What is wrap around care for the elderly?
Wrap around care for the elderly is a holistic, person-centered model of support designed to address the complex and interrelated needs of seniors with chronic conditions, disabilities, or other significant challenges. Unlike traditional care that focuses on isolated problems, the wrap around approach coordinates multiple services and supports into a single, comprehensive plan. The entire process is individualized and driven by the senior and their family, ensuring their voice and choices guide every decision.
The core principles of wrap around care
The wrap around model is built on a set of core principles that guide the planning and implementation of care:
- Family Voice and Choice: The senior and their family have the primary decision-making role, ensuring the care plan reflects their values, preferences, and goals.
- Team-Based: A collaborative team is formed, including the senior, family members, a care coordinator, and other professionals or community members.
- Natural Supports: The plan prioritizes leveraging and building upon the senior's existing social network, such as friends, neighbors, and faith communities, to create long-term, organic support.
- Collaboration: All team members work together and share responsibility to ensure open communication and shared decision-making.
- Community-Based: Services and support are provided within the senior's community whenever possible, reducing isolation and building lasting connections.
- Individualized: The care plan is uniquely tailored to the senior’s specific strengths, needs, and goals, with no two plans looking exactly alike.
- Strengths-Based: The planning process focuses on identifying and building upon the senior’s existing strengths and resources, rather than dwelling on problems.
- Unconditional: The team is committed to the senior and family, adjusting the plan as needed even when facing challenges or setbacks.
- Outcome-Based: The team sets clear goals and regularly monitors progress, modifying the plan to ensure effectiveness.
- Culturally Competent: The process respects and builds on the values, beliefs, and cultural identity of the senior and their family.
The four phases of the wrap around process
The wrap around process is methodical and typically follows four distinct phases:
- Engagement and Team Preparation: The process begins with building trust and rapport. A wraparound facilitator works to orient the senior and family to the process, identify their strengths, and assemble a collaborative care team.
- Initial Plan Development: The team collaborates to develop a comprehensive plan of care and a crisis management strategy. This involves identifying specific needs, setting clear goals, and outlining the roles and responsibilities of each team member.
- Implementation: The team puts the plan into action. Regular meetings are held to monitor progress, address any barriers, and make adjustments as the senior’s needs change.
- Transition: As the senior achieves their goals and becomes more self-sufficient, the team plans for the conclusion of formal wrap around services. The transition plan ensures continued support from natural networks to maintain long-term success.
Comparison: Wrap around care vs. traditional care
| Feature | Wrap Around Care | Traditional Care |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Holistic, person-centered, and team-based. Addresses the full spectrum of a senior's needs, from health to social and emotional well-being. | Problem-focused and service-driven. Care is often compartmentalized and addresses needs in isolation. |
| Coordination | A care coordinator facilitates a team of professionals, family members, and community supports to create a unified plan. | Coordination is often left to the family or senior. Various providers and systems may not communicate effectively. |
| Personalization | Highly individualized with no two plans being alike. All decisions are based on the senior’s unique strengths and goals. | Follows a standardized process or menu of available services, which may not account for the senior's changing needs. |
| Team Involvement | Actively involves the senior, family, and community members in all aspects of decision-making. | Typically relies on a client-provider dynamic, with limited input from family or community. |
| Goal | Long-term stability and enhanced well-being within the senior’s community. Equips the senior and family with lasting support networks. | Addresses immediate needs efficiently, but with less emphasis on long-term planning and sustainability. |
The comprehensive components of wrap around care
Wrap around care is effective because it incorporates a wide array of services and supports. While the specific components are customized to the individual, they often include:
- Case Management and Care Navigation: A dedicated care coordinator or navigator helps the senior and family navigate the complex healthcare system, schedule appointments, and coordinate with different providers.
- Health and Medical Services: This can include coordinating with doctors, managing prescriptions, and arranging for in-home skilled nursing or therapy services like physical, occupational, or speech therapy.
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Assistance with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and transportation, which can be provided by private caregivers or family members.
- Psychological and Emotional Support: Services can include counseling, connections to support groups, and resources for managing mental health challenges or dementia.
- Social and Community Engagement: The plan works to reduce isolation by connecting seniors to community activities, clubs, or social events that align with their interests.
- Family Support: Wrap around care recognizes the toll on family caregivers. It can provide respite care, education, and access to support groups to help them manage the burden.
- Financial and Legal Assistance: For low-income seniors, wrap around services can help with applying for benefits like Medicaid, assistance with utility payments, and understanding their insurance coverage.
Conclusion
Wrap around care for the elderly offers a superior alternative to fragmented, traditional care models by providing comprehensive, individualized, and coordinated support. It empowers seniors and their families by giving them a central role in the care planning process, which builds on their strengths and utilizes their natural support systems. By addressing the full spectrum of a senior’s needs, this approach not only helps them age safely and independently in their own homes but also enhances their overall quality of life. Families considering this option can expect a truly personalized partnership that adapts to changing needs and provides unconditional, long-term commitment.
Discover more about the principles guiding effective wraparound care
