Medicaid Managed Care - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

REQUIRES THE SKILL OF A HIGHLY TRAINED NURSE OR SOCIAL WORKER.
THE CASE MANAGER JUGGLES THE COMPLEX ISSUES TO ESTABLISH A PLAN
OF CARE TO SUPPORT BOTH THE CLIENT AND CAREGIVERS. MRS. M.
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REQUIRES PROVIDERS WITH AN ADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING OF GERIATRICS
AND DEMENTIA CARE. FOR EXAMPLE, ON DAYS THAT MRS. M. NEEDS A BATH,
THE HOME HEALTH AIDE IS ABLE TO UTILIZE THE SKILLS THAT SHE HAS
LEARNED IN HER DEMENTIA TRAINING PROVIDED BY THE CARE MANAGER.
SHE CAN DECREASE THE CLIENT'S AGITATION BY APPROACHING MRS. M.
FROM THE FRONT AND NOT SCARING HER AND GIVING CLEARLY STATED
DIRECTIONS. MRS. M.'S PLAN OF CARE CONSISTS-OF 'LOW TECH, HIGH
TOUCH" SERVICE SUCH AS COMPANION, HOMEMAKER, AND MEALS-ON-
WHEELS. ALL PROVIDERS OF HER CARE ARE ORIENTED TO BASIC DEMENTIA
CARE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SUPPORTIVE, NOT
THREATENING, AND MEDICALLY SAFE. THE CARE MANAGER NEGOTIATES
WITH PROVIDERS TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE
SPECIAL NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION. FOR EXAMPLE, A REGISTERED NURSE
WITH DEMENTIA TRAINING, WAS SELECTED. THE NURSE HAS UTILIZED HER
SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND ANY
UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT BE OCCURRING. MRS. M.'S
ATTENDANCE AT AN ADULT DAY CARE CENTER PROVIDES A WONDERFUL
SERVICE TO HER. THERE SHE IS ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON HER STRENGTHS
AND SHE IS ABLE TO TEACH A CLASS TO SOME OF THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS
AT THE DAY CENTER. THE DAY CARE CENTER MRS. M. ATTENDS IS
EXCEPTIONAL AND PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE HIGHLY
TRAINED STAFF AND THE ORGANIZATION'S DESIRE AND COMMITMENT TO
PROVIDE DEMENTIA CAPABLE SERVICE. -TREY EXHIBIT HIGH STANDARDS OF
PRACTICE AND THE FLEXIBILITY THAT IS NEEDED FOR SOMEONE LIKE MRS. M.