Contradictions in case management: client-centered theory and directive practice with frail elderly.
New long-term care legislation and managed care legitimate case management for gatekeeping and advocacy for frail elderly. Qualitative in-depth interviews with case managers who are social workers and nurses were used to address the question: To what extent is client-centered theory reflected in case management practice? Differences between reported client-centered theory and directive practice were identified by five themes: (a) client wishes versus system constraints; (b) the paradox of working to keep clients home versus the perceived inevitability of nursing home placement; (c) client centeredness versus the case manager's care plan; (d) client self-determination versus strategies of persuasion; (e) informing the client about case management versus the reality of practice. Ethical implications, competing demands, and environmental constraints are discussed. Suggestions are made to better integrate client-centered theory with directive practice.
Gerontology Institute, University of Massachusetts, Boston.
E
E
Clemens
T
T
Wetle
M
M
Feltes
B
B
Crabtree
D
D
Dubitzky
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006302:Health Services Research; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000592:standards*; D010358:Patient Participation; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012947:Social Work; D014481:United States