I have a crystal ball on my desk at work. I can peer into it, but all it ever shows me is the woodgrain of my desktop, because I have no psychic abilities to tell the future. It’s just a shiny paperweight. Yet, I do have forecasting abilities, based on data. For instance, I know that more than 98% of people would prefer to age in place, in their own homes, than to go to a facility.
There are exceptions, though! I know some people that, once services are needed, are looking forward to assisted living, provided at the different levels of nursing home care. Food, personal care and housekeeping are provided, and they have community rooms for activities to remain physically and socially active. For generations, this was the most common option if living at home was no longer feasible.
Living with relatives may be an option for some, but not feasible for all. Perhaps you’d rather not, or their home doesn’t have enough space, or it’s filled with stairs or other impediments that you cannot navigate. Maybe there’s an unpleasant resident who shall remain nameless. It happens. Plus, you want to live in your home, not theirs. It’s all about maintaining your independence, your choices, privacy, dignity, in the familiarity of your own home.
Is this often in the back of your mind, wondering if your fate, one day, is checking into a nursing home? Or maybe you’re worrying about a friend or loved one in that situation. What if I told you that it’s not the only option? That’s right. There are several ways to stay in your home, comfortably and safely, and often at no cost to you.
CareWell Services is a proud grantee of the MI Options Program. Our mission is to show you the various programs and local individual supports available where, if you need a little or a lot of help, it can be brought to your home so you can remain there. MI Options is funded by the State of Michigan, and MI Options counselors at CareWell Services are trained and certified to provide you with free and unbiased counseling so you can find out what types of support and services you wish to have, and then we can help arrange those services. Examples would be Home Help, MI Choice Waiver, PACE, D-SNP plans, and ACLS programs, plus Adult Foster Care and Assisted living if you do happen to prefer that.
I know what you’re thinking, “I make too much money to qualify for that.” Maybe I’m a psychic after all! No, it’s still data and education. The plans and programs above have varying income and asset eligibility, many are dramatically higher than regular Medicaid eligibility, and one has no income limit at all. Some are only based on your individual income, too, rather than a couple’s total income. In other words, we’re here to maintain and in some cases improve your lifestyle while helping you do what you can no longer do for yourself.
MI Options counseling is open to any resident 18 and older and/or their caregivers. Sometimes services are immediately needed, but we also encourage you to visit now even if you’re in perfect health, so that you can decide how your future will unfold.
CareWell Services Southwest is your Area Agency on Aging. We exist to promote your health, independence and choice. MI Options is one of the many ways we achieve that. Call (269) 966-2450 to set an appointment, or stop in at 200 W. Michigan Avenue in Battle Creek on the second floor.