What happens when someone you care about- such as a parent, spouse or grandparent - can no longer care for themselves due to illnes or disability? Often family caregivers believe that their only choice is a nursing home - but there are other options.

A Helping Hand is Here:
Our Care Management professionals can help you sort through the options and arrange for the care that is needed to help your loved one remain at home.

A Realistic Long Term Care Choice:
Care Management has been a highly successful program of the Region IV Area Agency on Aging since 1983. The goal of the program is to offer a realistic choice for receiving long term care in the home and community, rather than in a nursing home.

Care Management nurses and social workers are experienced in identifying needs, supporting family caregivers and managing community services.

Care Management staff work to help individuals maintain dignity and independence in advanced age.

The Care Management Process

1. Intake
   Your request for information and service is directed to professional staff who can help sort out options and see how the Area Agency on Aging can best assist. An in-home assessment may be recommended.
   
   
2. Team Assessment
   For those in need of Care Manangement, a nurse and social worker team begin by performing an assessment. This is an evaluation of the health, emotional, and social conditions of your loved one. The assessment also reviews safety issues, support for family, and the financial situation to determine how services will be paid.
   
   
3. Plan of Care
   Next, the Care Management team presents a plan of care. This plan includes services such as meals, personal care, and relief for families, all to be delivered in the home. The client may accept or refuse all or any part of the plan.
   
   
4. Managing Services
   The team arranges the services to be delivered, and monitors the providers. Care managers re-evaluate the situation and make adjustments as needed.

Paying for Long Term Care

Payment for Care Manangement services may be handled in a number of ways, including :

• Medicare
• Private Insurance
• Community Programs
• Medicaid
• Private Pay

The Care Management team will determine how your loved one will pay for the services. The client may be asked to pay when his or her finances allow.

Many people served by Care Management receive services at no cost depending on individual circumstances.

For more information on our Care Management programs, please contact us.