"Dad was just released from the hospital for
the third time in six months. They just can't seem to get his diabetes
under control. He lives alone and I am worried sick about him. I work full
time and he lives two hours away. Dad's got a neighbor who checks in on
him, but it is just not enough. He needs help with his bathing, with his
meals, with getting to the doctor, with just about everything. I know there
are services that help, but he can't afford them. Sometimes, he scrimps on
food to buy his medicine. Dad does NOT want to move in with me, but I don't
know how he is going to manage otherwise..."
Managing care. It is not
always easy and it helps to have professional advice and support along the
way. With careful assessment, arranging, and monitoring of care to make it
work, it can also be an effective alternative to nursing home care. That is
what Project Care Choices can do – provide options.
Project Care Choices is
designed to assist disabled individuals and the frail elderly who want to
remain at home, but may be having a difficult time obtaining the services
that would allow them to do so. Typically, those with multiple medical
needs and limited finances will qualify. Preliminary eligibility is
determined during a telephone assessment, and confirmed during a later home
visit.
While the process is the
same as described in Care Management, Project Care Choices differs in that
it serves disabled persons of all ages (over 18), covers a broader
geographic area, and pays for a larger variety of services through
Medicaid. Strict income and asset criteria apply.
Project
Care Choices Services
Our services in the Project Care Choices program include
§ Comprehensive, in-home
assessment of care needs conducted by a nurse and social worker team;
§ Individualized planning of
service options to meet care needs;
§ Arranging services based on
personal decisions;
§ Follow-up visits in the home at
least every 90 days to monitor and make necessary adjustments; and
§ Purchasing services for those
who do not have other resources.
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Types
of Care
Types of care that may be available include
- Adult Day Care (care provided in a local center);
- Homemaker (making beds, changing linens);
- Personal Care (bathing, brushing teeth, other
"hands on" care);
- Home delivered meals;
- Emergency Response Systems (Call button alarm
system);
- Counseling;
- Respite Care (allows caregiver to have a break);
- Chore Services (snow removal, grass cutting);
- Private Duty Nursing;
- Environment Modifications (wheelchair ramps, widen
doorways);
- Training (teach caregiver to give injections,
transfer techniques);
- Transportation; and
- Other needed services.
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Service
Costs
Some of the services may be covered by health insurance plans or through
social service agencies. The majority of arranged care is paid by Medicaid.
There are special income requirements for the program, which are determined
during the assessment. Agency staff completes the application and processes
the necessary paperwork.
Intake
Information
Enrollment in the program varies according to current funding. For
information about the current intake status and to receive help, even when
enrollment is restricted, call (734) 282-7171.
Waiver services are possible through funding from the
Department of Community Health, Medicaid Services Administration.
