The Senior Care system provides case management and support services for people aged 65 years or older who are at risk of nursing home placement. Gap-filling funds to meet other needs may also be available to those who qualify. Those funds include support for personal care, chores, medications, medical equipment and supplies, adult day care, respite care, home-delivered meals, transportation, and emergency response systems.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for case management services, the applicant must be at least 65 years of age, severely or moderately disabled, and live in the county where services are to be received.
To be eligible for gap-filling funds, applicants must meet the case management and income criteria, with assets that don't exceed the established resource limits.
Coordination of Services
The Senior Care system of coordinated services is provided through local aging, health and/or social services agencies. They include screening, assessment, case management, and gap-filling services. Screening and assessment services are performed in-kind by local agencies. Case management is provided in-kind by local agencies and paid for with Senior Care funds.
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Screening: When older adults are referred for help, they are screened to determine eligibility for Senior Care and other services. Screens are performed in-kind by one of the participating agencies and include information about an individual’s age, income, assets, and functional abilities.
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Assessment: Assessments are interviews conducted face-to-face with older adults, their family members, and significant others that determine if the client meets established functional eligibility criteria. Upon completion of the assessment, a person-centered plan of care is developed that outlines the services the client is currently receiving and those that are still needed. This plan of care is forwarded to a Case Manager who meets with the client to determine the services that the client will receive.
- Case Management: A Case Manager will be responsible for implementing the care plan, seeking out and ordering services, advocating for the client, and overseeing the services provided. The Case Manager completes reassessments for eligibility and needs every six months.
