Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 9:498–511, 2012
Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 1543-3714 print/1543-3722 online
DOI: 10.1080/15433714.2011.581530
The Value of Daily Money Management:
An Analysis of Outcomes and Costs
DEBRA SACKS
The Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College, New York, New York, USA
DHIMAN DAS
Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
RAQUEL ROMANICK and MATT CARON
The Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College, New York, New York, USA
CARMEN MORANO
School of Social Work, Hunter College, New York, New York, USA
MARIANNE C. FAHS
School of Health Sciences, Program in Urban Public Health, Hunter College,
New York, New York, USA
For vulnerable and frail older adults, management of daily fi-
nancial obligations can become an overwhelming burden spiral-
ing into at-risk situations. Social service agencies have developed
community-based Daily Money Management programs to assist
these adults in protecting their financial security. Through this
study the authors present the first economic estimates of the costs of
Daily Money Management programs which, along with case man-
agement programs, save $60,000 per individual when compared
with the cost of nursing home placement, making them highly cost
effective. Most importantly, individuals are able to remain in their
homes. The authors address the current gap between cost-effective
community-based practice and public policy support.
KEYWORDS Daily money management, outcomes and costs, el-
der abuse, frail older adult, case management, crisis categories,
community based services
Address correspondence to Debra Sacks, Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and
Longevity, Hunter College, 2180 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10035. E-mail: rdsacks@aol.com
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