Care Management & Planning
Unicity belongs to the prestigious National Association of Professional Senior Advisors. Our care managers are either registered nurses or licensed social workers, with extensive experience working with the senior community. Taking a client-centered approach, our care managers assist in problem solving, planning and implementation of solutions.
Care management & planning services include
Care coordination and management
Our care managers provide continuity of care through regular weekly, bi-weekly or monthly visits to the client, providing a range of personalized services with the primary goal of ensuring our clients mental as well as physical health and safety. These visits can occur at home or in a community.
Assessments and care plans
Our assessments allow family members or responsible parties to know where they stand regarding the care of their loved one. Our assessments come with clear recommendations and plans for implementation. Though our assessments follow a standard format, we are flexible and focus on the issues of most concern to you.
Our assessments consist of a comprehensive evaluation of physical, cognitive and psychosocial functions by a nurse and/or social worker who is part of our professional geriatric care management team. They will assist in determining the safest living environment and the best options for care. A depression screening, balance assessment, home safety assessment and medication review complete the personalized assessment. Reviews of financial and legal documents, insurance and government entitlements programs present a complete picture, resulting in the best recommendations. A written care plan and follow-up meeting enable older adults and their families to get clear, individualized information and obtain helpful answers to their questions.
Activity plan for individuals with dementia / Alzheimer’s
Unicity specializes in dementia care. Our senior care management team has created a unique plan of activities for people with dementia. Whether they live at home or in an assisted living facility, our clients and their families can benefit from this plan of activities. The goal is to keep the client engaged and stimulated through various customized activities that can be led by a caregiver or one of our dementia specialists/ care managers. Our plan of activity is a unique 3 step process:
- Thorough assessment of the cognitive and physical abilities of the client, along with their interests.
- Write up of a customized plan of activities and the presentation of the plan to the family member/ responsible party.
- Implementation of the plan of activities by one of our care managers including the training of the caregiver or activity led sessions by one of our care managers.
Consultations and referrals
A consultation, either in person, by phone or conference call with a member of our professional geriatric care management team will review solutions to problems that you, your family or your love ones are facing with respect to short- or long-term care arrangements. Our care managers know the best providers of healthcare services in the area and can make the appropriate referral to your needs.
Our care managers are also community resource specialists. We will assess an individual’s needs and arrange for services and assistance available from private and /or not for profit providers including local and government agencies, and social service organizations.
Through the guidance of our care managers, clients and families understand the availability and scope of quality & cost effective referrals for needed services.
Medication management
Multiple medications can be difficult to manage for older adults. Our care managers can develop a medication management system to meet each seniors’ specific needs. Our care managers can manage prescription refills, provide a thorough review of medications, their dosages and potential side effects. Many of our clients have a caregiver, so our care managers endure the caregiver is briefed on the medications while they visit their clients
Placement assistance
Our care managers have extensive knowledge of all facilities in New Jersey, New York and nationwide. Unicity’s knowledge of quality, price and availability combined with a review of the client’s functional and cognitive abilities allows our clients and their families to find the best living environment when a transition is necessary or desired. Whether it be an independent or assisted living facility, a nursing home or even a temporary change to respite care, our care managers can help the transition go smoothly by reviewing options, accompanying the client and/or family on tours, reviewing and assisting with payment options, paperwork and assisting with the move itself.
Alzheimer’s and dementia education and training
To enhance the quality of life of dementia clients, we offer training and education. Whether the diagnosis is Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, our care givers provide education on dementia and sensitivity training which helps to understand specific behaviors and ways to modify them in order to minimize stress on the client, caregiver and their families. Interventions that address challenging and/or aggressive behaviors, repetition and sun-downing are offered along with activities to foster the dignity of the individual with dementia.
Client advocacy
As an advocate for the client in doctor’s offices, rehabilitation, hospital setting or at home, our care manager ensures that each individual receives the proper care and attention, and that they understand and follow the treatment and medication recommendations. The Senior Advisors care manager can attend the healthcare team meeting at a facility as the client’s advocate and be the professional healthcare contact for the family.
Crisis resolution
Our care managers can provide continuity of care as well as crisis intervention. Whether the crisis be of a medical or psychiatric nature, as trained professionals the care managers at Senior Advisors can be the eyes and ears of the family while providing professional and personalized guidance.
Legal, financial, insurance review
A comprehensive review of finances, legal documents and insurance policies by our experienced care managers allow our clients to plan for the future and determine how care will be paid for. Depending upon circumstances, our care manager may present information on medical insurance policies, discuss long-term care insurance benefits, Veteran’s benefits, or Medicaid. We will review the client’s will, living will and healthcare proxy documents.
24/7 Emergency care
Our Senior Advisors care managers can provide 24/7 emergency care by phone and/or in person. Our clients’ families/responsible parties can be assured that whatever care their loved one requires, we ensure they are given the best of care and supervision.
Counseling
Our care managers also provide one on one counseling visits to individuals, families and caregivers. The care manager utilizes a strengths-based approach to assist clients in the understanding of emotional issues related to aging. Our care manager can provide short-term counseling for depression, anxiety, grief and loss issues, problematic behaviors, treatment compliance and crisis intervention as well as transitional counseling and support when moving from home to assisted living, skilled nursing or a memory care community.
Staying Home or Moving to a Facility
You are wondering if your loved one is still safe at home, if they should go to an assisted living facility, or you simply want to know which facilities will best fit your loved one? Our Care Managers have the answers.
Our care managers have extensive knowledge of all facilities in New Jersey, New York and nationwide. Unicity’s knowledge of quality, price and availability combined with a review of the client’s functional and cognitive abilities allows our clients and their families to find the best living environment when a transition is necessary or desired. Whether it be an independent or assisted living facility, a nursing home or even a temporary change to respite care, our care managers can help the transition go smoothly by reviewing options, accompanying the client and/or family on tours, reviewing and assisting with payment options, paperwork and assisting with the move itself.
Activities at Home
In order for our clients to get a better quality of life at home, we have developed a unique approach to activities planning at home as part of our care management services. Learn more about our 3 step process.
- For our clients whose best care alternative is homecare, we offer activities planning. Our senior care management team has created a unique plan of activities for people with dementia. Whether they live at home or an assisted living facility, our clients and their families can benefit from this plan of activities. The goal is to keep the client engaged and stimulated through various customized activities that can be led by a caregiver or one of our dementia specialists/ care managers. Our plan of activity is a unique 3 step process involving:
- A thorough assessment of the cognitive and physical abilities of the client, along with their interests. A write up of a customized plan of activities and presentation of the plan to the family member/ responsible party. Implementation of the plan of activities by one of our care managers including the training of the caregiver or activity led sessions by one of our care managers.
- Planning activities for people with dementia is a continuous process. As the disease progresses, our care managers will keep the activities flexible and make the appropriate adjustments.
Financing Long Term Care
The financial consequences associated with long term care decisions are very significant, and often unexpected. It is vital for families to be well informed when deciding on a long term care option, whether it be homecare, independent living, assisted living, or nursing homes. Our care managers have the answers.
A comprehensive review of finances and potential insurance policies by our experienced care managers allows our clients to deal with their immediate needs but also to plan for the future and determine how care will be paid for. Depending upon circumstances, our care manager may present information on insurance policies, reverse mortgages, veteran’s benefits or Medicaid.
Indissociable from the financial decisions is the legal context. When need be, our care managers can review the client’s will, living will and healthcare proxy documents to make sure everything is in order.
