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Assessing need for intensive case management in long-term care.
1School of Social Work, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303, USA. sdiwan@gsu.edu
The Gerontologist
|September 28, 2001
Summary
A new screening tool helps case managers identify home- and community-based services (HCBS) clients needing intensive social work case management (CM). It identifies issues like dementia behaviors and caregiver stress to predict intensive case management needs.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Work
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Home- and community-based services (HCBS) are crucial for individuals needing long-term support.
- Effective case management (CM) is essential for optimizing HCBS client outcomes.
- Identifying clients requiring intensive CM ensures appropriate resource allocation.
Observation:
- A study analyzed data from 242 participants in a case management time study.
- Content analysis of 70 cases within a Medicaid waiver-funded HCBS program was conducted.
- Key issues predicting intensive CM needs were identified.
Findings:
- Dementia-related behavioral problems are significant indicators for intensive CM.
- Client noncompliance with treatment plans necessitates closer case management.
- Informal caregiver health, mental health, and client-caregiver relationship dynamics predict CM intensity needs.
Implications:
- The developed screening tool offers a reliable and valid method for identifying clients needing intensive social work case management.
- This tool facilitates better allocation of case management resources, aligning case manager time and expertise with client needs.
- Improved resource allocation can lead to more effective and efficient delivery of HCBS.