Care Manager
Kathy Blanco is a Care Manager driven to help older adults lead better, more fulfilling lives. She has worked for nearly a decade in the field of social work and eldercare management. She has worked as a Home Health Manager and had much success working in the Case Management world by coordinating referrals and resources with Home Care agencies, specialty providers, dieticians, mental health clinicians and connecting to resources such as legal services, housing and education needs.
Her work and advocacy in the community has ensured that patients’ get benefits they are entitled to from medical insurance companies, Social Security awards to programs in the Human Resource Administration of New York. Kathy has previously worked as a discharge planner in a nursing home and is very familiar with the process and necessities for a safe discharge home. She has experience working closely with nursing homes interdisciplinary teams, ordering medical supplies, connecting with pharmacies, scheduling proper transportation and pushing for best services when the patient arrives home.
Kathy pays close attention to her clients cognitive functions, to promote psychosocial well being and provides counseling and guidance when appropriate. Kathy is also able to gently and with sensitivity approach the sometimes difficult subjects and work toward resolution with clients and families. Kathy treats every individual as a member of her own family to ensure that they feel comfortable and cared for. Kathy believes in active listening while giving each patient enough time to express their feelings and concerns with deep empathy, a strong work ethic and great communication and interpersonal skills. She brings a positive attitude to everything she does and takes pride in the assistance she gives for people to live comfortably in their homes with independence and dignity.
According to the Aging Life Care® Association website, An Aging Life Care Professional, also known as a geriatric care manager, is a health and human services specialist who acts as a guide and advocate for families who are caring for older relatives or disabled adults. The Aging Life Care Professionals® is educated and experienced in any of several fields related to Aging Life Care / care management, including, but not limited to counseling, gerontology, mental health, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, or social work; with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care.The Aging Life Care Professional assists clients in attaining their maximum functional potential. The individual’s independence is encouraged, while safety and security concerns are also addressed. Aging Life Care Professionals are able to address a broad range of issues related to the well-being of their client. They also have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of resources in their communities.
Patients we accept include:
- Older adults with or without the support of nearby relatives.
- Older adults who need help with everyday tasks, but don't require nursing care.
- Patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
- Older adults struggling with complex medical needs.
Care Managers can be nurses, social workers, physical therapists, psychologists or other related professionals and are typically licensed in their specialty.
Our geriatric care management (GCM) services are private-pay. Medicare/insurance does not cover GCM services, and we do not accept Medicaid. Depending on individual policies, some long-term care (LTC) policies will cover the cost (in part or in whole) of GCM services. Please check with your LTC company regarding your policy prior to scheduling an appointment.
A care management client assessment is a comprehensive psychosocial tool that care managers utilize to evaluate an individual’s medical, emotional, mental and physical health in order to develop a coordinated plan to maximize overall health with aging.
Aging Life Care Association is the professional organization for professional care managers.
