Share This Article
The Bonnie Kantor-Burman (Page 2 of 2)
An Interview with Bonnie Kantor-Burman
Director Of The Ohio Department Of
Aging
Director
Kantor-Burman:
Absolutely! First of all, I just have to
be sure that we’re talking about it in
the correct framework that we haven’t
instituted a program; we have a pilot
program that will run for three years.
It is not up and running yet. In fact,
we are the third state to have approval
from the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services.
The goal of this
program is that those individuals who
receive full Medicaid funding are able
to receive the most coordinated
Person-Centered care possible, and we
will be doing that in collaboration with
our aging network. They have a very
strong role in that, and we are working
in collaboration with a number of
managed-care plans in the different
regions of our state, because one of the
most important things wherever any one
is receiving care, and whatever the kind
of care they need is, is that they have
choice. So, those are really the
hallmarks of the program.
Gary Barg:
If you could only leave one piece of
advice with Ohio caregivers that you
meet, what would that be?
Director Kantor-Burman:
In the past, individuals thought that to
be a successful caregiver, you almost
gave your life to the responsibility.
And what we want is for individuals to
know that your best is good enough. What
we really want individuals to do is to
figure out how caregiving can be a part
of their life, and let us assist with
other parts; or let other family members
or other members of the community
assist. So that they retain the balance.
A caregiver that is burned out is not
helping anyone. We want caregivers to
know all of the resources that are out
there; to know that we are here to
partner with them; that there are local
organizations, especially the AAAs, that
want to assist, but that their vision,
and their definition of success, needs
to be person-centered, as well, and
needs to focus on their own needs.
|
|
|
