Care Management, also known as Aging Life Care™, is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing ongoing health challenges. Working with families, Care Managers’ expertise provides the answers at a time of uncertainty. Their guidance leads families to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love, thus reducing worry, stress and time off work for family caregivers through:
- Assessment and monitoring
- Planning and problem-solving
- Education and advocacy
- Family caregiver coaching
- Long-distance caregiving
Care Managers are engaged to assist in a variety of areas, such as:
- Housing – helping families evaluate and select the appropriate level of housing or residential options
- Home care services – determining types of services that are right for a client and assisting the family to engage and monitor those services
- Medical management – attending doctor appointments, facilitating communication between doctor, client, and family and, if appropriate, monitoring client’s adherence to medical orders and instructions
- Communication – keeping family members and professionals informed as to the well-being and changing needs of the client
- Social activities – providing an opportunity for the client to engage in social, recreational, or cultural activities that enrich the quality of life
- Legal – referring to or consulting with an elder law attorney and providing expert opinion for courts in determining the level of care
- Financial – may include reviewing or overseeing bill paying or consulting with accountant or client’s Power of Attorney
- Entitlements – providing information on federal and state entitlements and connecting families to local programs
- Safety and security – monitoring the client at home, recommending technologies to add to security or safety, and observing changes and potential risks of exploitation or abuse
- Long-distance care – coordinating the care of a loved one for families who live at a distance, including crisis management
Local, cost-effective resources are identified and engaged as needed. After a comprehensive assessment, care managers prepare and tailor a plan for each individual’s circumstances. As circumstances change, the plan may be modified in consultation with the client and family.
AGING LIFE CARE™ is a trademark of the Aging Life Care Association™. Only ALCA Members are authorized to use this term to identify their services. AGING LIFE CARE PROFESSIONAL™ is a trademark of the Aging Life Care Association™. It is an indication of membership in ALCA, and only ALCA Members are authorized to use this term.