Programs and Services Provided by AAANM

The mission of Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan is to serve and advocate for older persons, adults with disabilities and caregivers by supporting their independence, dignity and quality of life.

Care Connections

Information & Assistance:  Reliable information and timely assistance in accessing services

One of the most meaningful services that Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan (AAANM) provides is reliable information and timely assistance in accessing services. 

An AAANM Information & Assistance Specialist will help connect people with resources and services that will meet their needs.   AAANM will provide contact information to help people access service on their own OR make the connection to the needed service on their behalf.

Options Consultation

Options Consultation provides an opportunity to sit down with a knowledgeable Information & Assistance Specialist in order to learn about community services and programs that are available to help meet long term care needs.  The discussion will be tailored to specific circumstances and if desired, the Information & Assistance Specialist will assist with developing a plan.  Information on how to fund planned services is also part of the Options Consultation process.

Caregiver Support and Education

AAANM offers resources and support that are specific to meeting the needs of a Caregiver.  One program, T-Care is an individualized assessment and referral program that is designed to help a caregiver recognize their level of stress and design a plan that will strengthen their care giving role.  This plan may include referrals to community services and supports.  Creating Confident Caregivers (CCC) is a 6 week caregiver education program for people caring for those with dementia or memory loss.  These sessions provide information and the skills needed to feel confident in a caregiver role.  CCC sessions are held throughout the 10-County Region served by AAANM.

Care Management

            Care Management links frail older persons age 60+ with community services to enable them to remain living in a community setting.  To qualify for Care Management, an individual must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have multiple and complex health and service needs or problems;
• Be unable to take care of his/her needs; and family and friends are unable to provide all of the care that is needed;
• Be currently in a long-term care facility but wishes to return to their own home;
• Be currently living at home but required extensive services to meet their healthcare needs.

 

Caregiver Respite Program

            The Caregiver Respite Program is for people between the ages of 18 and 60 who require continual supervision in order to live in a community setting.  The Caregiver Respite Program provides a limited amount of funding that can be used to purchase respite services from an AAANM-approved Provider agency.   

MI Choice “Waiver Program”

Also known as the “Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Program for the Elderly and Disabled”, “MI Choice” is similar in scope to “Care Management”.  This program provides a community alternative to nursing facility care.  To qualify for the MI Choice Waiver Program, an individual must: 

• be 18 years of age or older; and
• be medically and financially eligible to have Medicaid pay for their long term care services.

Once enrolled in the program, Medicaid funds can be used to pay for 20 different services that will assist someone to live in a community setting. 

Nursing Facility Transition Program

This program helps eligible persons return to the community from nursing facilities.  They may return to their own home, move in with family members or friends, move into an adult foster care home or locate new housing in the community.  Supports Coordinators are available to meet with the persons to evaluate their needs, discuss options and develop a plan for returning to the community.    A Housing Coordinator can assist with searching for affordable, accessible, desirable housing in the community of the person’s preference.

Eligible persons are:

• Age 18 and older;
• Live in a nursing facility;
• Are financially eligible for Medicaid;
• And want to live in a home-like setting in the community.

How the Care Management, Caregiver Respite, MI Choice Waiver and Nursing Facility Transition Program work?

 A nurse/social worker team assists those eligible by: 

• Meeting with the interested person in their home (or the nursing facility) to learn about their preferences for care and service needs. 
• Guiding the persons (and the people they choose to help them) in designing a plan of care to meet their needs.
• Arranging for services from health and social agencies to meet care needs.  Examples of such arrangements include; medication monitoring; Meals on Wheels; in-home bathing assistance (personal care); respite care.
• Remaining in close contact with the person (and their caregivers) in order to monitor the care plan and make adjustments as needed. 

To find out more about Care Connections Programs: 

• Call AAANM at 231-947-8920 or 800-442-1713 or “Contact Us” through the website e-mail feature.
• AAANM is available to assist during business hours on Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm.  There are voice messaging capabilities for week nights, weekend and holidays.
• AAANM can provide information face-to-face, over the telephone, via fax or e-mail, or through the traditional U.S. Postal Service.
• When a person calls, an Information & Assistance Specialist will ask some questions to help the caller determine which Care Connections Programs for which they may be eligible.

Veteran’s Directed-Home and Community Based Services

            This program is a partnership between the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw and AAANM.  Eligibility is determined by the VA Medical Center and is based on the veteran’s medical and service needs.  An AAANM nurse or social worker works with the Veteran to put together a service plan, helps the Veteran hire his/her own workers and AAANM employs a Fiscal Intermediary to handle the veteran’s employer responsibilities such as payroll and taxes.  The VA funds the service plan. 

 

Elder Abuse Services

            The service includes the provision of public education, outreach and referral with respect to the prevention of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older individuals.

Long Term Care Ombudsman

This program advocates for residents of Long Term Care (LTC) facilities.  LTC facilities include nursing homes, licensed adult foster care homes (AFC) and homes for the aged (HFA). 

The LTC Ombudsman assistance to residents:

• Assist residents in asserting their Rights
• Helping residents benefit from relevant laws & regulations
• Identify, investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of individual residents
• Provide direct assistance, training, guidance and support to Resident Councils and Family Councils per member requests
• Promote the use of best practices throughout the long term care system through the Best Practices of Northern Michigan coalition

 

The LTC Ombudsman assistance to community:

• Provide community education regarding long term care issues, including elder abuse

• Assists prospective LTC residents and their families/caregivers with information on specific LTC facilities, LTC options, choice, quality and financing.

Call:  231.947.2504 or 1-866-485-9393 (toll-free from NW MI)

 

Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP)

            Volunteer counselors work one-on-one with seniors to understand and resolve problems involving the Medicare and Medicaid programs, as well as problems with private health care insurance.

 

Personal Action Toward Health (PATH)

            The Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), known as Person Action Toward Health (PATH) in Michigan, is a 6-week workshop designed to benefit adults with chronic or long-term health conditions including arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, emphysema, asthma, bronchitis and depression.  The sessions provide participants with strategies and techniques to help them become a better self-manager of their health condition.  PATH sessions are held throughout the 10-County Region.

 

Senior Community Service Employment Program

            This program offers useful part-time employment opportunities for low-income persons age 55 and over.  Eligible employees are placed at different community site and work an average of 20 hours per week.

 Congregate Meals – funded, in part, by AAANM

Seniors can get a hot meal on weekdays at any of 47 community lunch sites in the region. The meals provide at least one-third of the daily Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). It is strongly recommended to make reservations prior to the day(s) of attendance.

Since most of the sites are in senior centers, the meals provide an opportunity for seniors to congregate and socialize. This program is open to persons age 60 and older, or the spouse of a person who is 60 years of age or older. Contact Us to learn locations, days and times of service.
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Home Delivered Meals (aka – Meals on Wheels) – funded, in part, by AAANM

Homebound seniors age 60+ can receive a hot meal delivered to them on weekdays. The meals provide one-third of the daily Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Some seniors may also receive cold meals for the weekend.

Eligibility is determined by an in-home assessment. Generally, the senior must be homebound (i.e. does not leave his/her home under normal circumstances). In addition, the senior must be unable to obtain food or prepare complete meals, and there is no other adult present who is able and willing to prepare all meals.
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Legal Assistance – funded, in part, by AAANM

Provision of legal advice, referral, representation, legal research, preparation of legal documents, and counseling on issues such as guardianship, power of attorney, age discrimination, entitlements, etc. No fee-generating or criminal cases are handled.
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Long Term Care Ombudsman – funded, in part, by AAANM

This program provides assistance to residents of Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities to resolve complaints; information about rights and rules; and referrals to community resources. The provider will also give assistance to prospective LTC residents and their families regarding appropriate placement, financing, and options.
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To learn more, please contact:

            Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan

            1609 Park Drive, PO Box 5946

            Traverse City, MI  49696-5946

            800-442-1713 or 231-947-8920

            www.aaanm.org