ABSTRACT
This chapter examines case management practice which underpinned these goals, as it evolved during the course of the research study, highlighting the principles of case management as compared with more traditional social work practice with older people and their carers. Social workers who possessed a range of skills and experience in working with older people were recruited as case managers to the Lewisham Case Management Scheme (LCMS). One notable difference between the role of social workers in the community mental health team for older people and those social workers employed as case managers was the latter's focus on long-term continuity of care. In contrast, less than half of reviews in which problems were identified on assessment in relation to mental state are addressed in the care plan. As noted previously, this is perhaps not surprising since all older people referred to the scheme had been diagnosed as having dementia.
