Aging/Older Adults

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.

This report provides a comprehensive framework for Wisconsin’s Functional Screen Quality Assurance. Wisconsin’s Functional Screen system (a web-based application that collects information about an individual’s functional status, health and need for assistance for various programs) is comprised of three separate screens: Adult Long Term Care Functional Screen (LTC FS), Children’s Long Term Support Functional Screen (CLTS FS), and Mental Health/AODA Functional Screen (MH/AODA FS).

The “Quality Close to Home” papers are part of Wisconsin’s process to review the existing quality management system for Home and Community Based Services. The report on local practices was the result of a series of interviews conducted with local informants who conduct quality management activities. The second paper outlines the scope of quality management, challenges of quality management, federal rules and regulations, and provides a design for an improved quality management system.

The UCare website is a feature of the Utah Department of Human services and exists primarily to help caregivers and provide link to other resources. Resources are for the elderly, people with mental illness, for people with disabilities and their caregivers. Information is available on-line and through a statewide toll free number. Other features to note include provider report cards, guides, a glossary and the long-term care planning tool.

The Utah Real Choice grant produced “The Caregiver Guide” and they have shared several modules. Topics covered include: Community Supports to Stay at Home, Caring for a family member with mental illness, Hiring and managing personal assistants, Assistive technology, Creating an accessible home, and Caring for a child with special needs. Modules are also available in Spanish.