For immediate release: Dec. 6, 2013
Contact: Kate Venne
kvenne@capstonenp.com or 414-406-1476
AARP Report Confirms Need for Assessment and Support of Family Caregivers
TCARE® shown to reduce depression, stress among caregivers
MILWAUKEE – The AARP Public Policy Institute released a report this week on the importance of including family caregiver assessment in Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Service Waiver Programs. Representing findings from a 50-state survey, the report examines how well the needs of unpaid family caregivers are assessed when states evaluate the needs of older people and adults with disabilities who qualify for home- and community-based services programs under Medicaid.
“Everything changes when a family member begins to provide care for a loved one. The most significant change is the shift in relationship from a daughter, spouse or sibling, to a caregiver,” said Dr. Rhonda Montgomery, an internationally renowned researcher in the field of family caregiving and founder of the Tailored Caregiver Assessment and Referral® (TCARE®) system. “The AARP report confirms the importance of a comprehensive assessment of the caregiver when developing a care plan for a patient.”
As founder and chief scientific officer of the TCARE ® system, Montgomery developed the evidence-based process which is already implemented in several states, including Washington and Minnesota, both of which faired well in the AARP report.
The six-step process helps trained care managers triage available community resources and services to effectively address an individual caregivers’ needs.
“Our research shows that seventy five percent of family caregivers have clinical depression – the highest rate for depression among any population. For caregivers who take care of veterans, that rate is even higher,” said Montgomery. “Caregivers are essential partners in health care delivery and they strongly influence provider-patient communication, patient outcomes and health care costs.”
The cost for not providing assessments and help for caregivers is high. For caregivers in the workforce, the total annual lost wages, pension, and social security benefits is nearly $3 trillion. Employers lose about $2,100 per caregiving employee per year due to lost productivity.
About TCARE Navigator
TCARE Navigator® was formed in 2012 by Montgomery and CEO Norrie Daroga to provide care managers with a set of steps that builds on a standardized assessment and moves towards the implementation of a highly individualized tailored care plan for caregivers. TCARE® has been implemented in over 250 community-based social and health service organizations and ten military installations in 15 states, with TCARE® implemented state wide in Washington. To learn more visit www.TCAREnavigator.com.
