What do you like most about being a CCC Care Manager?

Being a Care Manager is a rewarding experience for countless reasons. Being able to interact with our clients of all ages and abilities is both humbling and edifying. We often see people at their most challenging stages of life, and at the beginning of a major change/improvement in their life. As Care Mangers, we assist them in realizing their potential and fostering independence that may not otherwise be realized without these programs. We get to help people navigate access to programs working through finding the right care services/ caregivers and help them identify real solutions that address the areas of need in their lives.  We do this in new, innovative and productive ways.  We get to interact and build relationships with people that often last years. Building a relationship of trust with a client is one of the most enjoyable parts of the job and one that I cherish.

From a logistical standpoint, being able to serve our community in new and innovative ways is improving the way we interact with our clients. We are implementing new strategies that allow us to reach clients faster and to better navigate care management services during a pandemic. I have had the personal pleasure of being part of two CCC-pilot programs to test and launch new consumer engagement tools and have seen the potential/reality of their benefit in our daily work.

Describe a special moment that you’ve experienced with a client and/or their family caregivers.

One of the most special moments in my career was seeing how our services impacted someone I previously worked with in my own community.  She is a strong woman who suffered a stroke and experienced a strong decline. The services offered under the CT Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) allowed her to be able to live at home and with her family rather than in a facility.

What is the biggest life lesson you have learned from a client?

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the need for specialized care for people we serve with behavioral health challenges. They need to be heard and need special assistance. Families are often extremely grateful because they understand what is required and the extra work that goes into meeting the needs of their loved one. At the end of the day, we are serving a population that needs us.