Case management is a broad term in the medical industry, essentially referring to an expert who manages “cases,” or the needs of patients. Case management takes the burden off families and friends, who are often unable to provide adequate management of an addict.
In many addiction situations, family and friends are unwitting enablers to the addict. It can be difficult for parents and siblings to make tough decisions regarding the status of a loved one, and addicts can often be manipulative and use love and affection as a means to an end. A case manager can help families and addicts by being an impartial third-party to help clarify the decision-making process.
Case management is often necessary for addicts who suffer from multiple addictions, or who have an addiction in addition to a mental or physical illness. Case managers act as a point of contact for the variety of different facilities the patient may need: inpatient and outpatient therapy, halfway houses, and other resources those not familiar with drug and alcohol rehabilitation may overlook. Case managers also act as point of contact for families, friends, and neighbors if an addict is undergoing a form a therapy that prohibits contact with loved ones.
Important qualifications to look for in a case manager are:
- Advocacy. Case managers are in charge of advocating for the needs of the patient, and they often need to do so across several agencies, institutions, and systems. Good case managers remove this burden from family and friends and are able to use their expertise to find the best solutions for addiction and other issues, whether they are mental health, incarceration, physical health, or physical needs.
- Community based. Depending on the needs of the patient, some case managers are more community based than others. A community based case manager will often accompany the addict in his or her everyday life, and work at re-creating positive relationships between the addict and his or her support group. The case manager makes sure jobs are applied for; paperwork gets filed, and helps the addict stay on the path to recovery.
- Experience. Experienced case managers have familiarity with the natural progress of addiction and recovery, and are often able to anticipate difficulties before they arise.
- Cultural sensitivity. Case managers should be able to take into account sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and age when making decisions.
Drug Treatment Finder can put you in contact with a number of case managers to help ease the burden of paperwork and decision-making while you or a loved one recovers from addiction.
