How Can a Case Manager Help Me Organize My Life?

Both physical and mental impairments can hamper a person's ability to function effectively within everyday life. Issues surrounding family, work and relationships can become overwhelming, even for the healthiest of persons. Case managers provide assistance with managing and coordinating the issues that affect a person's ability to meet life's daily challenges.

Identification

• Case managers can play an integral role within the treatment process for individuals experiencing mental, emotional or physical difficulties, according to the Case Management Society of America. Case management services provide a liaison role that involves assessing a person's circumstances, drawing up a plan of action and enlisting whatever services are needed to provide for the needs of the individual. Case managers typically work as part of an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, therapists and care providers. As a liaison provider, case managers work to organize the different areas of a person's daily life.

Function

• Life circumstances can become complicated when issues such as addiction, family problems or mental and emotional struggles take center stage. Individuals in charge of caring for someone else may also have to deal with unexpected problems. Case managers can assist with managing complicated circumstances by helping a person organize priorities and goals, according to the Case Management Society of America. Once a clear direction is determined, a case manager works as an advocate in coordinating whatever assistance will best enable a person to manage his daily affairs.

Features

• Helping an individual obtain wellness and autonomy are primary objectives within the case manager's role, according to Case Management Society of America. To do this, direct lines of communication between a person and her case manager, care providers and agency providers are necessary to ensure a coordination of care and services. Case managers are also responsible for educating individuals about their condition and helping them understand the role treatment plays in supporting their priorities and goals.

Treatment Plan

• Case managers draw up individual treatment plans based on a person's particular needs and objectives, according to the Case Management Society of America. A treatment plan serves as an agreed upon contract between an individual and his case manager. It also acts as a guideline for determining how far along a person is in reaching his goals. In some cases, case managers may need to advocate on a person's behalf when enlisting additional services such as financial assistance or housing.

Training

• As case managers can work within different types of agencies, training and education requirements can vary. Those working within the mental health field may hold certifications or college degrees within the social services field, according to the Case Management Society of America. Medical case managers may be required to have experience within the specialty area that corresponds with the types of cases they work on. Educational and training requirements are put in place to ensure that case managers have the communication and organizational skills needed to assist others in need.