United Way of West Central Connecticut

The mission of Connecticut Community Care, Inc. (CCCI) is to provide care management services to older individuals, and other persons with similar chronic care needs and their caregivers, to assist them in remaining as independent as possible in the most cost-effective manner. CCCI will continue to be the premiere provider of long-term care management to low income elderly in Connecticut.

Description:
Connecticut Community Care Inc.(CCCI) is a statewide, private, nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting older adults and the disabled to remain independent in their homes. Since 1980, CCCI has helped more than 64,000 individuals stay at home through a proven service known as care management.

Through a contract with the Department of Social Services CCCI manages the care for 7,000-10,000 elderly and disabled clients each year who meet the State's financial and functional criteria.

Private care management and telphone consultation services are also provided on a fee-for-service basis at the request of individuals, caregivers or professional advisors.

Care management bridges the gaps in the health care continuum and helps individuals to understand their home care options, find and use community services, plan the best use of personal finances and resources, secure payment for home care services, return home when nursing home or hospital care is no longer needed and identify viable long-term care options.

Care management services are most appropriate for individuals whose personal needs cannot be met solely by family and friends, those with multiple health and social needs, those with cognitive impairment and those considering a nursing home.

CCCI care managers are specially trained nurses or social workers who visit client homes to determine their individual needs. They develop personalized care plans, arrange for cost effective home care services and solutions and regularly monitor care. They simplify the health and home care maze, provide professional objectivity and link appropriate services and respite support to meet family needs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Advocacy for clients and their families remains a top priority.

Referrals may be made by anyone including family members, friends, physicialns, clergy, attorneys or older adults.

Additional programs include the Case Management Institute (CMI) that provides training, professional education and consultation to organizations and individuals nationwide to enable them to respond to the changing needs of elderly and disabled populations.

Finally, the Money Management Program, currently operating in the northwest and southwest regions of the state, without charge, matches screened and trained volunteers to help older adults who are no longer able to manage their financial affairs. Volunteers work with participants to help them balance their checkbooks, pay bills and assist with applications for financial assistance and medical claims.

History:
In the early 1970s public policy focused attention on the potential for community care options to nursing home placement. Federal policy makers launched demonstration projects and Connecticut was awarded a federal grant and some state funding to develop an alternative and developed Triage, Inc. in 1974 (Connecticut Community Care, Inc.'s predecessor). In 1976, the State Department on Aging, impressed with Triage results, launced its own project called the SAIL Program. Due to operational differences within the five regional Area Agencies on Aging, it was decided to consolidate the program into one statewide private not for profit organization. CCCI was incorporated in 1980 and the five regional programs were merged. In 1992, the State Department of aging established the CT Home Care Program for Elders and since then more than 64,000 individuals have received care management and home/community based services through CCCI's program.

Because of the organization's substantial experience, CCCI began to experience and increase in the number of private requests for services. In 1986, with assistance from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut, CCCI entered the private pay market and began offering services to individuals, corporations, trust departments, attorneys and others.

By the mid 1980s the success of care management created a demand for educational programs to teach professionals about all aspects of the process. Case Management Institute was formed in 1985. Since that time experienced CCCI care managers have traveled throughout the U.S. to train, consult and conduct on-site evaluations to hundreds of stae health departments, insurance companies and other health organizations.

CCCI has achieved impressive accomplishments over the past 25 years. As a founding member of the National Academy of Certified Care Managers it shepherded the organization through the development of an accreditation process that certifies care managers.

In collaboration with distinguised colleagues from the Yale School of Medicine, the UCONN Department of Social Services and Center on aging, the Braceland Center and the Robert Wood Johnson foundation, CCCI has been actively involved with a number of studies and research impacting elders in Connecticut.

In 200 the organization developed and began implementing a state of the art, technologically advanced care management information system, CyberCAM. This system has demonstrated significant time and cost savings and consistent reporting. Efforts are underway to share this system with other health care organizations and states.

Contact person: Patricia Morgan, Director Of Development & Public Relations, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (860) 585-0858

Address:

43 Enterprise Drive Bristol, CT 06010 (See a map)