Three Levels of Intervention #3

     Margie is a sheltered workshop for people with developmental disabilities.  She does well at work and has many friends.  She lives on her own with her mother and her mother is not happy with the new level of independence Margie is developing.  She often goes out with others from work, and the supervisors, for dinner on Friday nights.  She has joined a social group for individuals with disabilities much like hers, and they go bowling and to the movies.  Margie has, since she went to the sheltered workshop comma, learned how to use the phone to make appointments with her doctor and dentist and how to ride the bus to and from both work and the social club.  She has been shopping twice to buy clothes with her case manager.  When Margie's mother complains about all of this, she tends to blame Margie for leaving her alone at night.  "Since your father died, you're all I have", she tells Margie.  Margie's response to this is to cry and stay in her room.  Sometimes she has missed work, hoping to make up her absences to her mother. 
     Intervention on the micro level: 
     On the micro-level I would encourage Margie to keep attending her meetings as she grasps her independence, but be more sensitive to her mother's feelings.  By Margie gaining her own independence, I believe she would gain more acceptance of herself, and from others that share the same disabilities.  As far as being more sensitive to her mother's feelings, I believe assertiveness would help.
     Intervention on the mezzo level:
     Reading the story, I would love to hear more about Margie's relationship with her mother and try redirecting her mother to join her in her new activities.  (Depending upon if their relationship is worth saving) 
     Intervention on the macro level:
     At this time I would reassure Margie to continue progressing in her independence and to encourage her to live her life and allow for herself to be happy.  I believe by Margie continuing with her process of assertiveness, her work, and her groups she will continue to be confident in herself and move forward in her life.

Case Manager Interview Assignment

     On September 3rd, 2010, I interviewed Shentreda Bell at Our House and Milestone Senior Living in reference to the assignment I was given regarding the case manager interview.  In speaking to Shentreda, I learned several details about the company she works for.  I had asked her about the details involved in being a case manager at her facility, how she chooses which clients are going to reside in the facility, who is involved in that placement, and many more questions.
     When asking her to describe the details that are involved  with being a case manager at Our House, Shentreda stated that some of her duties include assessing and monitoring patients, determining eligibility for treatments, making use of clinical pathways in order to determine whether the plan of care being provided meets the patients needs, arranging additional services as needed in order to help patients achieve desired outcomes.  Shentreda conducts research, analyzes data, and coordinates patient care with all members of the patient's health care team providing each patient with individual planning in order to ensure an excellent outcome while also seeking to ensure care and services provided are in accordance with the patient's needs and that they are cost effective.  Shentreda also stated that she helps patients and their families by making sure that all procedures approved by Our House lead to significant results instead of unnecessary procedures without possible merit.
     Each facility may provide different levels of care.  The Our House and Milestone Senior Living facility is known for their state licensing, twenty-four hour awake staff, highly trained and caring staff, a registered nurse consultant, care assistance, individualized care plans, and communication with each resident's primary physician and responsible party.  Shentreda said that the Our House facility takes pride in the level of care that they do provide.  In commenting, she said that the facility is continuously looking for ways to improve the care which they provide to meet with the changing clients demands and/or needs.
     During the interview with Shentreda, I inquired about the level of pay that she received annually.  Shentreda said that she started with around $24,000 annually and is now receiving roughly $56,000 annually.  Shentreda told me that she has been in her position for approximately a little over eight years.  She stated that, given the field that she followed, there is always a growing need for residential case managers.
     Many individuals would like to know who is involved in the placement of the clients within the facility.  I did ask Shentreda this question.  She said that the court system, the family members, the power of attorney, or the private owners of the facility may be involved, depending on the individual situation.
     In the brief interview that I had with Shentreda, I learned many interesting and useful information about her position as a case manager.  The details of her position, the choosing of the clients, and the level of care provided at her facility would be something I would look for when seeking possible employers in the future.

schoolforhire

this is great