Aging/Older Adults

This report provides an overview of 35 states’ initiatives to improve their LTC systems and includes lessons learned and recommendations that can guide states undertaking similar initiatives. Despite accomplishments and improvements, Grantees described continuing barriers including insufficient funding for home and community services; workforce shortages; lack of affordable and accessible housing and transportation; and outdated or inflexible administrative, statutory, and regulatory provisions.

The Georgia QA/QI Real Choice Systems Change grant employed a variety of person centered planning (PCP) techniques in order to change services to fit the needs of consumers. This document is a variety of flyers and notices that the grantee used in order to recruit consumers to participate in its PCP focus and planning groups.

This report summarizes the research findings of a 2006 questionnaire disseminated to gather information about choice and access to continuum of care services. The survey gained information from consumers regarding services they are using, services needed, and barriers encountered. Data was gathered regarding how consumers learn about available services and suggestions to guide the development of a single point of entry (SPE) system, also called an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC).

This report describes the hospital discharge planner (HDP) survey conducted in the beginning of 2006. The HDP questionnaires were disseminated to gather information about the awareness of choice and access to continuum of care services for the elderly and people with disabilities as well as to gather ideas about how to optimize choice and improve access to these services. Review the results and read about the barriers faced by discharge planners.

Interviews were conducted to identify current perceptions, patterns, themes, and suggestions for improving the choice and self-direction, quality and access to long term care supports. This research also identified ways to develop a mechanism to balance state resources for services, and to identify elements for the design and structure of a single point of entry mechanism. Groups included: consumers of HCBS, elderly and younger nursing home residents, family members of consumers, and providers.

The 7th CMS New Freedom Initiative Conference was held March 5-7 in Baltimore. Presentations are available in both PDF and text formats. “Choice and Independence” is a key pillar of CMS’ vision for a person-centered long term services and supports system for the future. The 2007 conference focused on the policies, programs, and tools -including opportunities authorized by the Deficit Reduction Act– available to shape and carry out the vision.

This paper reports the outcome of focus groups, interviews and written surveys conducted in 2003 by a consultant working for the Northern Area Agency on Aging in Wisconsin under a contract with the Department of Health and Family Services. Groups of elders, family members and long-term care professionals were asked to address the question of how, when and why older people make the decisions they do about long-term care.

To help States build the infrastructure needed to remove barriers and create more consumer responsive LTC systems, CMS awarded $70 million in Real Choice Systems Change Grants. Fifty-two Grants were awarded in Sept. 2001 (25 Real Choice, 10 Community-Integrated Personal Assistance Services & Supports, 17 Nursing Facility Transition). This report describes the progress FY01 Grantees have made on their activities during the first year of the three-year Grant period (Oct 1, 2001-Sept 30, 2002.)

The Compendium contains basic information about each of the Real Choice Systems Change Grant awards in FY03–FY04 plus the Family to Family and Systems Transformation Grantees awarded in FY05 and FY06. The Compendium will help Grantees identify others with similar goals and activities. Learn more about how the grants will be used to allow more people of all ages with a disability or long term illness to live and participate in their communities. The sixth edition replaces all previous editions.

As part of its quality management program, Wisconsin revised its Individual Service Plan (ISP) form that was required as part of the Medicaid waiver process. The new revised forms address individual outcomes. Attached forms include the ISP Instructions, Medicaid form, and Individual Outcomes.