Frequently Asked Questions

1. What type of services do you provide?
2. Is there a cost associated with your services?
3. How quickly can your services start?
4. How are you different from home health services?
5. Do you work with other healthcare and service providers?
6. Why don't I just hire a sitter or get home health services?
7. Why do I need to hire someone when I can do these things myself?
8. Do you find available nursing home beds?
9. Can I obtain the necessary information and do this on my own?
10. My mother is in the hospital. Can't the discharge planner coordinate services that are needed?
11. My father is stubborn and doesn't realize he needs help. Can you convince him that being in a long-term care facility is the best option for him?

1. What type of services do you provide?

We offer care management services to seniors 50 years and older regardless of income or medical condition who live in Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties. Care management can vary from person to person depending on many factors. That is why a complete, thorough assessment of an individual’s life is a crucial part of our services. We use information gathered in the assessment to develop specific recommendations that will help in managing everyday life. These recommendations may include intervention areas such as home health to assist with bathing, dressing, and housekeeping; consultation for financial and legal assistance; accessing income resources such as Medicaid or Veteran’s benefits; and environmental modifications to improve safety. We can then arrange and monitor these services. While other agencies and organizations may offer care management, our services have no financial or medical eligibility requirements and can be provided for an indefinite period of time.

2. Is there a cost associated with your services?

Yes. Services are affordable and are customized to meet a client’s individualized needs. There is no charge for the initial telephone consultation and screening. However, there is a fee, based on income, for time spent doing assessments, consultations and providing on-going services. We do not receive payments from Medicaid, Medicare, or insurance companies.

3. How quickly can your services start?

Information and referral calls can be handled immediately. Our expert staff will conduct a brief intake assessment to gauge where services or assistance is needed. Care coordination may take longer depending upon a client’s need. Those agreeing to receive care management services must sign a Consent for Services form and a Financial Agreement. Once the forms are completed, an in-depth assessment can be scheduled within 24-48 hours.

4. How are you different from home health services?

While home health agencies provide direct services such as assistance with bathing and dressing, Care Connection plays an indirect role by connecting seniors with the home care they may need. We work closely with home health agencies to coordinate and arrange the services to ensure the right fit for each person. Quite often seniors and families aren't aware how to access these services and we provide a vital link that can improve safety and quality of life for the client.

5. Do you work with other healthcare and service providers?

Yes. Our goal is to utilize existing services and resources available in the community to provide the best possible continuity of care. We collaborate with hospitals, home health, adult day care centers, long-term care facilities, social service agencies, government agencies, and senior centers to name a few. While some services are provided on a limited or short-term basis, Care Connection offers long-term relief by assisting the client and families for as long as needed or desired.

6. Why don't I just hire a sitter or get home health services?

While hiring a private sitter or having a home health agency get involved in your situation is a good start, it may not address the entire problem. While these services can bring immediate relief in a crisis situation, most seniors and families deal with a host of other issues that may require other services providers to be involved or other resources to be identified. Our staff is highly trained in many different areas and can easily access other professionals to address complex and multi-layered problems often associated with aging.

7. Why do I need to hire someone when I can do these things myself?

As with many professional services, when you retain us you are getting experts trained in handling aging issues. Many adult children find themselves sandwiched between caring for an aging parent and their own families. While you may be able to do some of the work yourself, the healthcare system is complex and difficult to navigate. Similar to hiring an accountant to do your taxes or hiring an attorney to draw up a power of attorney, it pays to hire a professional especially when your time is so valuable. As a caregiver or family member, delegating tasks and responsibilities to others can be helpful and more productive. The involvement of an objective third party can also help alleviate family tensions and disagreements.

8. Do you find available nursing home beds?

We help seniors, families and service providers identify long-term care options in the community. We are unable to guarantee nursing home placement but work with our clients extensively if placement is needed. Our professional relationships with long-term care facilities helps us identify the most appropriate setting for each client.

9. Can I obtain the necessary information and do this on my own?

Yes, we can provide limited assistance and information without a fee or any obligation. However, the time needed to completely and accurately address complex problems may require more than a brief conversation. The challenges of aging emerge over a period of time, change quickly, and present a range of issues. It is important to consider the time needed to adequately address these issues, and realize how difficult the challenges of caregiving can already be without trying to do everything yourself.

10. My mother is in the hospital. Can't the discharge planner coordinate services that are needed?

Yes, a hospital discharge planner may perform this role to a degree. Hospital environments can be chaotic and confusing for anyone. Having a care manager in this situation can help alleviate some of the anxiety and uncertainty that goes with a hospital stay. The care manager can act as another healthcare advocate and ensure that proper care and services are being provided. We can also act as a liaison with other healthcare professionals and work with the discharge planner in coordinating and arranging needed services. Because we know our clients well, we are able to be their voice when they cannot.

11. My father is stubborn and doesn't realize he needs help. Can you convince him that being in a long-term care facility is the best option for him?

Our goal is to provide options and choices for each client. Respecting someone’s wishes even if that involves poor judgment is a difficult balance to maintain. The care manager’s role is to build trust and encourage good and practical decision-making while understanding the need older people have for control and independence. Ultimately, we want people to be safe and feel valued in their golden years. Trying to impose one’s own desires to “fix” a problem or change a person’s nature can cause friction and damage relationships. A neutral third person, such as a care manager, can help families and seniors identify alternative care options and offer a compromise that contributes to the well-being of those involved.