AIRS 2017 Conference Archives

People with disabilities face significant barriers to healthcare and community programs. One way to reduce these barriers is to selfempower frontline I&R staff and consumers with ADA knowledge and resources so that they are better equipped to request accommodations and have greater opportunities for equal and accessible healthcare services. This lecture and discussion will assist beginning and intermediate I&R staff in understanding the rights of people with disabilities when it comes to accessibility in medical settings and community programs.

 

A-4: A Mystery Shopper Study: Options Counseling for People Needing Long-Term Services and Supports

With the advent of managed long-term care and other insurance-based care models, it is imperative that consumers receive comprehensive, correct, conflict-free information about the services and plans available to them. The National PACE Association (NPA) contracted with Secondto-None, a mystery shopper research organization, to determine whether consumers were receiving accurate information about PACE, and how well options counselors described the PACE benefit. This session will provide an overview of PACE, how options counselors fared, and tools to establish robust options counseling centers. The target audience is all levels of I&R call center staff and I&R call center management.

Asmaa Albaroudi, National PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) Association, Alexandria Virginia

Presentation

A-5: Look for the Evidence: Understanding How Evidence-Based Practices, Interventions, and Tools Can Help Your Clients

Your organization has a tight budget and high expectations. You need to convince your bosses that your new program or service is worth your time and their money. Look for the evidence! Evidence-based practices are gaining acceptance as primary approaches for increasing consumer involvement, controlling costs, and improving quality and accountability of service delivery in education, healthcare, and human services. In this session, you’ll learn what it means when a program is evidence-based and where to look for programs that have research behind them. Included are examples of evidence-based programs that have been developed and implemented by federally-funded centers. Service providers, administrators/managers, grant developers, and self-advocates are welcome.

Jessica Chaiken, National Rehabilitation Information Center, Landover, Maryland

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Notes

A-6: The Role of I&R/A in Managed Care Contracts

Whether in-home or over-the-phone, I&R/A is the centerpiece of a successful outcome. Our agency’s managed care contracts cover a population of traditional clients, as well as younger workers coping with catastrophic events, nursing mothers, and those living independently with mental health issues. Today, our information database supports aging and in-home services staff in those managed care contracts in achieving outcomes and meeting the needs of those populations. Three contracting scenarios will be reviewed highlighting the role of a robust I&R/A database.

Maureen Widner, Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Katie Hougham, Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Presentation

A-7: Overcoming Stigma to Identify Benefits

Despite the availability of public benefits programs that can help meet basic needs and improve economic security, many low-income older adults and younger adults with disabilities are under-enrolled. In this session, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) will present findings from a recent study on how stigma affects perceptions of these programs, and what messages can effectively counter stigma. Participants will also see how NCOA’s newly redesigned online screening tool, BenefitsCheckUp®, can assist with identifying benefits. The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities will present information about outreach to individuals with disabilities who may be eligible for the Medicare Savings Programs and Low Income Subsidy. Participants will participate in an interactive exercise to identify stigma when providing benefits outreach and share promising practices.

Brandy Bauer, National Council on Aging, Washington, District of Columbia; Rachel Feldman, ADvancing States, Washington, District of Columbia

Presentation 

A-8: Connecting the Dots for Community Transportation Resources

Increase your knowledge about national resources and local community transportation options that support older adults and people with disabilities with their mobility needs. Participants will gain an understanding of the range and family of ride resources that may be offered and successful partnerships between transportation and I&R programs. This interactive session will include a facilitated activity for working through challenging transportation ride request scenarios to locate best options to meet a caller’s need, so plan to share some of your best strategies and resources with your colleagues.

Kenneth Thompson, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, Easter Seals, Washington, D.C; Jeff Graney, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), Washington, D.C; Eileen Miller, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), Washington, D.C.; Melisa Lopes, Eldercare Locator, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), Washington, D.C.; Patrice Earnest, Eldercare Locator, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), Washington, D.C.

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A-9: Partnering Up with your Local University and Community Health Clinic

Learn the benefits of this private-public collaboration between a AAA/ADRC, the local University and the local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Senior Connection Center (the AAA in Tampa, FL) has worked in partnership with the University of South Florida and the local FQHC to facilitate disabled adults, elders, and caregivers to further access home and community-based support through the use of a Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) grant. The grant-funded program, known as the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) has also helped the AAA to educate new professionals in the medical field, exchange referrals with local community clinics, and gain further exposure among primary care physicians.

Katie Parkinson, Senior Connection Center, Tampa, Florida; Zeke Barbosa, Senior Connection Center, Tampa, Florida; Anna Wenders, University of South Florida, Tampa Florida

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A-10: Navigating Disability: Communication and Resources

An estimated 4.6 million Americans have an intellectual or developmental disability (Larson, 2000). These Americans and their families need I&R services to help them naviage the service system, resolve crises, and find assistance to live full, independent lives. Through this interactive session, beginning and intermediate practitioners will learn effective strategies to interact with callers with I/DD and their families in a disability-competent manner, become more familiar with resources available in the community to support people with I/DD, and learn how to respond to regular intake and crisis calls from people with I/ DD and their families.

Jennifer Sladen, The Arc of the United States, Washington, District of Columbia

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