By Cassie Lucas-Moore, Marketing & Outreach Coordinator
Many folks have hopes or plans to spend the holidays at home, spending time together with family. But what happens when aging adults are left home alone after the holidays with changing needs? Is it safe for them to be there by themselves? Did you know that there are programs to help people stay at home with extra support? Individuals and couples do not have to manage everything on their own as their needs change.
MI Choice Medicaid Waiver provides in-home support services through a Supports Coordination team of a Registered Nurse and a Social Worker who create a care plan that best meets the needs of each person. The care plan is different for each person because each person has different needs. They can set up chore services, transportation, or home-delivered meals as well as several other services. Adult daycare or respite assistance are also available services for individuals and caregivers.
MI Choice Medicaid Waiver is a program available to those 65 and over, or adults 18 and over with a disability, who need support to stay at home safely. Participants must meet the requirements for Michigan long-term Medicaid and nursing facility level of frailty. This long-term Medicaid is different from the general Medicaid in that it allows for a higher income limit of $2,742 per month. There are also allowances for those who are married when only one person needs extra support while the spouse provides for the household.
CareWell Services’ Medicaid specialists are available to help with the application process. The first step to get in this program is to complete a telephone intake where an assessment of care needs, finances, and current abilities are reviewed. Step two includes a face-to-face assessment with the nurse and social worker to go into more detail about abilities, needs, and medications. If you are determined to be medically eligible, this assessment will guide a personalized plan of care. Once in the program, the support coordination team, along with you, will plan and manage the needed services.
Services are provided by trained home health agency staff, or participants can hire their qualified friends and family members to provide the approved services. Ongoing communication with the support coordinators will ensure that the care plan is updated as needed and all services are provided according to the plan of care.
If you think that you or a loved one may need extra support to remain home safely, call CareWell Services at (269) 966-2450 for more information about the MI Choice Waiver program.
