Non-Profit Care Management

Article submitted by the Seniors Resource Guide staff.

Care Management Services refers to a group of professionals that provide assistance and guidance in coordinating long term care, in-home care or other services based on a needs assessment and an individualized care plan. Often when an elder starts needing assistance, the choices in the types of care and options can be overwhelming to the elder and their family. A Care Manager can guide an elder and their family through the choices and decisions that need to be made. As any professional, they have set fees or hourly rates.

What are your options if the elder and family are on a fixed income?
One of the options is to seek out Non-Profit Care Management. Non-Profit Care Management organizations offer their Care Management services on a sliding scale or flat reduced rate dependent on the elder's income, disabilities and/or geographic location. So the primary reason to contact Non-Profit Care Managers is to determine if the elder qualifies for reduced rate Care Management Services.

Non-Profit Care Management based on Geographic Location
Non-Profit Care Managers may be a non-profit group that provides care management services to a specific county or metro area. In such cases, the elder must live within that geographic area to be eligible for their reduced rate services.
Faith-Based, Non-Profit Care Management

Faith-Based Non-Profit Care Management groups are affiliated with a specific faith. They serve individuals of all faiths whether they are or are not, a member of that particular faith.

Persistence and Hard Work
To locate a Non-Profit Care Management Group in your area can be a major commitment. A good starting point is to use an Internet Directory such as SeniorsResourceGuide.com or a local phone book to search for non-profit care management.

When calling for information, try to be as specific as possible as to what type of help you are looking for. Are you looking for temporary help because of illness or injury, help to decide what to do about a health issues or do you need help deciding if the elder is too incapacitated to stay at home? It may take many calls to locate a Non-Profit Care Management organization. Also remember that you will probably need to prove the income level at some point by either showing tax returns, bank and savings account statements or other legal proof of income level.

Speaking from experience, when you contact people by phone you must be patient and use precise terms on what you services you need. There will be times when the person on the other end of the phone will not know what "Care Management" refers to when used in the context of elders or senior services. If you are aware of confusion on the other end of the phone line, communicate in a precise manner such as asking, "Do you have any programs to help low-income seniors?"

Interview More then One Care Management Organization
When looking for a Care Management Professional to work with, it is a good idea to phone interview at least three and inquire about their procedures and rates. You may want to include one For-Profit Care Management organization so that you can compare services and costs. There are times when For-Profit Care Management organizations do not cost much more than the Non-Profit and they may be more convenient in location and/or be able to see the elder and family sooner.

Another Step in Your Research - BenefitsCheckUp.org
If you are dealing with a low income situation and an elder, another good source is the website www.benefitscheckup.org/. This website was created by the National Council on Aging and it identifies state and federal assistance programs for elders. The website allows you to enter information about the elder's income and then the website identifies programs that they may be eligible for. The information is completely confidential.

We hope you find this information useful. Remember that the search to find help when you are dealing with an elder with low income is not easy and it should be approached as an education. Keep track of what you learn and grow your own knowledge of long term care, in-home care or other services so you are knowledgeable as the elder's needs change.