Case Management Focus: Home Represents Safety, Comfort, and Sanctuary

Sarasota, Fl (WorkersCompensation.com) -- Recently, I was reminded that there are many different types of homes. The goal for anyone is to find a home that keeps you safe and meets your unique needs. This is especially true for someone who survives a catastrophic injury, illness or birth defect. 

In the late 80s–90s, when I was new to workers' compensation, I had many young people who had severe brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations.  My role was to case manage them till they were medically stable and discharged to home if their families could care for them or find a place to meet their needs. 

My patients ‘were lucky’ to be covered under a worker’s compensation plan or had a settlement from a lawsuit to pay the cost of their care. Many times a Life Care Planner was involved who looked into what the cost to care for a person would be for their expected life span. The Life Care Plan helped the attorney’s come to a settlement. The funds were put into a trust and managed by an executor to ensure they were used to care for the claimant for the rest of their lives. A case manager was usually part of the settlement to assist with medical management and to obtain equipment to ensure if was needed and purchased at the most cost effective price. 

The case manager would work with the family to see if they could assume the care of their loved one with the help of home care and other resources. If not, the case manager would work to find a skilled care facility that could meet the patient's needs. Most of the catastrophic cases in case management were closed after the patient either came home with home care or was placed in a facility. I never knew what happened in the long term with many of my patients, but I have often thought of them over the years. 

I recently took over a patient from a retiring case management colleague. She has had this patient for over 25+ years. The patient is a young woman who was involved in an auto accident while working and suffered a brain injury, a spinal cord injury, and burns in 1985. She survived the accident and has cared for the last 30+ years at home called Moody Manor. She has received excellent care and has had minimal setbacks. My friend was involved in handling issues that arose that were medical and assisting the home with finding providers and keeping the claims adjustor and the family updated. 

The patient resides at Moody Manor, a home created by Mrs. Patricia Moody, who built the house after her daughter survived a boating accident and was severely brain injured. She built the home in 1990 and serves as a home for survivors of traumatic brain injuries. To do this, she investigated and worked with programs like Craig Rehab in Colorado to learn what a person with a severe brain injury would need to be cared for in terms of nursing care, therapy, and other resources for the rest of their lives. 

The facility is a single-family home with eight bedrooms and is currently the home of 6 women, all survivors of a traumatic brain injury. They need 24/7 care to assist them with all their activities of daily living. The staff comprises nurses, nurses aides, and physical and occupational therapists.  

I have found that my patient and the others who live at home are well cared for, as evidenced by the fact that none of them have any skin breakdown or have had to be hospitalized. They have a doctor who sees the patients as needed. The nurses on duty know the patients and alert the doctor if they run a fever or have any health issues.  

Despite the sad circumstances for why these patients are there, I found Moody Manor to be a happy place, with a staff who love what they do and know each patient so they can tell if something is going wrong and have the doctor see them and treat them at home. Families can visit 24-7 and are kept up to date on their day-to-day activities by the Moody Manor staff. 

As I take over the care management of my new patient, I am getting to know the routine at Moody Manor, the staff, and my patient. I realize that this is my patient’s home. She is safe, comfortable, and well cared for. This is what a home is…a sanctuary that is a safe place. 

 On my last visit, I met my patient’s mother there. When my patient saw her mother, she put on a big smile and gave her a BIG kiss. This interaction made me realize that although she cannot talk, she knows what is happening. When I spoke to the mother about the facility, she said this is my daughter's home, and it gives me peace of mind that she is well cared for and safe. This IS HOME.  

If you ever need a home for a patient with a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, or another disabling condition, consider Moody Manor, it is a unique home! 

Have you had an experience like this? What resources did you find for your patients? Please put a comment in the chat so we can learn from each other.  

Thanks for reading this post. Have a good week! 

Authors Note: I have permission to write this article from the patient’s mother and the Facility. 

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