Care Management and Coordination

Care management and care coordination services help families make the right decisions regarding care for their aging loved ones based on the client’s needs, goals, budget, and local resources.

What Is Care Management and Care Coordination?

Care management and coordination services are employed by families to help with decisions about care for their loved one; some seniors also utilize these services for themselves.

Care coordinators are knowledgeable professionals who have experience in the senior living industry and work with clients when they need to make challenging decisions concerning a senior parent or relative. They often guide conversations evaluating the needs, the budget, and local resources or solutions to help families make the best decision. They may even stay involved with the client(s) over a longer period of time, to assist with complex decisions as needs increase.

Care coordinators are hired by the senior, family, or out of town loved ones. Many home care agencies offer these services on an ongoing basis.

How Does Care Management and Coordination Work?

If a family notices that a senior loved one is starting to have difficulty functioning on their own, a care coordinator may come to the senior’s home to perform a comprehensive assessment of needs.

They will typically create a written care plan outlining the different services recommended for that senior. They can help family members understand and utilize the available resources – for example, Meals on Wheels, or the local Alzheimer’s Association. They can also explain funding sources that could help pay for care, such as Medicaid.

Care coordinators assist in arranging all of the various services, and work to ensure that there are no gaps in care. After the services have started, coordinators follow up to monitor the adequacy of the care that the senior is receiving.

Some long-term care insurance policies cover the cost incurred with care coordination or care management.