Care management is a holistic approach to someone’s care. It places one service provider in the form of a care manager at the center of coordinating services, ensuring that the individual in need
I’ve always used the visual example of a bicycle wheel to illustrate how care management works. If you think about all of the doctors, counselors, therapists, educators, and social workers that someone might work with as being on the outside of the wheel, the care manager is the provider at the center, ensuring that everyone is connected, communicating with one another, and on the same page.
Care management isn’t just for seniors, although senior care is the focus of this blog. Children and adults can all benefit from this type of assistance if it’s needed for them. Those that have multiple health issues or more severe concerns tend to benefit the most from assistance of this sort.
There are some big benefits to enlisting the help of a care management service. A care manager can help you to organize your care, figure out what type of services are needed, even make appointments for you and help you manage your schedule. They can create referrals as needed for services that you don’t yet have access to. There’s a world of possibilities that can be opened up for those that struggle to stay on top of their appointments and health needs.
In some states, Medicaid will completely cover the cost of a care manager if it is determined that the individual qualifies for this service. If you have medical needs–either physical or mental health related–this could be a good option. In other states or in other situations, there may be a fee associated with the service.
The helpfulness and eligibility or a care or case management service will vary from state to state. It’s certainly not the best choice for every situation and some people will clearly benefit from it while others don’t need it at all. As a general rule, those that struggle with keeping up with their health and appointments to manage it will benefit more. Those that have these things completely under control won’t benefit nearly as much. In some cases, Medicare or Medicaid will cover the expenses of this type of program. In other cases, there will be a cost associated with the service. Each case is different, so it’s important to have a clear conversation about eligibility and costs prior to enrolling in anything.
We do not offer this type of service here at Paradise In-Home Care, but communication with different providers is part of what a high quality care service does. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, please feel free to get in touch. One of our trained professionals will be happy to answer questions, point you toward helpful resources (including case management, if desired), and talk more about how senior care might benefit you and your family.
There’s no obligation with this free consultation. It’s purely informational. Give us a call today to schedule your conversation today.
Leave a Reply