Aging/Older Adults

This brief provides background information on characteristics of the MR/DD population and describes the major information and service needs of the MR/DD population and the existing supports and services system. The brief also addresses implications for grantees serving this population and provides additional resources to facilitate ADRC planning and operations.

The third paper in the series examines what contemporary social service systems can do to promote consumer-directed services. We identify different features that make a service \"self-directed,\" and we identify characteristics of successful consumer direction and self-determination. In its present form, this paper serves as foundation work for additional dialogue and will also undergo continuing development in discussions with representatives of projects and consumer leaders in states.

The second in the series, this paper identifies the features of high-quality integrated community services and the systems that support them and serves as the foundation work for additional exploration. The paper will undergo continuing development in discussions with representatives of projects and consumer leaders, will augment assessment of existing systems and planning of new or improved systems, and ideally become an even more useful tool for those involved in systems transformation.

This report draws on interviews with Medicaid care planners for insight into the issues that arise in establishing programs to move individuals with significant long-term care needs from institutional to community settings. The five states that participated in this study—Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio and Washington—each received federal grants for nursing home transition activities and had varied experiences.

This report draws on interviews with state Medicaid program officials for insight into the issues that arise in establishing programs to move individuals with significant long-term care needs from institutional to community settings. The five states that participated in this study—Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio and Washington—each received federal grants for nursing home transition activities and had varied experiences.

Due to concern that wealthy elderly Americans were transferring assets to gain Medicaid coverage for nursing home care, the Deficit Reduction Act tightened Medicaid eligibility rules. About 43 percent of all nursing home residents eventually become Medicaid eligible. Over the six-year period examined, the authors estimate that, when applying the DRA asset transfer rules, federal savings to Medicaid could amount to $1.87 billion.

The Bangor Eastern Agency on Aging ADRC project has shared a number of resources involving the Intake and Referral Process. The first is their policies which provide staff guidelines for consistency. The second resource is their intake questions to help record and collect information. Lastly, they have shared their feedback referral process and how to make this simple and accessible by the consumers.

Curious about the ADRCs, a Joint Program of the Administration on Aging and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – this Fact Sheet provides a short overview and a map illustrating where and what kinds of activities are taking place across the country. Find out about the efforts to develop “one-stop-shop” programs.

Beneficiary-managed individual budget model had its origins in the Cash & Counseling Demonstration. This brief describes the evolution of the model since the original demonstration and provides an overview of state activity. Although Medicaid waivers have been required for individual budget model programs to date, the Deficit Reduction Act gives the option to use this model for an expanded range of home and community based services in the Medicaid plans without having to obtain a waiver.

With this funding for Systems Transformation, CMS will be awarding several states and non-profit agencies with small supplemental grants. States and other eligible organizations, in partnership with their disability and aging communities, may submit proposals to design and construct systems infrastructure that will result in effective and enduring improvements in community long-term support systems.