Case management in two long-term-care populations: a synthesis of research

This article synthesizes case management research for two long-term care populations and compares the implications for practice, program, and policy development. The two populations are chronically mentally ill adults and functionally limited older adults. The findings are a synthesis of 137 empirical investigations of case management. The synthesis distinguishes three major variables related to case management for these populations: (a) the goals or outcome variables for case management may affect the timing of case management services and the course of care for each population; (b) the availability and function of informal supports is developmentally different for the two groups; and (c) there is a need for varying constellations of services for different long-term-care populations.