In our previous blog, Why Case Management? Real Life Examples Part 1, we looked at real-life examples when Case Management became a lifeline for seniors in need. In this blog, we will continue to explore additional real-life situations that benefited greatly from the services of a caring Case Manager. As family dynamics continue to change, older adults will continue to need access to resources such as Case Management.
In Part One of this limited series, we looked at three specific case studies where the services of a Case Manager made a positive difference. These scenarios included:
Part One Case Studies
The senior with no family.
An older adult with family out of state.
Older couple with estranged children.
In this second part, we will look at real-life senior scenarios who thrived with the extra support and expertise of a professional Case Manager. Unfortunately, the situations we will discuss in this blog are very common and leave older adults in precarious situations. Oftentimes, when a Case Manager intervenes, it is after years of challenging relationships and poor decision-making, creating an uphill battle to recover physically, emotionally, and sometimes financially.
Who Needs a Case Manager? Part Two
An overwhelmed senior managing care of self, spouse, and/or sibling.
A senior with children who are not trustworthy.
1. It’s hard to take care of an aging adult when you are older and infirmed.
Somedays it is hard enough to take care of ourselves. Imagine the stress on an elderly sibling struggling to take care of a similarly aged loved one. When sisters in their 80s are left to care for each other (or a married couple in their 90s), it is exhausting work that ultimately takes its toll on the once healthier person.
Case Study: Together Forever, Sisters Mary and Judy
Mary and Judy have been the best of friends since they were children. They both married after high school, raised children in houses separated by only a few streets, and lost their husbands in the same year after heartbreaking battles with cancer. At 87 and 85 respectively, Mary and Judy continue to fulfill their promise to take care of each other – no matter what.
Flash forward a few years to Mary and Judy living in an independent senior apartment building. Mary spends most of her days tending to Judy, whose memory has declined to the point that she is no longer safe to be left alone. Often, the long days turn into brutal nights when Judy doesn’t sleep and fights to exit the building in search of her husband. Judy has been neglecting her own health to watch over Mary, missing doctors’ appointments and letting prescriptions run out because she is unable to leave the apartment even for a quick trip.
Care Plan for Mary and Judy
Establish Mary and Judy with Mobile Primary Care
Coordinate pharmacy delivery services
Subscribe to meal delivery service
Identify senior living options that include care
Evaluate finances – public benefits, long-term care insurance
A Case Manager can assess a situation quickly and can multi-task to pull both siblings from the brink of a full-blown crisis. Understanding that these two sisters are “together forever,” a savvy Case Manager starts by establishing both sisters to a mobile medical service. This automatically connects them with a myriad of medical services that can collaborate on their care – in their current home – while finances and senior living options are explored.
The care plan for Mary and Judy is a dynamic document. As their needs evolve, the Case Manager makes adjustments and keeps moving forward with the clients’ best interests solidly in mind. Services can last as long as a client needs – from short-term support through a crisis to a long-term relationship that lasts a lifetime.
2. Not all adult children have good intentions.
Of the estimated $28.3 billion a year stolen from U.S. adults over 60, 72% (or $20.3 billion) is stolen by a family member. Why is this an estimated amount? Most loss due to elder financial exploitation is never reported to authorities. Whether the family member thinks they are entitled to the money or will eventually inherit it anyway, helping themselves to aging parents’ money can financially impoverish a senior when they need it most.
Case Study: Unreliable Children – Mr. and Mrs. Guided
Bob and Betty married young and worked hard to create a financially secure life for themselves and their only child. This one little blessing was always the apple of their eye, and they denied this child nothing. Unfortunately, their child always seemed to have a tough time – through school years and beyond – never quite settling down in an occupation or relationship and regularly asking Bob and Betty for money.
After some concerning conversations with their financial advisor, Bob and Betty were referred to a Case Management Firm. It didn’t take long for the Case Manager to discover that Bob and Betty were giving their adult child large sums of money. Additionally, the untrustworthy adult was helping themselves to credit cards and bank accounts at will.
Plan of Care for Bob and Betty
Secure existing financial accounts
Manage bill pay
Manage move from private home to senior living
Manage all medical appointments
Like most victims, Bob and Betty didn’t want to report their child for financial abuse but understood the need to protect themselves from continued theft. By authorizing the Case Manager to manage their financial accounts, they removed themselves from the position of having to say “no” to a child who had not accepted that answer for years. They also felt confident having a Case Manager who was part of a Law Firm, feeling an added layer of protection that there were checks and balances in all accounting practices.
What if Care Needs Change?
Over the years, care concerns changed, and the Case Manager was able to adapt their Care Plan to meet their needs in real time. When Bob was diagnosed with cancer, the Case Manager was able to manage hospice services, end-of-life care, and, ultimately, plan and execute Bob’s funeral. Losing Bob changed Betty’s care needs drastically and her aging expert continued to support her, updating her care plan with additional homecare to keep her company.
When Betty passed away just a few short months later, her Case Manager cleared out their senior living apartment. Promptly and without judgment, the compassionate professional made arrangements for their only child to receive the personal items that were designated by Betty and Bob. Committed to caring for a lifetime and beyond, a Care Manager honors a client’s wishes in every way possible.
Examples of seniors who have benefited from professional Case Management services can fill volumes. Every case is unique and requires careful assessment and competent guidance from an experienced aging expert. Older adults do not have to age alone – invaluable support is available through a caring Case Manager.
With helpful services that are unique and customizable, Case Management is a Resource We Love. For more information on how these tireless advocates can make a difference in your life, check out the Legal and Financial Section of our Blog.