clear business model helps define services, pricing, target markets, and long-term growth strategies.
Private geriatric care managers often provide assessments, care planning, ongoing monitoring, crisis intervention, and family consultation services.
Educating the community and developing a professional brand are essential components of practice development.
Understanding budgeting, billing, and business operations helps ensure long-term sustainability.
Strong referral networks are often the key to practice success. Productive relationships may include:
- Home health agencies
- Physicians and medical practices
- Elder law attorneys
- Estate planners
- Long-term care facilities
- Hospitals and rehabilitation centers
- Hospice organizations
- Financial advisors
These partnerships help establish credibility and generate a consistent stream of referrals.
The
Certified Professional Geriatric Care Manager (CPGCM) program offered by the Geriatric Care Management Institute provides healthcare and human services professionals with the specialized knowledge necessary to work with older adults and their families while preparing them for opportunities in private practice.
The fully online, self-paced program includes training in:
- Client assessment
- Ethical, legal, and financial issues
- Development of integrated care plans
- Care monitoring and technology
- Emergency preparedness
- Working across different practice settings
- Starting and operating a private geriatric care management agency
Participants earn the Certified Professional Geriatric Care Manager (CPGCM) designation and gain access to continuing education and professional development opportunities through the National Academy of Certified Geriatric Care Managers.
Private geriatric care management combines the rewards of helping older adults with the flexibility and independence of business ownership. For case managers seeking greater autonomy, professional growth, and the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of aging families, geriatric care management offers an exciting and highly rewarding career path.
With demand for aging services continuing to rise, there has never been a better time for case managers to transform their experience into a successful private practice.
Empty space, drag to resize
