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Southeast's First Care Management Agency Celebrates 25 Years in South Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida - When Rona Bartelstone Associates opened
25 years ago, it was the first private care management agency
in the Southeast. Today, the agency has grown to more than 120
employees and a national network of more than 1,000 care managers
nationwide. Its services have expanded to include home healthcare
and specialized service levels to meet the individualized needs
and financial resources of a wide range of clients.
"We have grown and evolved in an industry marked by challenge and change," says Rona Bartelstone, who opened
the agency in 1981 and still serves as its president. "We have served thousands of clients and helped countless
families cope with the emotionally and physically stressful job of caring for their frail elders, often in spite
of distance and relationship issues."
"Our staff has become expert on the needs of people with chronic
illnesses and their families, through the close contact with thousands
of clients, each with their own particular story of stress related
to caregiving," stated Bartelstone. "In addition, most of us are
now in the position of being family caregivers, as well as professional
caregivers. This gives us an even greater sensitivity to the kinds
of support that are necessary for persons needing care and their
families.
Bartelstone, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, was well versed
in the needs of elders when she opened the agency after serving
as director for an eldercare program. She saw an opportunity to
develop a broad based program that would provide care for elders
and address the concerns of families, especially those who live at a long distance
from their relatives in Florida.
Initially, the agency provided care management services to seniors and the disabled. Over time, an education
component was added, offering required continuing education credits for professional social workers, nurses and mental health counselors.
In 1994, based on a growing concern about the level of care available from local agencies, Bartelstone added
a home healthcare component.
"At the time, local agencies were unable to deal with the clients
we were serving. Typically these were clients in their mid-80s
with multiple medical, social and functional problems and often
mental health problems," says Bartelstone, who has written, lectured
and spoken extensively on aging issues. "We wanted to
provide a more specialized level of professional care."
Bartelstone, who is active in numerous industry and community organizations, believes several factors have allowed
Rona Bartelstone Associates to thrive over the years. Among those she cites the agency's multidisciplinary team
approach to client service, its national care management network and a team of aides with training and knowledge
in areas such as dementia care, diabetic care, working with couples and end of life issues.
In the future Bartelstone says the agency will continue to grow its Concierge Care program for home healthcare
clients, add consulting physicians to its practice and continue to develop partnerships with non-medical service
providers to better address client needs.
"Care management is still considered a luxury item," says Bartelstone. "As an industry we must continue to
challenge ourselves to deliver the highest quality of care possible for elders and the disabled and reach out
to their loved ones before a real crisis occurs."
Rona Bartelstone Associates provides private health care and care management services to older adults and
individuals dealing with illness and chronic disabilities. The agency's founder, Rona Bartelstone, is a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Care Manager and Diplomat in Clinical Social Work. She is a
sought-after speaker, university instructor, consultant and published author in the areas of aging,
caregiving and programming for chronic care needs. Bartelstone is founder and past president of the
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Management and founder and vice president of the
National Academy of Certified Care Managers.
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