Missoula Aging Services

Community programs:meals on wheels serves housebound older adults and people with disabilities throughout all of Missoula county. Liquid nutrition (ensure) is provided at cost. A total of 125,462 home delivered meals were provided to 772 individuals in fy 23, compared to 125,579 in fy 22.congregate dining programs (also known as community lunch programs) provide older adults the opportunity to share weekday meals in a social atmosphere at the senior centers and other meal sites in Missoula county (Missoula, seeley lake, lolo, and condon). A total of 34,920 meals were served to 793 individuals in fy 23, compared to 32,622 meals in fy 22.the volunteer services program offers older adults a wide range of volunteer opportunities within mas, including meals on wheels drivers, caring companions, and resource volunteers, and also helps older adults connect with over 40 community partners to find the volunteer experience that best fits their interests and skills. In fy 23, approximately 250 volunteers supported the mas mission. Through january 2023, mas provided volunteer services under the americorps umbrella (see discontinued community programs below for more information. )lifelong connections enlists volunteers to provide older adults with the technology and training they need to access telehealth appointments and connect with community. In fy 23, 52 individuals were served through this program, compared to 66 individuals in fy 22.406 financial services is a wholly owned limited liability company of Missoula Aging services. Its purposes are threefold; 1) act as fiscal employer agent for the veterans directed care program by providing payroll services for veteran employers, 2) contract with county councils on Aging to provide financial and accounting services, and 3) provide money management services on a limited basis for older adults in need of financial services through bill pay, organizational support, and trust management. During fy 23, 333 veteran employers paid 525 pca employees to support their home care in 9 western Montana counties, Idaho, and Washington. In fy 22, 306 veteran employers paid 458 pca employees in 7 Montana counties and idaho.discontinued community programs:through january 2023, mas offered the following three americorps senior programs. These programs were discontinued mid-year due to a change in organizational priorities and replaced with a new volunteer services program (see above).1. Retired and senior volunteer program (rsvp) which encourages volunteers aged 55 and older to use their skills and life experience to help local service agencies address critical needs in their communities. In fy 23, mas supported 257 rsvp volunteers to serve 13,188 hours. In fy 22, mas supported 247 rsvp volunteers to serve 22,283 hours. 2. Foster grandparents program, which offers volunteers aged 55 and older the opportunity to serve as mentors at local schools and day cares and provide extra support for children and youth with special needs. In fy 23, mas supported 17 foster grandparents to serve 5,120 hours. In fy 22, mas supported 23 foster grandparents to serve 15,055 hours. 3. Senior companions, in which volunteers aged 55 and older provide assistance and companionship to older adults who are homebound and generally living alone, as well as respite for caregivers. In fy 23, mas supported 16 senior companions to serve 5,864 hours. In fy 22, mas supported 21 senior companions to serve 17,548 hours. At the end of fy 22, mas discontinued the senior farmers market nutrition program which provides older adults who meet income guidelines with vouchers to purchase fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables at local markets, as it was taken on by another local organization. In fy 22, mas served 314 older adults through this program.in years past, mas contracted with mountain line, the local public transportation provider, to help financially support specialized transit services for older adults and people with disabilities. In fy 22, mountain line provided 44,697 paratransit and senior van rides. In fy 23, mountain line no longer needed financial support as a large mill levy was passed that allows mountain line to offer all services fare free to all riders.

Information and assistance:the resource center provides information, assistance and one-on-one consultation for older adults and their caregivers and is especially helpful to adult children seeking referrals to Aging services locally or from a distance. Information is available on topics such as long-term care, estate planning, medicare and medicaid, and homeowner/renter tax credits. Resource staff also provide older adults with free benefits screenings to determine what cost-saving benefits they may be eligible for, and then assist individuals to complete, submit and track applications. A lender's library is also available, with free access to a computer and the internet. In fy 23, staff answered 28,510 calls and saw 5,055 clients, compared to 29,871 calls and 3,611 clients in fy 22.the money management program helps older adults and other at-risk individuals manage their personal financial affairs through serving as a representative payee, providing bill payment services, helping with budgets, and advocating to prevent financial exploitation or abuse. In fy 23, this program served 37 clients compared to 32 in fy 22.montana smp (senior medicare patrol) funded by the administration on Aging, is a statewide program which utilizes trained volunteers to help reduce medicare and medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse. In fy 23, 10,365 medicare beneficiaries were educated by Montana smp compared to 11,570 beneficiaries in fy 22.the ombudsman program protects the rights of residents living in long-term care facilities by helping them understand and exercise their right to good care. Ombudsmen are impartial mediators who investigate resident concerns and provide information, suggest solutions and press for improvements on behalf of residents. In fy 23, ombudsman made 3,526 contacts with residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities compared to 3,227 contacts in fy 22.

In-home services:in-home support services provide personal care attendant (pca) services to help older adults stay in their homes safely and give primary caregivers the opportunity to take time for themselves. In fy 23, mas provided 2,779 hours of in-home support services care to 70 clients with over 93% of mas clients and caregivers reporting that these services help them remain healthy, independent, and in their own homes compared to 4,005 hours of care to 93 clients in fy 22.veterans directed care program empowers qualifying veterans to hire, employ and supervise personal care attendants to help with daily needs in support of independence. Care coordinators review program guidelines to assist with the development and implementation of care plans for the veteran that best support them meeting their personal goals. In fy 23, 88 veterans were enrolled in the veterans' program compared to 99 veterans in fy 22.care management program staff identify needs to address the social determinants of health and develop individual care plans for older adults with complex needs, including those transitioning from the hospital or a nursing facility back home. Staff worked with a total of 44 clients this year compared to 42 clients in fy 22.memory care support services provided personalized support for 68 individuals living with memory loss and 60 caregivers caring for individuals living with memory loss in fy 23 compared to 43 individuals and 24 caregivers in fy 22. The family caregiver support program coordinates services designed to assist adult family members and other individuals who are informal providers of in-home care to older adults. Caregiver support may include any of the following: the placement of senior companion volunteers, homemaker services to help with housekeeping, respite care to provide caregivers temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities, the powerful tools for caregivers class series to gives caregivers the tools needed to care for themselves while caring for someone else and caregiver support groups which meet monthly via zoom. The services all help develop the skills necessary to embrace the role of caregiver. In fy 23, mas supported 85 family caregivers compared to 17 in fy 22.