Links / Websites

Every year numerous children with severe disabilities who get in-home care through state Medicaid funds age out of the program. Some go to nursing homes, other families struggle to keep their children at home but often get overwhelmed by the care. Read this story about an Illinois family’s struggle, and other families who are suing states for continuation of home care. Links to interactive databases, e.g., milestones in LTC policies with other related information are included in the article.

Older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals face a number of obstacles as they age and develop the need for supports and services. This national technical assistance resource center was created to address the barriers that prevent LGBT elders from receiving the services they need. The center provide will provide training, technical assistance and educational resources to aging providers, LGBT organizations and LGBT older adults.

Texas is using its MFP Demonstration to address some of the obstacles to relocation and successful access to community living through interagency collaboration, development of the necessary infrastructure to support relocation, and utilization of evidence-based practices. Attached find two presentations delivered at the 2010 HCBS conference, as well as links to the program’s on-line proposal and operational protocol.

Older workers are a valuable resource for the workforce. SCSEP’s mission is to enhance employment opportunities for unemployed older Americans and promote them as a solution for businesses seeking trained, qualified, and reliable employees. They are committed to providing high-quality job training and employment assistance to participants, and have an extensive network of service providers. View their website and three related presentations delivered at the 2010 HCBS conference.

The mission of this network is to promote and foster culture change "to improve the quality of life for older Georgians and those closest to them in all settings where aging services are delivered”. The Network was founded in 2008 and includes a clearinghouse for organizations and providers working on person-centered, long-term care in multiple care settings. Numerous resources can be found on their site, along with information on special projects, supporting organizations and more.

Effective return-to-work approaches can help employees work while still recuperating, protecting their earning power and boosting an organization's output. In many instances, work itself plays an important role in the recovery process. The Office of Disability Employment Policy has developed an online toolkit to help both employers and employees understand the return-to-work process and provide resources to assist in getting employees back on the job quickly and smoothly.

Practices featured in the profiles on PHI’s resource website are based on care organizations throughout the country and exemplify their “quality care through quality jobs” philosophy. For most of the organizations, the improved job quality can be directly linked to higher recruitment and retention among direct-care staff. Important elements of the practice, measurable outcomes, and lessons learned are discussed.

The MFP/Community Reintegration Program is part of a statewide, multi-department demonstration program with the goal of increasing the use of HCBS long-term care services and eliminating barriers that prevent or restrict flexible use of Medicaid funds for necessary services in settings reflecting individual choice. Their website includes outreach materials, program descriptions and qualifications, and numerous related links.

The North Carolina MFP demonstration project assists Medicaid-eligible individuals who live in inpatient facilities to move into their own homes and communities, and to help identify and address barriers to receiving quality, community-based care. Their website includes historical information, forms, contact information, presentations and outreach materials that can be used as templates for other states seeking to develop similar materials.

The term Personal Assistance Services (PAS) refers to help provided to people with disabilities to assist them with tasks essential for daily living. Review a seminar developed by the State of Alabama Medicaid Infrastructure Grant designed to educate users on the usage of PAS in the workplace: how the Americans with Disability Act protects it as being a reasonable accommodation, how to combine it with assistive technology, how to secure funding, and more.