Care Manager
As a registered nurse, Ruth embodies the vision of the career nurse. Always wanting to serve others, her first career move was as a teen, helping care for grandparents. An energetic student, she learned early about the healthcare system and became the “go-to” person for advice for family and friends.After completing her nursing degree, she built a bank of experience with hospital bedside nursing, home health, hospice, care management, healthcare administration, education and relationship building with community partners. Throughout her practice, she embraced a holistic approach by addressing the broader issues of an individual’s physical, spiritual and psychosocial well-being, and additionally accessing available financial and legal resources. Significant career accomplishments include many years in executive positions in hospice care, homecare and care management.A graduate of Hermann Hospital School of Nursing, she prepared for administrative positions by graduating Summa Cum Laude from American Intercontinental University with a BBA in Healthcare Administration. She is certified as a Care Manager by the National Association of Care and Case Managers and she received the Good Samaritan Foundation’s Excellence in Nursing Award for Clinical Practice in Home Healthcare and Hospice. Active in community service, she is participating in developing the Dementia Friendly Houston program and volunteering at the acclaimed “Gathering” activity program supporting individuals with memory loss.
According to the Aging Life Care® Association website, An Aging Life Care Professional, also known as a geriatric care manager, is a health and human services specialist who acts as a guide and advocate for families who are caring for older relatives or disabled adults. The Aging Life Care Professionals® is educated and experienced in any of several fields related to Aging Life Care / care management, including, but not limited to counseling, gerontology, mental health, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, or social work; with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care.The Aging Life Care Professional assists clients in attaining their maximum functional potential. The individual’s independence is encouraged, while safety and security concerns are also addressed. Aging Life Care Professionals are able to address a broad range of issues related to the well-being of their client. They also have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of resources in their communities.
Patients we accept include:
- Older adults with or without the support of nearby relatives.
- Older adults who need help with everyday tasks, but don't require nursing care.
- Patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
- Older adults struggling with complex medical needs.
Care Managers can be nurses, social workers, physical therapists, psychologists or other related professionals and are typically licensed in their specialty.
Our geriatric care management (GCM) services are private-pay. Medicare/insurance does not cover GCM services, and we do not accept Medicaid. Depending on individual policies, some long-term care (LTC) policies will cover the cost (in part or in whole) of GCM services. Please check with your LTC company regarding your policy prior to scheduling an appointment.
A care management client assessment is a comprehensive psychosocial tool that care managers utilize to evaluate an individual’s medical, emotional, mental and physical health in order to develop a coordinated plan to maximize overall health with aging.
Aging Life Care Association is the professional organization for professional care managers.
