Caregiver Assessment – Who is My Client ??

The caregiver assessment concept brings care managers back to an age-old question. Just who is my client? Is the care receiver your client or is the caregiver your client? For care managers and all professional is aging to see the caregiver, as a client is a major challenge. Our focus as care managers has always been on the care recipient as the client.

The National Center for Caregiving suggests that the professional in any agency to see both the caregiver and care receiver as client, a shift must take place in the entire agency. Both administration and front line care managers need to build a consensus that the caregiver is a client as well. If you care management practice is a solo practice, you have no problem but if you have partner’s or work in a large agency you must create a consensus that you will include the caregiver as a client so that front line care managers get the necessary support. Questions like, will the care givers have their own records and what will be the budgetary impacts and pressure on staff to be inclusive, will have to be answered.

Concerns may come up with other staff like more paperwork, taking time away from the care receiver, lack of resources in the community to meet the caregiver and the caregiver’s reluctance to share the information