Geriatric Care
What Is Geriatric Care?
Older people living with serious illness often find themselves in an unending cycle of health crises. For instance, they may go from home to the hospital to rehabilitation and back home again. This can be scary for both patients and their family members. Gilchrist’s team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and social workers are experts in providing coordinated geriatric care and guidance to improve quality of life. As a result, we help ensure that those who would otherwise fall through the cracks of the health care system receive the care and attention they need when and where they need it.
Gilchrist’s geriatric care addresses the needs of frail patients who are experiencing a chronic or serious illness. Gilchrist brings geriatric-specialized primary care clinicians to patients’ homes, providing medical care focused on symptom and medication management.
Gilchrist Is Here to Help
Gilchrist has a medical team geared to individuals who have trouble getting to office appointments or those who have multiple specialists and no one to coordinate or guide overall care. In addition to medical care, we provide emotional and social support. Geriatric Care can help you anticipate the concerns likely to arise as your illness progresses and offer guidance on advance care planning and navigating the health care system. We are here to provide you with the resources and support you and your family need to maintain the best quality of life.
Consultations
Our geriatricians and nurse practitioners provide a comprehensive health assessment and develop a plan of care tailored to your needs. These assessments are usually conducted over 1 to 3 visits in the office or, in some cases, at home. We help you better understand your illness and what to expect over the next three to five years as your needs evolve. As a result, you will have greater knowledge and control of your health needs. We also connect you with community physicians to ensure your care plan is followed through.
Once the assessment is completed, you will be granted access to Gilchrist’s 24/7 on-call support line, staffed by nurses. You may also call a Gilchrist geriatrician for follow-up. Additionally, we provide annual follow-up office visits to update or refresh your plan of care.
Our team will work closely with your primary physician if you have one. Or we will refer you to a community medical practice if you are able to continue coming to an office for appointments. However, if you are unable to travel to office appointments, Gilchrist can provide home-based primary medical care through our Geriatric Care Home Care service. We will also connect you to other community specialists as needed, such as a neurologist, cardiologist, or lung specialist.
Where Is Geriatric Care Provided?
Gilchrist’s Geriatric Care can provide specialized care coordination and management for seniors living with progressive, advanced illnesses.
Home Care
If you are homebound, we bring primary care and social work support directly to you and help connect you with community resources to meet your needs.
Senior Living Community
Our physicians and nurse practitioners provide medical care that complements the services you already receive in independent or assisted living, long-term care, or skilled nursing facilities.
Hospitals
Our Geriatric Care team is available through several hospital and healthcare system partners.
Your Geriatric Care Team Consists of:
Physicians / Nurse Practitioners
Physicians / Nurse Practitioners
Gilchrist physicians and nurse practitioners provide comprehensive primary care—assessing health needs, managing symptoms, prescribing and overseeing medications, and supporting advanced care planning. They also coordinate with in-home and senior living community services to ensure seamless, compassionate care.
Social Workers
Social Workers
Social workers assess each patient’s needs, help clarify goals of care, and develop a personalized plan of support. They provide in-person visits and ongoing follow-up to guide patients and families throughout the journey.
Volunteers
Volunteers
Volunteers offer companionship, caregiver respite, and practical help, such as light housework or meal preparation. All volunteers are fully screened and receive thorough training to support families with confidence and care.
Chaplains for Palliative Care
Chaplains for Palliative Care
Chaplains provide spiritual support and comfort to patients and their families, offering guidance during times of serious illness.
Other Team Members
For those receiving rehabilitation services, the care team may include speech, physical, occupational, and activity therapists, as well as dietitians and pharmacists.
Companion Care
If you need additional support, we can refer you to Avila, our preferred home care provider. Avila is a community of caregivers dedicated to providing everything you or your loved one needs to thrive in your home. They offer services such as companionship, personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, & memory care. They, like us, are dedicated to providing extraordinary care for seniors with unparalleled kindness.
Avila* is a preferred home care provider of GBMC and Gilchrist. Avila’s team provides personal home care to complement Gilchrist’s services. Learn more about Avila. You can also learn more about our relationship with Avila in our blog, “Senior Home Care Services.”
*Avila is a registered trade name and service mark of Oak Farm Solutions, LLC.
Admission Criteria
- Must be 55+
- Must have either three plus advanced illness or a diagnosis of dementia with one additional advanced illness.
- Must be homebound.
- Needs assistance with two or more ADLs.
- Must be in geographic area.
- Must have accepted insurance by program (single case agreements and/or charity can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis)
- Patient is willing to give up their primary care provider, or the Geriatric Medical Care provider can provide service on an interim basis while they are on service with the program, with the plan of returning the patient to the care of the Primary Care Provider should they transition off of service.
Geriatric Care Frequently Asked Questions
How can Geriatric Care help?
If you have a serious illness and are homebound, Geriatric Care brings primary medical care to you—whether at your home or in your senior living community. In addition to medical care, we can provide emotional, social, and volunteer support, if needed.
Can I still see my specialist physicians?
Yes.
What does the nurse practitioner do? How often do they visit?
Our nurse practitioners will conduct an initial assessment and then develop your plan of care. The frequency of visits will depend on your clinical needs.
Do you provide in-home caregiver services?
Our service does not provide aides that perform caregiver functions, but we can work in conjunction with another service that does, and we can assist in connecting you to those other services.
How can I pay for care?
Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurers offer coverage for Geriatric Care. Copays apply. Case management and volunteer care are provided at no cost to you. Those services are fully funded through community donations and support.
Can I still receive Medicare home health services while under Geriatric Care?
Yes. Geriatric Care and Medicare home health services are billed separately. You can receive support from both services simultaneously.
How Can Gilchrist Help?
Our care navigators can answer your questions and connect you with the right Gilchrist service.
888.823.8880
“Feeling that you are not alone in the trenches makes such a difference. Gilchrist helped me figure out how to get care for Mom when she had a medical emergency.”
