Developing a daily money management service model: navigating the uncharted waters of liability and viability

This article discusses the development and implementation of a Daily Money Management (DMM) Service within a mature health and social service agency. Although there is increasing recognition of the need for DMM programs, major obstacles to their development include problems of securing adequate financial support and concerns about the liability risks inherent in providing financial services. This article describes an innovative DMM service model developed at Senior Health and Peer Counseling in Santa Monica, California, that has serviced more than 100 elders during its first two years of operation. The article explores the mission, key components and organization of the service model, including the development of a multidisciplinary Technical Advisory Group and a professionally supervised volunteer staff, the service planning and care coordination issues, the risk management protocols, and the need for multiple sources of financial support.