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Recent Hospice SLO County Blogs
Have you encountered the term "care management"? If you've been in the hospital, you may have heard of this or "case management." You might have worked with a care manager to assist in transitioning from the hospital to your home or a facility.
But who helps you with resources and care navigation once you are at home, especially if you or your loved one has a chronic illness?
A community care manager is a nurse or social worker with special training and education in helping people plug into various agencies and access resources in the community setting. A care manager can provide you with a plan for current and future needs and stay in communication over time to help prevent unnecessary hospitalization or medical intervention. They can also help you determine when to take advantage of other special services or health care.
If you have ever struggled to understand what your health practitioners suggest or if you feel confused about care options and community resources, a care manager might be a great option to help you, and your loved ones receive guidance, insight, and facilitation for access to care.
Most care managers are independent unless they are part of your insurance coverage. Insurer-provided care managers usually live outside the area. Their general guidance and resources may not be specific to your community. That usually leaves people paying $75 to $150 per hour for care management, which few can afford.
Thanks to the generous support of the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation, SLO County is very fortunate to have free community care management through Hospice SLO County. This service is funded explicitly for those who are caring for loved ones with dementia, but anyone facing serious illness can receive it.
Our care manager can listen carefully, guide you to appropriate support (including our own in-home respite, grief counseling, and support group programs), and provide regular in-person or telephonic follow-up and care planning. This service is essential for anyone navigating the choppy waters of being a family caregiver or for anyone navigating chronic health issues.
If you feel you could benefit from our Care Management support, please reach out to Kim Chartrand at 805-544-2266 or [email protected].
When Laura's* mom, Roberta*, suffered a stroke, their lives changed in an instant. Roberta, who had lived independently for decades, could no longer return to her rural home after being discharged from the hospital. She moved in with Laura, and the family rallied around - but not everyone could keep their promises of support.
Charles* was once a prolific artist in his community. However, after being hit by COVID and other chronic health issues, he started to notice that important things in his life were slipping away, and he wasn't eating regularly.
Upon realizing his condition, his home health nurse referred him to Hospice SLO County. Our Volunteer Manager arranged a meeting with Charles and our Care Manager. After discussing his situation, Charles agreed that an in-home volunteer could help with essential tasks such as organizing, running errands, and meal preparation.
