Care Management Services
Decades, LLC provides services that help assess a frail person's overall situation, determine next steps to take, and identify types of local services as well as appropriate resources. These services are specific to the needs of an elder and their families. Services may include, but are not limited to:
- Professional Geriatric Consultation
- Care Planning Program
- Care Coordination Program
- Care Management Program
The following services are offered at pre-determined rates with hourly rates applying to additional services. Please contact the Decadesoffice to discuss rates.
Professional Geriatric Consultation
A 1-hour consultation can provide ideas and guidance for handling a specific situation. This consultation with a licensed professional, who is trained and experienced in elder care issues, includes:
A consultation with a Decades professional either in the home of the older adult or in the Decades office, providing an opportunity to discuss, at length with a specialist, the individual's entire situation.
A review of care options to identify the types of local services and resources that are most appropriate for the specific individual and his/her situation.
A verbal outline of the suggested next steps toward resolution.
Care Planning Program
Care Planning is a comprehensive, personal evaluation by one of our elder care professionals that covers the entire scope of a frail individual's needs and makes recommendations for next steps. This service includes:
An in-person interview with the frail person that lasts approximately two hours (with family members or a caregiver present, based individual preference and availability).
Interview questions cover a range of issues relevant to the frail person's health and living situation, including everyday activities, nutritional status, safety, cognition, mental status, finances, insurance, and more.
A written report, either completed by or reviewed by a licensed professional that includes detailed findings, recommendations & plans to address each issue, and corresponding information about local resources and elder care services.
Issues and problems are specific to the person. In order to appropriately plan fo rthe future, it is important to get a complete assessment of all the issues that face the individual and the care providers. Once all the relevant issues are defined and outlined, a Care Manager gives guidance on how to plan for the best solutions for the specific situation.
Despite an initial Care Plan, health and living status change over time. The Initial Care Plan will serve as a foundation that makes adjustments to the plan easier in the future. A Care Manager can help reassess situations as needed and make the necessary adjustments.
The Care Planning Program can be completed within fourteen (14) days, plus delivery time for mailed reports.
Care Coordination Program
The toughest part of elder care can be putting a Care Plan into action once the key issues are determined. The resulting tasks are oftentimes enormous and time consuming. Many caregivers don't have the time or capacity to research and arrange all of the services to best meet their elder's needs. Decades staff can take care of all or part of these tasks.
Our Care Coordination Program is the most convenient solution to searching and arranging services and products for your elsder based on their specific needs and preferences. This service includes:
- A meeting to review your Care Plan.
- Identification and prioritization of those areas that require immediate attention.
- Finding and coordinating services and products for the individual.
- If home care is the option, services might include hiring help at home, arranging for home retrofit for accessibility, coordination of medical appointments, and arranging transportation &/or meal delivery service.
- If an alternative living arrangement is the option, services include evaluation the appropriate level of care necessary, locating the appropriate facility (assisted living or nursing level care), and coordinating other services and resources as needed.
The Care Coordination Program requires approximately four (4) hours of service time and is based upon the complexity of the Care Plan. Because each elder's and family's needs can vary so significantly, these services can also be provided on an hourly fee-for-service basis.
Care Monitoring Program
After the assessment process is completed and services are in place, the next step is to monitor these services to determine how they are working for the individual. Decades' monitoring program includes ongoing oversight of the services and care provided. A professional, licensed practitioner notifies a designated party if any change in status occurs, or if there needs to be a change in the plan or services
A trained, local Care Manager checks in regularly with the elder at home or at a facility to make certain that needs are being met, and that the elder is comfortable and cared for properly. The visits also provide an opportunity to review and update the Care Plan, and the program allows for coordination of necessary changes. This service includes:
- One scheduled visit to the elder's home or facility each month to evaluate ongoing status and situation.
- Email or telephone consultation to discuss issues as they arise.
- Coordination and interaction with outside services providers or facility staff.
- Monthly updates, sent via email, to family members or other appropriate parties such as attorneys, trust officers, or physicians.
Families working with Decades under this program may receive the benefit of emergency on-call service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Although additional hourly fees apply if the emergency on-call service is actually provided, this option guarantees the assurance that Decades will respond, as needed, at any time. Staff is also available to accompany elders to medical appointments or emergency room visits, day or night.