Adult Day Health Care

The Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) Program is a licensed community-based day health program that provides services to older persons and adults with chronic medical, cognitive, or mental health conditions and/or disabilities that are at risk of needing institutional care. The majority of ADHC participants are Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Through March 31, 2012, ADHC services were an optional benefit under the Medi-Cal Program for individuals eligible for Medi-Cal.

Community-Based Adult Services

Effective April 1, 2012, a new program similar to ADHC – Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) – has begun under California’s “Bridge to Reform” 1115 Medicaid waiver. Former ADHC participants who meet the more stringent CBAS eligibility standards will begin receiving CBAS services in approved CBAS centers. There are approximately 250 CBAS centers statewide. In addition to meeting Medi-Cal program and waiver requirements, CBAS providers must maintain an ADHC license.

Under an interagency agreement, the ADHC (now CBAS) Program is administered between the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the California Department of Aging (CDA). CDPH licenses ADHC centers and CDA certifies them for participation in the Medi-Cal Program.

The primary objectives of the program are to:

• Restore or maintain optimal capacity for self-care to frail elderly persons or adults with disabilities; and
• Delay or prevent inappropriate or personally undesirable institutionalization.

The Program stresses partnership with the participant, the family and/or caregiver, the primary care physician, and the community in working toward maintaining personal independence.

Each center has a multidisciplinary team of health professionals who conduct a comprehensive assessment of each potential participant to determine and plan services needed to meet the individual’s specific health and social needs. Services provided at the center include the following: professional nursing services; physical, occupational and speech therapies; mental health services; therapeutic activities; social services; personal care; hot meals and nutritional counseling; and transportation to and from the participant’s residence.

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

The California Department of Aging’s Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Program (Title IIID) is federally funded under the Older Americans Act. Federal and state funds are distributed to local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) who use the funds to provide programs that support healthy lifestyles and promote healthy behaviors at multipurpose senior centers, at congregate meal sites, through home delivered meal programs, and at other appropriate sites.

Chronic diseases and conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis are among the most common preventable health problems. Many older adults experience limitations in activities due to such conditions. Title IIID evidence-based programs seek to reduce the risk of chronic diseases among California’s older adults by teaching techniques and strategies that delay and/or manage chronic health conditions.

Title IIID activities promote improved nutrition, emotional and social well-being, physical fitness, and fall prevention. An active healthy lifestyle can help older adults prolong their independence and improve their quality of life.

Information on the Title IIID Program is available through the statewide toll-free Senior Information Line at 1-800-510-2020 or by contacting your local AAA to determine what programs are available in your area.

For more information on the Administration on Aging’s definition of evidence-based programs visit the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Title IIID Disease Prevention and Health Promotion website.

To learn more about Evidence-Based programs available in your area visit the California Healthier Living website.

Family Caregiver Support Program

The California Department of Aging, with funding from the U.S. Administration on Aging, contracts with 33 Area Agencies on Aging(AAAs) to coordinate local community-service systems for assisting caregivers of seniors. Services are available to family and other unpaid caregivers supporting older individuals, as well as grandparents and older relatives caring for children. Each AAA is responsible for determining the array of services, including caregiver information, assistance in gaining access to services, counseling and training support, temporary respite, and limited supplemental services to complement the care provided by caregivers. Services are provided directly by AAA staff, or through partnerships with other public or private agencies.

Eligibility

Income – No requirement

Age – Family caregivers of older adults must be 18 years of age or older.

• Older care receivers must be:
  • Age 60 years or older, or
  • Individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorder with neurologic and organic brain dysfunction.
• Grandparents, or other older relative caregivers of children, must be age 55 or older.
• Child care receivers must be:
  • Children 18 years of age or younger; or
  • Individuals of any age with a disability.

Access
For more information, contact your Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-510-2020.

HICAP – Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program

The California Department of Aging’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) provides personalized counseling, community education and outreach events for Medicare beneficiaries. HICAP is the primary local source for accurate and objective information and assistance with Medicare benefits, prescription drug plans and health plans.

California HICAP is part of a national network of State Health Insurance and Assistance Programs (SHIP). SHIP is a Federal grant program that helps States enhance and support a network of local programs, staff, and volunteers. Local programs are charged with directly helping beneficiaries to understand how to use their Medicare benefits including Prescription Drug Plan coverage, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare supplemental policies, Medicare Savings Programs, and long-term care insurance. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) administers the SHIP grant programs nationally.

Local HICAP offices throughout California (or statewide) provide free community education and unbiased confidential individual counseling. HICAP Counselors are trained to assist you with choosing and/or enrolling in Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Health Plans, filing original Medicare and private insurance claims and/or preparing Medicare appeals. If you are considering purchasing long-term care insurance or Medicare supplement insurance, HICAP Counselors can help you compare policies and explain what services each policy provides.

Reference the State of California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 9540-9547

Legal Assistance

The California Department of Aging funds Legal Services Projects for older persons through the network of local Area Agencies on Aging. The projects identify legal problems and legal service needs of older individuals and adults with disabilities within their communities.

The Department aids the Area Agencies on Aging in evaluating their senior Legal Services Projects with a view to increasing the quantity and quality of services. Through the Association of Legal Service Programs for Older Californians, the Department provides individual and group technical assistance to senior legal service projects.

A total of 39 California Senior Legal Services Projects assist the state’s seniors and adults with disabilities with a variety of legal problems concerning housing, consumer fraud, elder abuse, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, Medi-Cal, age discrimination, pensions, nursing homes, protective services, conservatorships, and other matters.

• Legal Assistance Providers – by County 
• Legal Services (Title IIIB) Reports

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

The California State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is authorized by the federal Older Americans Act and its State companion, the Older Californians Act. The primary responsibility of the program is to investigate and endeavor to resolve complaints made by, or on behalf of, individual residents in long-term care facilities. These facilities include nursing homes, residential care facilities for the elderly, and assisted living facilities. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program investigates elder abuse complaints in long-term care facilities and in residential care facilities for the elderly.

The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (OSLTCO) develops policy and provides oversight to the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs. OSLTCO staff confer with State licensing agencies regarding difficult cases, meet with the California Department of Aging Staff Counsels to clarify laws and develop plans for implementing them, define program roles, and provide ongoing statewide Ombudsman training.

The goal of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is to advocate for the rights of all residents of long-term care facilities. The Ombudsman’s advocacy role takes two forms: 1) to receive and resolve individual complaints and issues by, or on behalf of, these residents; and 2) to pursue resident advocacy in the long-term care system, its laws, policies, regulations, and administration through public education and consensus building. Residents or their family members can file a complaint directly with the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman or by calling the CRISISline. All long-term care facilities are required to post, in a conspicuous location, the phone number for the local Ombudsman office and the Statewide CRISISline number 1-800-231-4024. This CRISISline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take calls and refer complaints from residents.

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a community-supported program. Volunteers are an integral part of this program. The OSLTCO and its 35 local Ombudsman Program Coordinators are responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising the volunteer Ombudsman representatives.

Ombudsman services are free and confidential. Contact your local LTC Ombudsman Program for the following resident services:

• Questions or concerns about quality of care
• Questions or concerns about financial abuse
• Suspected physical, mental or emotional abuse of residents
• Witnessing services for Advance Health Care Directives
• Requesting an Ombudsman to attend a resident care plan meeting
• Requesting an Ombudsman to attend a resident or family council meeting

The State CRISISline number:

1-800-231-4024

This CRISISline is available to take calls and refer complaints 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Multipurpose Senior Services Program

Local Multipurpose Senior Service Program (MSSP) sites provide social and health care management for frail elderly clients who are certifiable for placement in a nursing facility but who wish to remain in the community. The goal of the program is to arrange for and monitor the use of community services to prevent or delay premature institutional placement of these frail clients. The services must be provided at a cost lower than that for nursing facility care.

Clients eligible for the program must be 65 years of age or older, live within a site’s service area, be able to be served within MSSP’s cost limitations, be appropriate for care management services, currently eligible for Medi-Cal, and certified or certifiable for placement in a nursing facility. MSSP site staff make this certification determination based upon Medi-Cal criteria for placement.

Under a federal Medicaid Home and Community-Based, Long-Term Care Services Waiver, MSSP provides comprehensive care management to assist frail elderly persons to remain at home. The program, which began in 1977 with eight sites, has expanded to 38 sites statewide and can serve up to 11,789 clients per month.

The services that may be provided with MSSP funds include:

• Adult Day Care / Support Center
  Community-based programs that provide non-medical care to meet the needs of adults with disabilities; a variety of social, psychosocial, and related support services in a protective setting, necessary to reach a therapeutic goal.
• Housing Assistance
  May include provision of physical adaptations and assistive devices, emergency assistance in situations that demand relocation, temporary lodging expenses in particular situations, and assistance to restore utility services.
• Chore and Personal Care Assistance
  Services are provided by individuals to elderly persons who need outside help to maintain independent living. Chore is for purposes of household support and applies to the performance of household tasks rather than to the care of the client. Personal Care provides assistance to maintain bodily hygiene, personal safety, and activities of daily living.
• Protective Supervision
  Insures provision of supervision to persons in their own homes who are very frail or otherwise may suffer a medical emergency. Such supervision does not require medical skills and can be performed by an individual trained to identify the onset of a medical crisis and able to summon aid in the event of an emergency.
• Care Management
  Assists clients in gaining access to needed waiver and other local services regardless of the funding source. Care managers are responsible for ongoing monitoring of the provision of services included in the client’s plan of care. Additionally, care managers initiate and oversee the process of assessment and reassessment of a client’s level of care and the monthly review of plans of care.
• Respite
  Includes the supervision and care of a client while the family or other individuals who normally provide full-time care take short-term relief or respite which allows them to continue as caretakers.
• Transportation
  Provides access to the community (e.g., non-emergency medical transportation to health and social service providers) and special events for clients who do not have means for transportation.
• Meal Services
  Includes meals served in congregate settings or meals delivered to clients who are homebound, unable to prepare their own meals and have no caretaker at home to prepare meals for them.
• Social Services
  Includes social reassurance / friendly visiting, individual or group counseling, and money management.
• Communications Services
  Includes translation and interpretive services and the provision of emergency response systems.

Nutrition

Nutrition services provide a vital link in maintaining the health of older Californians by preventing premature institutionalization and improving their overall quality of life. The California Department of Aging administers nutrition services funded by the federal Older Americans Act and state general fund dollars through the network of Area Agencies on Aging and their service providers. They serve Californians 60 years of age or older, with preference given to those in greatest economic or social need and to low-income multi-ethnic individuals. Participants are provided an opportunity to contribute to the cost of the meal. Meals must meet nutritional standards by providing a minimum of one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).

• Title III C-1: Congregate Nutrition Services provide meals in a group setting. Services also include nutrition and health promotion education, and opportunities for socialization. People eligible for Title III C-1 nutrition services are 60 years of age or older, individuals with a handicap or disability who meet specific criteria, spouses of eligible participants regardless of age, and volunteers who provide needed services during meal hours. Project facilities and operations conform to health and safety standards and provide safe, wholesome and nutritious meal services to our older clients.
• Title III C-2: Home Delivered Meal Services are available to people, age 60 or older, who are homebound by reason of illness, incapacity, or disability, or who are otherwise isolated. Because homebound meal recipients are typically older and more frail, they are usually referred to the program by a hospital, a family member, or other referral service. Most home-delivered meal programs provide their clients with a hot meal five days a week delivered by staff or volunteer drivers. In addition, nutrition education is provided.

Senior Community Services Employment Program

About

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), also known as Title V, provides part-time work-based training opportunities at local community service agencies for older Californians who have poor employment prospects and are unemployed. SCSEP assists individuals in finding employment opportunities in the community through a variety of supportive services such as personal and job-related counseling, job training, and job referral. SCSEP providers also educate employers about the benefits of hiring older workers.

Eligibility

Individuals who participate in the program must

• Be a resident of California
• Be at least 55 years of age
• Have an income that does not exceed 125 percent of the federal poverty level.
  • Check the Federal Poverty Guidelines 
  • The SCSEP Eligibility Calculator The Calculator is intended to be a guide for eligibility. It is strongly recommended that individuals confirm their eligibility results with SCSEP program staff.

For more information and to see if you qualify:

• Contact your Area Agency on Aging
• Be at least 55 years of age
• 1-800-510-2020
  • For a specific county Area Agencies on Aging in California with Senior Community Service Employment (Title V) Programs
• In addition to the CDA SCSEP there are National Organizations that serve selected areas in California

Employment and Volunteer Resources:

• U.S. Department of Labor
• SCSEP Main Page
• Corporation for National and Community Service – The mission of CNCS is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.
  • Senior Corps – Citizens age 55 and over-Senior Corps helps meet the needs and challenges of America’s communities
  • AmeriCorps VISTA – a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency.
• California Volunteers – Program and initiative aimed at increasing the number of Californians engaged in service and volunteering.
• HandsOn Network – the largest volunteer network in the nation

Senior Information and Assistance Program (I&A)

The Senior Information and Assistance Program (I&A) is the main entry point to services within each Area Agency on Aging. The I&A staff assess individuals’ needs and link them to local services or provide referrals to programs in other communities. The aging services network is committed to helping seniors remain in their own homes and maintain a high quality of life for as long as possible.

The I&A program provides accurate and up-to-date information about different support programs and services available within the local community. The California Department of Aging supports a toll-free information line for use from anywhere in the State. Regardless of the area, the caller can dial 1-800-510-2020 (using a land-line phone) and be automatically connected with the local I&A service provider. If information is needed about other areas, the caller will be referred to service providers in those regions.

The I&A staff are also responsible for following-up to ensure individuals have obtained services. In addition, I&A staff work with local agencies on disaster planning and preparedness activities to address older adults’ needs during local or statewide disasters.

Eligibility

Income – No requirement

Age – No requirement

Cost – There is no charge to access the Senior Information Assistance Line

Access

Toll-free 1-800-510-2020

Click here for the local Area Agency on Aging.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed)

The goal of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (SNAP-Ed) is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP, known as CalFresh in California, will choose physically active lifestyles and make healthy food choices that are consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the US Department of Agriculture’s food guidance.

The California Department of Aging (CDA) will administer a statewide SNAP-Ed program that promotes nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions among low-income older adults. SNAP-Ed interventions will be provided by participating Area Agencies on Aging at qualified Older Americans Act (OAA) Title IIIC Congregate Nutrition Programs.

SNAP-Ed interventions will provide nutrition education, and obesity prevention activities based on approved evidence-based health promotion programs. Specific key messaging will include:

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables, at least half your grains whole grains, and switch to fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products;
• Increase physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors as part of a healthy lifestyle;
• Maintain appropriate calorie balance.

Supportive Services Programs

The Older Americans Act (OAA) seeks to enable all older individuals to maintain their well-being through locally developed community-based systems of services. The OAA Title IIIB Supportive Services Program provides a variety of services to address functional limitations, maintain health and independence, and promote access.

The Title IIIB Supportive Services Program enables older adults to access services that address functional limitations, promote socialization, continued health and independence, and protect elder rights. Together, these services promote older adults’ ability to maintain the highest possible levels of function, participation and dignity in the community.

Title IIIB provides funding for a variety of supportive services programs, some of which are noted here:

• Personal Care, Homemaker, and Chore programs provide assistance for individuals who otherwise could not remain in their homes.
• Adult Day Care/Adult Day Health offers social and recreational activity in a supervised, protective, congregate setting during some portion of a 24 hour day.
• Case Management provides for an individual to conduct a comprehensive assessment of a frail older adult’s needs and arrange for in-home services.
• Assisted Transportation is door-to-door transport, which may include escort services for those who cannot use the public transportation system.
• Transportation includes vouchers for reduced rates on public transit, van transport to congregate meals, medical appointments, etc.
• Legal Assistance includes legal advice, counseling, and representation by an attorney or legal staff.
• Information & Assistance services assist with identification of appropriate resources to meet the specific needs of individuals.
• OutreaOutreach initiates contacts with potential clients to encourage their use of existing services.

Eligibility

Income – No requirement

Age – 60 years or older

Cost – There is no charge for the Supportive Services Program.

Access

Information on Supportive Services Program services is available through the statewide toll-free Information and Assistance Line at

1-800-510-2020 or contact the Area Agency on Aging.