Program areas at Area Agency on Aging Region 9
Passport uses federal and state funds, through a medicaid waiver, to pay for an in-home alternative to nursing home care for low-income, medicaid eligible seniors. Passport is a two-pronged program. The first part is pre-admission screening during which interested consumers are screened to determine preliminary medicaid eligibility and care needs. The second part of passport is home care. Once a consumer is determined eligible, a care manager works with him or her to develop a package of in-home care services to be provided by local service providers. This care manager then monitors the services for quality and alters the care plan as necessary to help meet the consumer's care needs. Services available include: personal care, home delivered meals, adult day care, homemaker, emergency response, medical equipment and supplies, chore, social work counseling, nutritional counseling, independent living assistance, medical transportation waiver nursing and out of home respite.
The other program services that are provided include: daily meal programs, adult day care, homemaker, personal care, health screening, transportation, chore, home repair, and case management.
Assisted living bridges the gap between independent living and nursing home care by providing services in certified residential care facilities to delay or prevent nursing facility placement. The program promotes Aging in place by supporting consumer desire for independence, choice and privacy. Assisted living combines a home-like setting with personal support services to provide more intensive care than is available through home care services. Assisted living facilities vary considerably, but most provide personal care, meals, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, and social activities.