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Through
our website we will constantly be highlighting wonderful programs and
people behind the Community Indicators. Do you have a person or a
program you would like to nominate? If so, click here to fill out the nomination form.
Care Connection
Chris Parker, Director
P.O. Box 1747
Spartanburg, SC 29304-1747
Phone: (864)562-4189 ; Fax: (864)562-4286
In
an effort to improve and advance services for seniors in Spartanburg
County, representatives of 25 community organizations convened a
community-wide collaboration to develop a community based case
management program for seniors. With quality of service in mind, a
centralized community case management approach to link seniors with
available community services and resources, ensuring access to services
across a continuum of care would offer the greatest benefit. After
careful planning and research, an organization, named Care Connection,
was developed to provide care management services for seniors 50 years
and older.
The existence of this service improves the quality
of life for seniors and those who care for them by ensuring access to
services and resources that allows seniors a safe and stable
environment for as long as possible. Care Connection coordinates
services such as home delivered meals; home health care; respite care;
financial and legal assistance; social and educational activities;
family support; and long term care placement.
Community care
managers coordinate care to help high-risk seniors maintain
independence at an optimal level of care through the most efficient use
of resources. As a result, there are benefits for seniors, their
families and service providers. Seniors are less likely to “fall
through the cracks” since care mangers provide a continual link of
communication, visiting them regularly and long-term, to ensure they
are receiving needed assistance and services to remain stable and
healthy. Families benefit through care management through on-going
monitoring and follow-up, especially for family members who live
out-of-town. Care managers act as another set of eyes and ears.
Senior
service providers benefit by increased utilization of services. The
overall health care system can benefit through higher quality patient
discharges; decreased emergency room visits; less hospital readmissions
and improved coordination of community services. Care management
services emphasize a continuum of care, allowing seniors to access the
right services and resources at the right time. As a result, there are
less “crisis management” incidents and more proactive methods of caring
for our seniors to ensure a better quality of life. |
