Care Management is a system under which responsibility for locating, coordinating, and monitoring a group of services rests with a designated person (a care manager) or an organization. (Care Management is sometimes confused with purchasing direct services such as sending or hiring someone to do domestic chores in the home of your aging loved one. A care manager knowledgeable in community resources would assist you and/or your family in getting to that service based on your individual situation and resources rather than directly provide the service.)

Care Management will help to identify problems that could put you at risk for not being able to remain in your home. It will assist you in finding viable and acceptable interventions for those problems. Through these interventions the goal is to provide you with the tools to keep your situation stable so that you can remain living independently in the community for as long as possible.

Our referrals come from professionals in the community as well as an individual like you. We have had many self-referrals. A referral is not a guarantee that a case will be opened, but at a minimum you will have benefit of a phone assessment of your situation and any information assistance and referrals that can be recommended by our professional staff.

Care Management services may range from information assistance and referral, to individualized care planning and coordination of services. Where you fall in that spectrum is determined by the initial intake done by a qualified care manager and reviewed by a supervisor.

We have over 600 clients enrolled in our care management programs. Each month cases are closed and new cases are opened. Each case opening involves a significant amount of preparation and time. When a supervisor reviews your referral they will determine which program you are eligible for and which program will best meet your needs. Your case will be considered in the order it is referred. We do our best to open your case in as timely a manner as possible, but you will not be visited on the day you call. Your care manager will call and schedule an appointment with you when your case is ready to open.

Care management is a partnership between you (or your responsible party) and the care manager. You voluntarily enter into the care management relationship which tells us that you want to collaborate and cooperate with your care manager to achieve the best outcome. Your cooperation involves regular contact and your willingness to participate in the process. When you exit from our program you will be better prepared to keep your situation stable so that you can remain living independently in the community.

The purpose of care management is to stabilize your situation so that you have the tools and resources to continue to live independently in the community. The length of care management is different for each person and determined by their individual plan.

In some cases there is no need to open a formal case. With just some information and referrals you and your support system (family; friend) can move forward.

A person who does require full care management may be in a program for as few as three months or as long as it takes to stabilize their situation and address the primary issues on the care plan. Care management is not meant to last indefinitely. It is meant to empower you and your support system so that you can continue on your own after having been connected with services you need.

We believe that all the services we offer have value, there is always a cost attached to providing these services to the community even though the individual involved may not receive a direct bill for those services. In some cases there may be no cost to the client. In others a sliding fee scale may be applied. In all cases we would like to think that the service provided has made a difference in your life. If you and your family value the service that you have received we would welcome a donation to our agency.

We are very fortunate to have a very diverse care management staff and when possible a client may be matched with a care manager who speaks their language. However, we have great confidence in all our care managers’ ability to work with you and your family even if they don’t speak your language. Often times we find that you have a family member or friend with whom we are able to communicate. That person can help us to make sure your needs are relayed and honored. If there is no English speaking family member to assist us we have access to a translation service. This coupled with the high level of skill and knowledge held by our care managers allows us to provide appropriate service to all our clients even if we do not speak their language.

If during a referral intake or the care management process we find that we are not able to meet your needs we will connect you with a program in the community that can more appropriately serve you. Whether it’s Council on Aging Silicon Valley Care Management or another collaborative program our goal is to “Provide the Best for Seniors.”