OVERVIEW & BENEFITS
The Case Management program supports individuals and their families facing difficult times in their lives. Our experienced and compassionate professional staff conducts interviews or, if appropriate, comprehensive in-home assessments to determine client needs. Our professional staff then links clients to appropriate services and provides follow-up and further coordination as needed.
The Case Management program also refers to social services accessed through the City of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Department of Senior Affairs.
JFS is here to assist you if you are experiencing difficulty with:
• Aging-related issues
• Housing
• Navigating social systems (Medicare, Medicaid, Income Support Division)
• Obtaining increased levels of care
SERVICES
JFS case managers offer a wide scope of services, including:
• Advocacy
• Information and assistance
• Assessments
• Coordination of service with providers
• Family caregiver support
• Education
• Medical case management (medication set- up &
& nbsp management, medical advocacy)
Services JFS can refer to through the Department of Senior Affairs are: Home chores/retrofit/repair, intensive case management, homemaker/respite, special needs transportation, in-home respite, and senior day care. Clients must be age 60 or older and reside in Bernalillo County to access these services.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Jewish Family Services of New Mexico provides Geriatric Case Management services which include:
- An evaluation of potential strengths and weaknesses through an in-person assessment
- The development and presentation of an individualized Care Plan based on identified needs
- A time-frame in which the Case Manager feels the need would be best addressed and ideas about how to address those needs.
We provide a holistic "team" approach for our Geriatric Case Management clients. The Geriatric Case Manager is able to oversee and coordinate other JFS services such as RN Medication Management, Housekeeping/Companion services, and Senior Transportation. The Geriatric Case Manager will recommend suggested follow-up steps, the frequency of reassessments, and will be available to help family members chose a provider to help the senior remain safely at home. The Geriatric Case Manager will also be available to deal with crisis as they occur, or help with unforseen situations that may arise.
Relocation services are also available through the Geriatric Case Management program if care needs ever exceed what is available at home. The Geriatric Case Manager at Jewish Family Services is registered with the National Association of Geriatric Social Workers and has years of experience working with the elderly in their homes.
Appointment required? Yes, please contact our Community Resource Specialist (see contact information below) to schedule an initial phone interview.
Fees: Fee-for-Service Case Management and Geriatric Case Management services are available to everyone. JFS clients over age 60 may qualify for Geriatric Case Management and other Case Management services, Housekeeping/Companion services, Transportation services and HANDS (home delivered food boxes) assistance on a sliding-fee scale. Some services, including those available through the Department of Senior Affairs, are free.
Our Case Managers have an impact simply because they care...
We met Maxine, a 79 year old widowed female, in a small studio apartment in an old motel where she’d lived for 16 years. She worked as a maid in the motel for many years prior to her retirement and still works in the office a few times a week, asking for nothing more than a can of Coke. Maxine has no children of her own, and no contact with step-children located out of state. She is very socially isolated and does not even have a phone. Although getting around is difficult, she takes the bus to the grocery store when she must. The bus driver is kind and stops in front of the hotel to drop her off even though there is no bus stop there. Once in a while a stranger will give her a ride home from the store, sharing a little companionship as well as a ride with Maxine Her only friend seems to be the maintenance man, a fellow motel resident.
When our Case Manager Jennifer first visited Maxine, she was surprised to find a nice cozy room behind the battered motel door. Pretty curtains brightened the windows and a fake fireplace brought a sense of warmth to the space. A lovely lace tablecloth resting on a tiny table graced the kitchen area, and Jennifer was touched to see two carefully arranged place settings, complete with wine glasses. Maxine answered Jennifer’s knock dressed to the nines, complete with heels, earrings, and freshly coiffed hair. They had a lovely visit and Jennifer received a thank you note from Maxine days later telling her how nice it was to have a visitor.
During the visit Jennifer found Maxine had balance issues, and ordered some grab bars and a handheld shower to help her bathe safely. Six months later Jennifer called the manager, who brought the phone to Maxine. “I’ve been waiting for you to call” were Maxine’s surprising first words. When Jennifer arrived for this second visit, she found the front door open and Maxine explained that she usually keeps it open in warmer weather “to feel connected to the outside world.” Once again Maxine was beautifully dressed and said she’d been up since 5:00 a.m. with excitement about the visit. She was eager to show Jennifer improvements she’d made in her room, and she’d even had the maintenance man dust the air ducts so her place would look cleaner.
For more information or to schedule a telephone interview please contact our I & A Department:
CONTACT
Information & Assistance
505.291.1818
debbie@jfsnm.org
