Humana Care Manager Helped Joann to Enjoy Life Again

Grief is natural, complex and expected, especially as we confront the loss of a loved one. Yet, grief can have profound effects on our well-being, especially for seniors who face unique challenges from grief. These effects can range from appetite changes to confusion to social isolation and loneliness.

Humana cares for the whole-person and looks beyond physical health to help members thrive. When people are faced with social, emotional or physical challenges, we have programs, such as care management, to help meet their needs. 

Joann, a Humana Medicare Advantage member in Texas, was depressed, rarely left her house and felt anxious around other people. When Monica, a care manager and nurse with Humana’s Care Support team, first called Joann, she listened carefully and learned that Joann has been grieving the loss of her mother for many years.

“Joann said she had been stuck in a loop and felt like no one cared about her,” said Monica. “I talked to Joann about not getting stuck in any one stage of grief, and we discussed the importance of allowing oneself to complete the grieving process and healthy ways to move through different stages of grief.”

After learning more about Joann’s needs, Monica searched for resources in her community that could help. She connected Joann with a food delivery service, and then Monica found an organization to help fix her broken windows and install a wheelchair ramp at her home to make it easier to leave the house.

“When I followed-up with Joann to see how she was doing, she said that she was very happy,” said Monica. “She was able to go out to dinner at a restaurant and was excited to be around other people. Joann said that she would now go out of the house more and allow herself to have more days like that. And I believe that she’s going to do it!”

“Being able to help our members live their best life is something that inspires me every day.”

Check out articles Humana offers to help members learn more about emotional health and well-being.

Not every Humana member may receive this type of assistance. Care managers are only assigned to members who meet eligibility criteria and agree to participate in a Care Support Program. Results may not be typical.