As the world population ages, accommodations must be made for more senior citizens. According to the United States Census Bureau, by 2030, one in five Americans will be over the age of 65. Older adults can face unique physical and emotional health challenges. They are at higher risk of developing chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, and arthritis. But with attentive, respectful Care, the aging population can still experience well-rounded, relatively independent lives.
Proper case management can help seniors receive the support and services they need.
Vital services for seniors?
Seniors may find it challenging to independently complete daily tasks and chores and can significantly benefit from a caregiver.
Aside from needing help with daily activities, seniors are also at a higher risk of developing certain medical conditions, becoming a victim of fraud, and experiencing isolation.
Knowing where help is most needed can be an excellent start to keeping seniors safe and healthy. What services do seniors need assistance with the most?
- Personal Care
One of the most needed services for seniors is Personal Care. Personal Care includes help with daily activities such as bathing, getting dressed, moving around, grooming, eating, walking, etc. Changes in mobility, overall health, and common health ailments, such as arthritis, can all contribute to the need for personal care assistance. - Medication Management
Most seniors are prescribed several medications each day. Managing a medication schedule can be challenging. Having help with scheduling doses and medicine supply can eliminate dangerous overdoses or concerning missed medication.
A caregiver can work with a senior and their doctor to develop a plan and schedule that works for them. The caregiver will keep track of the medication schedule and ensure the senior takes medications as required. - Nutrition and Meal Support
Older adults are at a higher risk for malnutrition. Challenges with grocery shopping and preparing food can make getting proper nutrients more difficult. Moreover, some medications and health issues can cause changes in appetite that lead seniors to skip meals.
Hence one of the most critical services for seniors is nutrition and meal support. Several services are available, from specialized nutritionists to caregivers who cook meals to ensure seniors eat properly. - Mobility and Transportation
Some seniors experience challenges with mobility. It might be difficult for them to get around within their home, or they may need help driving or accessing public transportation. A caregiver can help seniors get around their living space, preventing falls and injuries. A caregiver or transportation service can also help seniors attend medical appointments, offsite events, and community engagements. - Healthcare
For seniors with chronic health conditions, or those needing routine physical examinations, it helps to have a caregiver arrange medical consults, schedule appointments, and liaise with family members to arrange funds or make medical decisions. - Safety and Security
A commonly overlooked but vital senior service is safety and security. Seniors are at a higher risk of experiencing an accident than other age groups. Seniors are more prone to falls, fires, and car accidents.
In addition, seniors are more likely to forget to take security measures like locking their doors and car, which puts them at risk. There are several safety and security services for seniors.
Having a caregiver check up on seniors and assist them with complex tasks can help avoid accidents. Investing in technology that can detect a security breach is another popular option to keep seniors safe. - Social Interaction Opportunities
Social isolation is a real problem in the senior community. Social connections are essential to both mental and physical health. When seniors are lonely, they can experience actual physical symptoms.
An essential senior service to invest in is one that allows you to get adequate social interaction. It can be a transportation service that gets seniors to social events or a caregiver that provides companionship.
Arranging for and coordinating these services requires careful case management.
What Are Senior Case Management Services?
Senior case management services support older adults to help them age safely while still experiencing well-rounded lives. Some aging adults may need extra professional support. They may experience physical or cognitive limitations due to illness, disability, or simply the loss of strength and stamina that comes with the natural aging process.
Case managers are critical in assisting seniors by coordinating various services to promote overall health, longevity, and well-being. Senior case management services involve:
- Coordinating supportive services, including medical and non-medical Care
- Keeping track of referrals, including medical providers, therapists, and other health care specialists.
- Evaluating benefit eligibility and navigating programs, such as nutrition and meal delivery programs
- Connecting clients to community resources
- Providing counseling
- Liaising with loved ones and family members
- Coordinating service delivery with social services, including housing assistance
Many assisted living facilities have case managers on staff. Case managers specializing in senior services may also be employed by the Department of Social Services, working one-on-one with clients and their families. Case managers can also provide Care and services to at-home senior clients.
How to provide the best possible services for Senior Case Management?
Case managers with the best client knowledge and adequate approaches can provide the best Care for senior clients. The following ways can help optimize senior case management:
- Use the Right Case Management Approach
There are many different models of Case management. Senior case management service providers usually adopt either the Standard Community Care Model or the Rehabilitation-Oriented Community Care Model.
The Standard Community Care Case Management Model focuses mainly on hands-on service delivery to develop individualized care plans for each client. The Rehabilitation-Oriented Community Care Case Management Model supports older adults by emphasizing client strengths, adopting a community-based approach, skill-building, and forming positive habits.
Adopting a structured model of Care helps case managers streamline their workload, intake new clients, and provide a consistent level of support. - Be Flexible
Medical emergencies fall, and unforeseeable circumstances can quickly change a client’s case management needs. Case managers working with older adults must remain flexible and quick to react to new information. They must always have contingency plans for senior-related incidents. - Prioritize Communication with Families
Families with aging loved ones may feel obligated to help manage Care, which can create stress in family dynamics. Case managers specializing in geriatric care advocacy and support to their clients – additionally, they can also help their client’s family members and loved ones. By proactively communicating with client families, case managers reduce stress and can openly engage loved ones in any care plan changes, decision-making, and long-term planning. - Invest in Case Management Software Designed for Senior Care
Selecting the right case management tool can drastically reduce the burden of administrative case management tasks while ensuring client records are stored securely.
Some key features you should look for in your senior case management services software include:
- Meal Delivery Coordination: Nutritional management helps provide older adults with healthy foods to enhance their overall wellbeing. Some seniors may have specific dietary needs, and the software you use should be able to record that and align meals to individual needs.
- Individual Wellness Care Plans: Find a case management platform to coordinate medical and non-medical referrals and appointments tailored to your older client’s unique needs. Do they need transportation services, in-home support, occupational therapy, medication delivery, and meal delivery? PlanStreet can help you design individually tailored case plans for each client depending on their history, needs, and preferences.
- Detailed Case Notes: Managing older adult cases can be complex and demanding. Ensure that your case management software enables case workers to input detailed case notes for future reference or for other caseworkers to view.
- Automated Workflows: Automation help caseworkers streamline everyday tasks and save time. PlanStreet’s highly specialized case management software helps caseworkers design automated workflows and minimize repetitive tasks.
- Medication Management: Case management software that records and provides a recent history of medications administered ensures older clients adhere to their doctor’s prescriptions. PlanStreet allows you to schedule medicines and doses while tracking intake so that your senior client does not miss a dose or accidentally overdose.
- Cloud-Based Platform: You should be able to access your case management dashboards from anywhere, anytime securely. Cloud-based software solutions enable teams to update client data in real-time while on the go.
- Security Compliance: Choose a platform with world-class data protection. Make sure it’s compliant with current HIPAA.
The Next Step
If you care about ensuring the well-being of your senior clients and wish to assist them with quality care and timely services, we can support your mission by offering our senior case management software, which is feature rich with secure data storage, easy client intake, and needs assessment, comprehensive case management and referrals options from within the platform, making PlanStreet your ultimate choice for a senior case management software. Schedule an Introductory call with our representative today to learn more.