Job Description: Senior Case Manager
Job Title: Senior Case Manager
Reports To: Director of Senior Services
Employment Type: Full-Time, On-Site
Program Area: Senior Services
Position Summary
The Senior Case Manager is responsible for providing comprehensive case assistance, information and referral, intake, advocacy, and support services to older adults. This position works directly with senior center participants to assess needs, connect them to benefits and community resources, assist with applications, address barriers to services, and support their overall well-being, independence, and quality of life.
The Senior Case Manager serves as a key member of the Senior Services team and works closely with the Director of Senior Services, program staff, families, caregivers, community partners, and government agencies. The position requires strong documentation, communication, crisis response, and follow-up skills. The Senior Case Manager must ensure that all services are properly recorded, participant files are maintained, and required service units are accurately entered into the appropriate reporting systems, including STARS/PeerPlace where applicable.
Key Responsibilities: Case Assistance and Participant Support
- Conduct intake, screening, and needs assessments for older adults seeking services.
- Provide individualized case assistance to seniors experiencing challenges related to benefits, housing, food insecurity, healthcare access, transportation, social isolation, caregiver support, financial hardship, elder abuse concerns, or other social service needs.
- Assist participants with applications, renewals, recertifications, and documentation for public benefits and community resources, including but not limited to SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, SCRIE/DRIE, HEAP, Access-A-Ride, housing assistance, food programs, workshop, and other senior benefits.
- Provide information and referral services to connect participants with appropriate internal programs, external service providers, government agencies, healthcare providers, legal services, mental health services, and emergency assistance programs.
- Maintain ongoing follow-up with participants to ensure that referrals, applications, and service plans are completed and that participant needs are addressed.
- Advocate on behalf of seniors with agencies, providers, landlords, benefits offices, healthcare systems, and community organizations when appropriate.
- Enter Case Management data/unit via designated software application
Service Planning and Documentation
- Develop and maintain individualized service plans based on participant needs, goals, strengths, and available resources.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential participant records in accordance with agency policies, funder requirements, and applicable privacy standards.
- Document all case assistance, referrals, contacts, follow-ups, outcomes, and service units in the required database or reporting system.
- Ensure that participant files are complete, organized, audit-ready, and updated regularly.
- Prepare case notes, monthly reports, service summaries, and other required documentation for supervisory review.
- Assist with monitoring service unit targets and ensure that case assistance activities are properly reported.
Crisis Intervention and Risk Identification
- Identify seniors who may be at risk due to social isolation, food insecurity, housing instability, health concerns, cognitive decline, financial exploitation, elder abuse, neglect, or unsafe living conditions.
- Provide appropriate crisis intervention, safety planning, and referrals to protective services, emergency services, healthcare providers, or other agencies as needed.
- Communicate urgent concerns to the Director of Senior Services or Program Director in a timely manner.
- Participate in case conferences, interdisciplinary meetings, and service coordination discussions as needed.
Outreach and Community Coordination
- Support outreach efforts to identify and engage unserved and underserved older adults in the community.
- Build and maintain working relationships with community-based organizations, government agencies, healthcare providers, legal service providers, housing organizations, food assistance programs, and senior service networks.
- Represent the program at community meetings, resource fairs, workshops, and outreach events as assigned.
- Provide educational presentations or workshops for participants on benefits, entitlements, wellness resources, fraud prevention, housing resources, and other relevant senior service topics.
Participant Engagement and Program Support
- Work collaboratively with activity staff, nutrition staff, volunteers, and program leadership to identify participants who may need additional support.
- Encourage seniors to participate in center activities, meals, wellness programs, social groups, and supportive services.
- Assist with intake and orientation for new participants entering the Older Adult Center.
- Promote a welcoming, respectful, culturally sensitive, and participant-centered environment.
- Maintain professional boundaries while building trusting relationships with participants and families.
Compliance and Confidentiality
- Follow all agency policies, funder requirements, and applicable laws related to confidentiality, participant rights, mandated reporting, documentation, and service delivery.
- Maintain knowledge of senior services, public benefits, aging services, and community resources.
- Participate in required staff meetings, supervision, training sessions, audits, monitoring visits, and quality assurance reviews.
- Support corrective action plans, file reviews, and program improvement efforts as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Senior Services, Program Director, or agency leadership.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate should possess the following:
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Gerontology, Counseling, Public Health, Sociology, or a related field required.
- Master’s degree in Social Work, Gerontology, Human Services, Psychology, or a related field preferred.
- Three or more years of case management, social services, senior services, benefits assistance, or human services experience preferred.
- Experience working with older adults, caregivers, low-income individuals, disabled individuals, or vulnerable populations strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of senior benefits, entitlements, housing resources, healthcare systems, community services, and aging-related issues.
- Familiarity with New York City Department for the Aging programs, STARS/PeerPlace, Older Adult Centers, or community-based senior services preferred.
- Strong documentation, assessment, advocacy, follow-up, and organizational skills.
- Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with older adults, families, staff, community partners, and government agencies.
- Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office, email, online forms, databases, and case management systems.
- Bilingual ability preferred.
Core Competencies
The Senior Case Manager should demonstrate:
- Strong case management and assessment skills
- Compassionate and respectful communication
- Knowledge of senior benefits and community resources
- Accurate documentation and recordkeeping
- Crisis identification and problem-solving ability
- Advocacy and service coordination
- Cultural sensitivity and professionalism
- Confidentiality and ethical judgment
- Strong follow-up and organizational skills
- Commitment to supporting older adults’ independence and dignity
Physical and Work Requirements
This is a full-time, on-site position. The Senior Case Manager must be available during program operating hours and may occasionally attend community meetings, outreach events, trainings, or participant-related appointments.
The position may require walking throughout the center, meeting with participants individually, assisting with forms and documentation, participating in outreach activities, and responding to urgent participant needs.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $20.64 - $25.88 per hour
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Education:
