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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0748.001 2004-2006 One-Stop Aging & Disability Resource Center Hawaii County Office of Aging March 21, 2006 INTRODUCTION The aging of the population is occurring throughout the United States and the world. However, aging in Hawaii is unique in several ways. For example, people live longer in Hawaii than any other state. Also, our oldest citizens - those 85 and older - are increasing at an accelerated rate. By 2010, the 85 and older population will number over 40,000. And by 2020, one out of four Hawaii citizens will be 60 and older. And it should come as no surprise that, in Hawaii's family-oriented culture, there are proportionately more grandparents raising grandchildren than in any other state. PROBLEM STATEMENT Currently, long term support services are sustained by numerous funding streams, administered by multiple agencies, and have complex, fragmented and often duplicative intake, assessment, and eligibility functions. Figuring out how to obtain services is difficult both for the persons who qualify for publicly-funded supports, and for those who can pay privately for such supports. Individuals unexpectedly thrust into the role of caregiver due to situations beyond their control, are confused and often times frightened by the complexity of the situation they are faced with. Where do I go? Who do I call? Can I handle this? How much is this going to cost? Are all questions every caregiver can relate to. VISION A visible and trusted place where people can turn for information and counseling on all available long term support options, and a single point of entry to public long term support programs and services. "A non-threatening environment needs to be established where any caregiver or senior, regardless of income and/or background, will feel comfortable going to for needed assistance, information and training. As many services as possible should be available there, or brought there, to eliminate the need for referral to numerous agencies. Follow up and continuous monitoring of cases must also be made a part of this service structure." Mayor, Harry Kim. Comm. No. Wr i ll Ref. To: -f*e~sqe+~ Ref. Uate 11 One-Stop Aging & Disability Resource Center Page 2 GOALS 1) Establish highly visible and trustworthy Resource Center that is easily accessible to the public to empower individuals to make informed choices and to streamline access to long term care support. 2) The process for screening, intake, assessment, and eligibility determination will be efficient and streamlined to reduce redundancy of paperwork, confusion and frustration in accessing long term care support. 3) Provide a coordinated, comprehensive array of community based programs and services in support of family caregivers to delay or postpone costly institutionalization in a welcoming and non-threatening environment. RESOURCE CENTER FUNCTIONS • Promote public awareness of both public and private long term support options, as well as awareness of the Resource Center, especially among underserved and hard to reach population; • Provide access to the baby boomer population who are fast becoming caregivers for elderly parents; • Serve elderly persons, younger individuals with disabilities, family caregivers, as well as persons planning for future long term support needs. The center will also be a resource for health and long term support professionals and others who provide services to the elderly and to people with disabilities. • Provide information and counseling as needed on all available long term support options; • Help people assess their potential eligibility for public long term support programs and benefits; • Determine programmatic eligibility for public long term support programs and benefits, providing full access and comprehensive point of entry including level of care determinations for Medicaid nursing facility and home and community-based services waiver programs; • Assist people with the Medicaid eligibility determination process; One-Stop Aging & Disability Resource Center Page 3 • Provide short-term assistance or case management to stabilize long term supports for individuals and their families in times of immediate need before they have been connected to long term supports; • Provide assessment and authorization for services and information and referral to other programs and benefits that can help people remain in the community (i.e., health promotion or disease prevention programs, transportation services, and income support programs); • Help people plan for their future long term support needs; and • Organize, simplify and ensure "one-stop shopping" for access to all public long term support programs. OBJECTIVES GOAL: Establish highly visible and trustworthy Resource Center that is easily accessible to the public and responsive to their needs for information and linkages to long term care options. OBJECTIVES: • Access to Aging and Disability services through centralized point of entry. • Clearly identify those types of inquiries and services that are the most commonly and most frequently asked for after by caregivers and seniors and develop an information program that will properly reflect these findings at a single location. • Establish an advisory committee representative of the different constituencies and agencies in the field of eldercare and disability services to help with outreach, brainstorming, survey assistance, focus group development, program design. • Coordinate and formalize relationships with partners and other service groups. • Develop marketing and public awareness campaign. • Work with Department of Finance to secure appropriate facility. GOAL: The process for screening, intake, assessment, and eligibility determination will be efficient and streamlined to reduce redundancy of paperwork, confusion and frustration in accessing long term care support. OBJECTIVES: 9 Streamline and coordinate central intake and case management protocols. One-Stop Aging & Disability Resource Center Page 4 • Develop and implement management information system enhancement plan to enable centralization of all resource center data for management and reporting purposes, streamline application/intake, and support quality improvement. The system will allow for the tracking of client intake, needs assessment, care plans, utilization, and costs. • Provide on-going training to ensure that the public is treated with utmost courtesy, respect, and compassion throughout the intake, assessment, case management, and service delivery processes. GOAL: Provide a coordinated, comprehensive array of community based programs and services in support of family caregivers to delay or postpone costly institutionalization. OBJECTIVES: • Coordinate and formalize relationships with partners and other service groups. • Centralize aging and disability assessment, eligibility determination, case management, and service authorization functions in one-stop resource facility. • Maintain pool of service providers capable of a wide range of programs and services to enable in-home community based supports to frail elderly, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities.