Questions to Ask a Geriatric Care Manager Before You Hire

By the care managers at Connections Care Management · Updated November 2026

Why does it matter who you hire?

Care management is not regulated as its own profession in most states. Titles like "geriatric care manager," "aging life care manager" and "elder care consultant" are used by people with very different backgrounds. Some are licensed social workers or nurses with decades of clinical experience. Others have little formal training.

You will be trusting this person with your mom or dad, your family's private information and some of your hardest decisions. A short interview up front is worth it. Here are the questions we would ask if we were in your shoes.

What questions should I ask about credentials?

• "What is your professional license, and in which state?" Look for a license such as LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) or RN. A license means state oversight and an ethics code.
• "Are you certified in care management?" Certifications such as C-ASWCM (Certified Advanced Social Worker in Care Management) show specific training in this field.
• "Are you a member of the Aging Life Care Association?" Membership levels require education, experience and adherence to standards of practice.
• "Are you licensed in both states?" If your family spans New Jersey and New York, ask whether the care manager holds licenses in each.

A good answer is specific and easy to check. You can look up most licenses on the state licensing board's website.

What should I ask about experience?

• "How many years have you worked with older adults and families?"
• "Have you worked with people who have dementia? Mental illness? Parkinson's? Developmental disabilities?" (Ask about your family's specific situation.)
• "Have you worked in hospitals? Do you know how discharge planning works from the inside?"
• "Tell me about a situation like ours and how you handled it." (Details will be kept private, but the answer should show real experience.)
• "Do you know the local resources: home care agencies, assisted living, geriatricians, psychiatrists, adult day programs?"

Experience in hospitals and mental health settings is especially valuable when a parent has complicated medical needs, a psychiatric history, or a family that is in conflict.

What should I ask about fees and payment?

• "How do you charge for the assessment, and for ongoing work?"
• "Do you bill for travel time, phone calls and emails?"
• "Will I get a written agreement that explains fees before work begins?"
• "How often do you send invoices, and what do they show?"
• "Can you help me check whether my parent's long term care insurance covers care management?"

Medicare and regular health insurance do not pay for private care management. Many long term care insurance policies do. A trustworthy care manager explains fees plainly and in writing. For more on this, see how to pay for care management.

How do I check for conflicts of interest?

This may be the most important question on the list.

• "Do you accept commissions or referral fees from assisted living communities, home care agencies or anyone else you recommend?"
• "Do you own or have a financial interest in a home care agency or facility?"
• "If you recommend an aide or a community, how did you choose them?"

Some placement services are paid by the communities they send families to. That is not care management. The answer you want is a clear "no, never." At Connections Care Management, we never accept commissions or payment for referrals.

What should I ask about communication?

• "Who will actually visit my parent? You, or someone else on your team?"
• "How will you update me, and how often? Phone, email, written notes?"
• "How do you handle updates when several siblings want to know what is going on?"
• "What happens in an emergency, after hours or on a weekend?"
• "How quickly do you usually return calls?"

If you live far away, communication is the service. Ask for an example of what an update looks like.

What should I ask about the assessment and care plan?

• "Where do you do the assessment? Can you come to the hospital or rehab?"
• "How long does it take, and who should be there?"
• "What will the care plan include? Will it have specific next steps?"
• "Can we carry out the plan ourselves, or do we have to hire you for ongoing care?"

Our assessments typically take 3 to 5 hours and happen wherever your loved one is. The care assessment leads to a written plan with practical recommendations, not a vague report.

What should I ask about mental health, dementia and complex families?

Not every care manager is comfortable with every situation. If your family's needs go beyond the usual, ask directly:

• "Have you worked with someone whose dementia includes agitation, paranoia or wandering?"
• "Have you helped families through a psychiatric hospitalization, or with an adult who has lived with mental illness for many years?"
• "Do you have experience with addiction, hoarding or self-neglect?"
• "How do you handle siblings who disagree about what Mom needs?"
• "Have you worked alongside elder law attorneys, guardians or trustees?"

Clinical training matters here. A licensed clinical social worker with hospital and mental health experience will approach these situations very differently from someone who mainly arranges services. Listen for calm, specific answers rather than general reassurance.

What should I ask about local knowledge?

Much of a care manager's value is knowing the people and places in your area. Ask:

• "Which counties and towns do you cover?"
• "Have you visited the assisted living communities and nursing homes you might suggest?"
• "Which geriatricians, psychiatrists or home visiting doctors do you work with?"
• "Do you know how to reach the county Office on Aging or Adult Protective Services if we need them?"

How do I know they will respect my parent?

Ask how they approach someone who does not want help. Listen for respect for your parent's choices and dignity, not just a plan to get them to comply. Good questions:

• "How do you handle a parent who says they are fine?"
• "How do you balance safety with independence?"
• "Will you meet with my parent alone, as well as with the family?"

A strong answer sounds something like: "We start with what matters to your mom, and we look for a first step she can agree to."

What are the red flags?

• Vague answers about licenses or training.
• Pressure to sign a long contract right away.
• No written fee agreement.
• Recommending one specific facility or agency before meeting your parent.
• Receiving payment from places they recommend.
• Talking only to you and never directly to your parent.
• Promising outcomes no one can promise.

Is there a printable version of these questions?

Here is a short list to bring to your first call:

1. What is your license and certification?
2. How long have you done this work, and in what settings?
3. Have you helped families in a situation like ours?
4. Do you ever accept referral fees or commissions?
5. How do you charge, and will I get it in writing?
6. Who will visit, and how will you keep us updated?
7. What happens in an emergency?
8. How do you work with a parent who resists help?

How does Connections Care Management answer these questions?

We are happy to be interviewed. Lisa Kolton, LCSW, C-ASWCM, and Kim Hamilton, LCSW (NJ), LMSW (NY), C-ASWCM, each have more than 30 years of experience in hospitals, mental health clinics and community agencies. Both are members of the Aging Life Care Association. You can read more about us.

• We do the assessment ourselves and write a plan you can use.
• We offer ongoing care management and long-distance family updates if you want us involved after that.
• We explain fees clearly before any work begins, and we never take commissions.

Call us with your list in hand. Contact us for a free first conversation, or read what a geriatric care manager does if you are still deciding.