Three Things a "Care Manager" Does That You Should Know When You're New to Caregiving

2026 8/03

August 3, 2026 August 3, 2026

Even when you start to notice your parents are getting older and think, “Maybe it’s about time they need care,”I don't know where to start.That’s how most people feel. It’s easy to feel at a loss—not knowing whether to go to the government office or the hospital.

For families facing this “first experience with caregiving,” the very first—and most reassuring—ally they’ll have is"Care Manager (Certified Care Support Specialist)"That's right. You may have heard the name before, but you're not quite sure what they actually do—in this article, we'll explain their role in an easy-to-understand way.

TOC

1. The “Three Things” a Care Manager Does

In a nutshell, a care manager is..."A bridge connecting people who need care with care services"That's right. Specifically, they provide the following three types of support:

Thoroughly listening to the “concerns” of the individual and their family
Every family faces completely different challenges—such as “I’m anxious about taking a bath alone” or “I’m reaching my limit with the strain of caring for a family member.” Care managers visit your home to carefully assess not only the individual’s physical condition but also the burden on family members and their hopes for “what kind of life they want to lead going forward.”
Creating the Best "Care Plan"
There are many types of long-term care insurance services, including day care, in-home care, short-term stays, and the rental of assistive devices. From among these options, we determine “which services to use and how many times a week to use them in order to live the desired lifestyle within the budget,” and create a customized care plan tailored to each individual.
Handling tedious "procedures and communications" on your behalf
This is the aspect that is most helpful for families. The care manager acts as your point of contact and handles all the time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks on your behalf—such as submitting paperwork to government offices to start using the service, checking availability at various care facilities, and arranging facility tours.

"I don't know who to ask"—that's where a care manager comes in to take care of everything for you.

2. There is no out-of-pocket cost for consultations and care plan development.

Many people worry, “If I have a dedicated advisor who handles so many things for me, won’t it cost a lot of money?” But please rest assured.

The fees for consulting with a care manager and for creating a care plan (home care support fees) are,Since the full cost is covered by long-term care insurance, there is no out-of-pocket expense for the user."There's no need to worry that you might be charged for asking for advice... so please feel free to reach out to us."

*This is based on the guidelines for long-term care reimbursement established by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (as of August 2026). Subject to change due to system revisions.

3. Characteristics of Care Managers at the Daiseikai and Kunikai Group

If you’re looking for a consultation service for long-term care in the Numata City area, please feel free to contact the care managers at the Daiseikai-Kunikai Group. What we value most is,Collaboration with “Medical Services (Uchida Hospital)”It is.

When caring for older adults, the “medical” aspect is always a factor. When situations arise—such as “a sudden fever” or “difficulty managing medication for a chronic condition”—if the points of contact for caregiving and medical care are separate, it can take time to communicate and coordinate.

Uchida Hospital and the Home Nursing Station are part of the same group.
We can seamlessly connect you with everything from “care consultations” to “collaboration with doctors and nurses” within our group.
"Daily Living Support" and "Health Management" as a Single Service
We believe that having a single point of contact will provide peace of mind for your family.

4. Even if you’re thinking, “Maybe it’s still too early?” now is the time to seek advice.

"I'm not bedridden yet, so maybe it's too early to talk about this..." We've seen many cases where family members become completely exhausted while holding back out of such hesitation.

For Caregiving ConsultationsIt’s never “too early”"When you find yourself thinking, 'I've been a little worried about my parents lately,' that's the best time to contact your care manager."

We are here to listen to your concerns and work with you to find solutions. Please don’t keep this to yourself—feel free to give us a call.