# Care Choice Care Management > Care Choice provides custom care management for individuals, seniors, and their families navigating life issues in St. Louis, MO and the greater Midwest. Founded by Maria and Steve Miskovic, Care Choice is a licensed clinical social work practice specializing in aging issues, Alzheimer's and related dementias, mental and behavioral health, adult disability, Medicaid assistance, and life transitions. The team brings over 350 years of combined experience and is one of the largest care management practices in the Midwest. ## Core Services ## Services Overview Care Choice Services include: Assessment: - Functional status - Housing - Safety and home modification - Dementia screening - Care needs - Quality of life - Job readiness Care Plan Development and Implementation: - Strategies to address gaps in care - Cost effective options - Medical equipment and technology - Diagnosis education - Resolve family conflicts - Problem solving - Behavioral management - Activity Planning Education and Assistance: - Attend medical and psychiatric appointments - Medical interpretation and translation - Education on Powers of Attorney, Advance Directives - End of life issues - Medicaid planning - Veterans benefits education - Transportation and Accompaniment - Advocacy ## Care Management for Individuals Do you have difficulty managing or supporting your needs? Would it be helpful to have someone help you manage your household or other areas in your life? Let Care Choice help create a custom and manageable plan to support your needs. Professional care management is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults, disabled, or mentally ill persons. The goal is to improve your quality of life and reduce stress through assessment and monitoring, planning and problem-solving, education and advocacy, and caregiver coaching. Care Managers are engaged to assist in a variety of areas, such as: - Housing — helping evaluate and select appropriate level of housing or residential options - Home care services — determining types of services that are right and assisting in monitoring those services - Medical management — attending doctor appointments, facilitating communication between doctor, client, and family, and monitoring medical orders and instructions - Communication — keeping family members and professionals informed as to well-being and changing needs - Social activities — providing opportunities to engage in social, recreational, or cultural activities that enrich quality of life - Legal — referring to or consulting with elder law or disability attorney, providing expert opinion for courts in determining level of care - Financial — may include reviewing bill paying or consulting with an accountant or Power of Attorney - Entitlements — providing information on Federal and State entitlements; connecting to local programs - Community Connection — identifying appropriate community programs and services that enhance quality of life - Safety and security — monitoring at home; recommending technologies for security or safety; observing changes and potential risks of exploitation or abuse Local, cost-effective resources are identified and engaged as needed. A care plan tailored for each individual's circumstances is prepared after a comprehensive assessment. The plan may be modified, in consultation with the client, as circumstances change. Professionals in Care Management are accountable to their licensure and certifications as well as the National Association of Social Workers and the Aging Life Care Professionals Codes of Ethics. ## Family Care Services Balancing your life and the life of an aging parent or disabled relative can be challenging. Could you benefit from someone that can coordinate appointments, find the best and most appropriate resources and ultimately give you a break? Professional care management is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults, disabled, or mentally ill persons. The goal is to improve the client's quality of life and reduce family stress through assessment and monitoring, planning and problem-solving, education and advocacy, and family caregiver coaching. Care Managers are engaged to assist with housing, home care services, medical management, communication, social activities, legal, financial, entitlements, community connection, and safety and security. A care plan tailored for each individual's circumstances is prepared after a comprehensive assessment and may be modified as circumstances change. ## Thrive at Home To determine if you need the Thrive At Home Program, ask yourself these questions: - Are you and/or a loved one prepared for a potential crisis? - Are you at risk? Have you delayed your long-term planning? - Have you wasted time, money, and/or need assistance navigating the health care system? - Do you have limited family support? Do you need someone to call in case of an emergency? If you answered YES to any of these questions then the Thrive at Home program is the answer for you! This program helps avoid a crisis and provides a guide or roadmap that can be used to plan for future care needs. It is like an insurance plan to give you peace of mind and provides you with support year-round whether you are in crisis or not. We will help prepare you for a potential crisis by giving you access to professionals that can support you in your journey. Services Include: - Initial Assessment or Evaluation Visit - Written Care Plan/Recommendations - Quarterly phone check-ins - Available to answer questions as needed Our team of experienced Social Workers, Gerontologists, and Nursing professionals will assist you in answering all your questions. Each staff member has 20+ years of experience in health care. If Care Choice Care Management is not the right fit or cannot provide the services you need, we will make every attempt to refer you to someone who can assist you. We provide a FREE information visit for anyone about our services and what makes us different and unique. ## Medicaid Assistance Services Difficulty Understanding Medicaid and MoHealth Net? Care Choice Care Management is Here to Assist You! If you resonate with any of these questions and/or you would like more information, please contact Care Choice Care Management: - Are you overwhelmed and having difficulty understanding Medicaid, Food Stamps and/or other programs covered by MO HealthNet and need assistance understanding how to qualify? - Did you know, for some people, Missouri will pay for a person's Medicare premium? - Have you heard of a Qualified Income Trust or Miller Trust? For certain seniors, this type of Trust assists those with a higher income to qualify for Medicaid as well as in-home care (Home and Community Based Services) funded by the State of Missouri. - Are you and/or a loved one in need of Medicaid in order to move into/pay for a skilled nursing community? - Are you and/or a loved one moving into a residential or assisted living community? Did you know that there are Medicaid programs offering financial assistance for those individuals living in or looking to move into these communities? - Do you need assistance completing the paperwork and gathering the necessary documents to apply for Medicaid? Our team of professionals can assist in answering all of these questions. Care Choice Care Management offers flat rate pricing for the various types of applications, so you are aware of the costs incurred prior to engaging our services. We provide a comprehensive checklist and guide you in collecting your documents so the application paperwork/process will be complete upon submission. Our staff will follow up with the State and its workers to track and follow the status of the application until its approval. Do not let Medicaid leave you stressed! Call our team of experts to assist and guide you through this complicated bureaucratic process. ## Convergence Convergence is a comprehensive care management, counseling, and consulting program serving seniors, caregivers, special needs individuals, and adults with disabilities. Working with individuals and families during a time of transition and uncertainty, we provide a continuity of care ranging from assisting with communications among family members, medical personnel and service advisors to providing counseling. "Our mission is to provide personalized and compassionate services that meet a wide range of needs for this community." — Maria Miskovic, Principal at Care Choice — Mary Fitzgibbons, Director of WCPA Care management services are needed when someone: - Has multiple medical, financial, or legal issues - Is unable to live safely in his/her current environment - Is not pleased with the current professional care providers and requires advocacy - Is confused about his/her own financial and/or legal situation - Has limited or no family support, or the family needs professional guidance and assistance - Has become involved with helping a loved one and needs direction about available services - Is either "burned out" or confused about care solutions - Has limited time and/or expertise in dealing with a loved one's chronic care needs - Is at odds regarding care decisions - Needs education Counseling services are needed when someone: - Seems anxious or depressed much of the time - Often feels stressed, has lost interest in the activities he or she used to do - Feels as though life is hopeless or has a sense of foreboding - Is struggling to cope with a loss in life such as a loved one or independence - Shows signs of abusing alcohol or prescription medications - Becomes depressed about changes in their loved one - Feels anxious or guilty about the additional stress or responsibility they experience - Sees that the situation is creating a strain in family relationships - Feels a loss of self-identity while providing care - Feels fearful of the financial and emotional cost and not knowing the duration of the situation The services of Convergence are provided by two established health care providers: Care Choice Care Management and West County Psychological Associates. Contact: (314) 275-8599 | 12125 Woodcrest Executive Drive, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 ## About ## About Care Choice Founded by Maria and Steve Miskovic, Care Choice became the culmination of customer service improvements in the healthcare industry. The Care Choice team has over a combined 350 years of experience working with seniors, the disabled, mentally ill and other adult populations. As the needs of these populations continue to grow, Care Choice is here to assist. Care Choice is bound by the social work code of ethics, the standards of licensure in the State of Missouri and by their own high standards of excellence. Maria Miskovic, Founder, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and certified advanced case manager who has worked in virtually all care settings for over 25 years. She received her Master's degree at The Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, specializing in Gerontology and Management. As an Advanced Certified Aging Life Care Manager, she sits at the top of the tiers of care management practice levels. Steve Miskovic, Founder, is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years' experience. His focus on older adults, family caregiving, dementia, and mental health services. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from St. Louis University's School of Social Work and served as an adjunct faculty member at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis from 2004-2015. Matt Skaggs, Owner and COO, has over 28 years of experience as a Healthcare Executive Director and Entrepreneur. He specializes in healthcare leadership management, operational and service management, and acquisition integration. "Our passion for older adults, those with mental illness, special needs, and disability drive us to give the best service possible." — Maria Miskovic "Our Commitment is that everyone we serve has the experience of receiving concierge level care and attention." The Care Choice team includes 21+ licensed care managers and office staff, each with 20+ years of healthcare experience. ## Resources Care Choice Resources — curated directory of regional and national organizations: - Aging Life Care Association - Alzheimer's Association - ALS Association - Alzheimer's Disease Education - American Case Management Association - American Parkinson Disease Association - Brain Injury Foundation of St. Louis - Memory Care Home Solutions - The Caregiver Club - NAMI — National Alliance On Mental Illness - HOPE, Inc. - West County Psychological Associates - MO Rides - National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Medical Alert Systems Guide - Gateway End-Of-Life Coalition ## Locations - Greater St. Louis Area: 636-288-1764 | info@carechoicestl.com - Greater Kansas City Area (MO and KS): 913-408-2008 | info@carechoicekc.com ## Contact - St. Louis: 636-288-1764 | info@carechoicestl.com - Kansas City: 913-408-2008 | info@carechoicekc.com - Website: https://www.carechoicestl.com - Proud member of the Kirkwood/Des Peres Chamber of Commerce