Health & Fitness
Certified Case Managers - “Care Solutions for Seniors, People with Special Needs, & Their Families”
Some Typical Challenges That People Face
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To follow are some of the many challenges that people face in an effort to help another person.
Find out what's happening in Greenwichfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
• Son seeking help when dad is taken to the ER with a massive heart attack
• Daughter exploring homecare services for mom who is struggling to care for herself
• Family struggling to find services for a teenager with schizophrenia
• Senior who wants to remain at home, but needs help
• Daughter searching for an assisted living facility in CT, for a parent who currently lives in FL
• Husband who needs to select services for his 50 year old wife with traumatic brain injury
• Family who wants to set up an advanced care plan for their parents who are in their 90’s
• Son living in Europe who needs someone to oversee dad’s care in a nursing home
A Professional Certified Case Manager Can Help
Sometimes, especially when caregivers are separated by great distance from their relatives or for those with busy lives, it helps to have someone to whom you can turn who can help evaluate and arrange for the relative’s care and well-being. Certified Case Managers (CCMs) are becoming an increasingly popular solution to the challenges faced by seniors, people with special needs, caregivers, family members, and professional providers alike.
Certified case managers are specialists who assist clients and their families in planning for and implementing ways to allow for the greatest degree of independence, safety and quality of life.
CCMs meet with clients and family members to assess their needs, develop a Care Team, and work with members of the Team to formulate a comprehensive Care Plan.
Once a plan is in place, CCMs serve as the point person to monitor and coordinate services, and revise the plan as needed. The CCMs' role is similar to the conductor of an orchestra; ensuring that there is good communication, teamwork, and that everyone remains focused on the desired goal.
CCMs provide a wide range of services including:
• Assessments
• Care plan development
• Crisis intervention
• Family counseling and mediation
• Case management
• Advocacy
• Housing management
• Guidance, and support
• Referrals and placements
• Much much more
Who Needs a Certified Case Manager
Seniors, people with special needs, caregivers, or professionals who are feeling uncertain as to what to do, are increasingly using the services of CCMs to assess and implement plans that address a client’s day to day needs. CCMs provide a consistent contact for family members, and they can do everything from creating an overall care plan to intervening in case of a crisis or emergency.
Attorneys also sometimes rely on CCMs to evaluate a client’s situation in their home, a nursing home or assisted living facility. Trust officers or other financial planners also use CCMs to create workable, cost - effective plans of care, and doctors or other health care professionals often rely on CCMs as intermediaries between a patient and the health care system.
Paying for a Certified Case Manager
CCMs bill their clients privately on a fee-for-service basis. The services provided by CCMs are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid, but some long term care and private insurance policies may cover the cost. Check with your policy to find out if it covers this kind of service.
Even if you have to pay for a CCMs services out-of-pocket, the work they provide in arranging for cost effective care - and easing the worries for seniors, people with special needs and their loved ones - can make the initial costs well worth it.
Finding a Certified Case Manager
When looking for a CCM, you’ll want to interview several in the community, so that you can find the one that best suits the client’s needs. During these interviews, ask about their background, available services, qualifications and areas of expertise. Also look for someone who you can get along with; after all, this person will be someone you’ll be working with closely over the next several weeks, months or even years. Make sure to check references and their professional reputation.
Our next article will focus on “To Drive or Not To Drive”.
The Caregiver Resource Center
The Caregiver Resource Center assists seniors, people with special needs and their families in planning for and implementing ways to allow for the greatest degree of independence, safety and quality of life.
We are available 7 days a week by appointment, and 24/7 for emergencies. All of our services are individually designed to meet the unique needs of the client and their family.
For more information, or to request an initial consultation, please contact:
Linda Ziac, LPC, LADC, BCPC, CEAP, CCM, CDP
The Caregiver Resource Center
Greenwich, CT
The information in this article is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient provider relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
Please consult your health care provider for an appointment, before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.
To learn more about health and mental topics and to become a more educated self advocate, please subscribe to this blog or visit us at www.CaregiverResourceCenter.com
