|
New Jersey Care Management
Services
Is there an agency or program that can help
my family find out what we need to know in order to care for our
mother?
Every county in New Jersey has an Area
Agencies on Aging (AAA) - sometimes called County
Office on Aging or Senior Services - which provides care management
services free of charge to help people like you assess care needs
for an elderly relative or friend and create a care plan for that
individual based upon a comprehensive assessment. Care planning
and management services can include: a professional assessment;
defining care needs; arranging home care or care services; locating
existing community resources; discussing ways to pay for elder
care; case monitoring; advocacy of client's rights, and follow-up.
In addition, there are private geriatric care managers who provide
care management services for a fee.
Where is the closest Area Agency on Aging?
You can find your local
AAA by visiting the AAA web page, or by calling the New
Jersey Easy Access, Single Entry (NJEASE
) toll-free information and assistance number at 1-877-222-3737.
NJEASE is a county-based system designed to provide easy access
to and coordination of services for older residents of New Jersey
and their caregivers. Services, including care assessment and care
management, are accessed through your local AAA.
How do I know what AAA services are available
to me or my relative?
Contact your local
AAA and ask that their care management staff do an assessment
for you or your relative. Following this assessment and an income
determination, the care management staff will explain the available
services to you.
How long will the AAA assessment process
take?
The time required varies from county to county
and is dependent upon their ability to schedule you or your relative
for an appointment. It is important to call immediately if you
have concerns and want a home visit to assess the situation.
I am willing to pay a private geriatric
care manager to plan care for my mother. How do I find the nearest
geriatric care manager in my county?
A geriatric care manager helps coordinate and
manage the care of a frail older adult. He or she will conduct
an assessment to identify problems, and then determine eligibility
for needed services, coordinate medical needs -- physician contacts,
home health, other necessary screening and monitoring of in-home
help -- review financial or legal issues to provide appropriate
referrals, community resources, crisis intervention, assistance
with relocation, etc. Contact your local
AAA for information.
 Back
to top of this page
Help With Bills and
Finances
Does New Jersey offer any programs to help
seniors pay for their prescription medications? Where do you get
information and applications for this program?
New Jersey currently offers two programs to
help low- and moderate-income seniors with the cost of prescription
medications - Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled
(PAAD) and the Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program.
What is PAAD and who is eligible for this
program?
PAAD
helps eligible New Jersey residents pay for prescription drugs,
insulin, insulin needles, certain diabetic testing materials and
syringes and needles for injectable medicines used for the treatment
of multiple sclerosis. Participants pay a co-pay of $5.00 per
prescription and the program pays the remaining cost.
To be eligible for PAAD, the applicant must
be a New Jersey resident; have income
in 2007 of less than $22,572 if single, or less than $27,676 if married;
and be at least 65 years of age or at least 18 years of age and
receiving Social Security Disability benefits. The income limit
for PAAD increases each January by the amount of the Social Security
cost-of-living increase. To get an application, call 1-800-792-9745.
Please Note: PAAD participants who have Medicare must enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan.
What is the difference between PAAD and
Senior Gold?
Senior
Gold provides prescription drugs, insulin, insulin
supplies and diabetic testing material to eligible New Jersey
residents for a participant co-pay of $15 per prescription plus
one half of the cost of the prescription. Participants with out-of-pocket
prescription costs exceeding $2,000 a year if single and $3,000
a year for married couples will have 100% of their prescription
costs paid after paying the $15 co-payment per prescription.
To be eligible for Senior Gold, the applicant
must be a New Jersey resident; have an annual income in 2007 between $22,572 - $32,572 if single, and $27,676 - $37,676 of combined income
if married; and be at least 65 years
of age or at least 18 years of age and receiving Social Security
Disability benefits. The income limit for Senior Gold increases
each January by the amount of the Social Security cost-of-living
increase. To get an application, call 1-800-792-9745.
Please Note: Senior Gold participants may enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan but are not required to do so. Keep in mind, however, that Medicare does not consider Senior Gold to be creditable coverage. This means that if you choose not to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan when you first become eligible, and decide you need this coverage at a future date, you will pay a 1% penalty for every month you were not enrolled. So, if you decide in two years that Senior Gold alone is not working and you now need a Medicare prescription drug plan, you will be paying 24% more for that plan (1% penalty X 24 months) than your neighbor who enrolled when he or she first became eligible for Medicare.
Where can I get help preparing my parent's tax returns?
Either
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)
may be able to provide the help you are looking for. Contact
your
local AAA for information on VITA and contact your local
AAA or visit the AARP
website for more information on TCE. Both programs are
in operation during the tax season only.
Does my father qualify for any assistance
with his utility bills? He is 87, lives alone, and his only source
of income is his Social Security.
It is likely that your father would qualify for assistance from
one or more of the following programs:
The N.J. Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing
and Community Resources administers the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (
LIHEAP) that provides subsidies to cover the cost
of heating or cooling to eligible low-income families and individuals.
Contact your local
AAA for information, or call the hotline at 1-800-510-3102.
The N.J. Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing
and Community Resources administers the Weatherization
Assistance Program designed to promote energy conservation
in low-income households. Contact your local
AAA for direction to the designated
local agency or call the Weatherization Program at 609-292-6140.
Lifeline
is a utility assistance program that offers $225 to
persons who meet the PAAD eligibility requirements or who receive
Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This includes utility customers
as well as tenants whose utility bills are included in their
rent. Only one tenant in a household is entitled to this assistance.
To get an application, call 1-800-792-9745.
New
Jersey SHARES (Statewide
Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services) is an energy
fund for individuals and families who are in need of temporary
help paying for their energy bills. For more information call
1-866-657-4273.
Gift
of Warmth is a program that provides temporary
assistance with the cost of natural gas to eligible low income
individuals. This program is only available to New Jersey Natural
Gas customers.
New Jersey has instituted a permanent Universal
Service Fund (USF) to assist low income individuals
and families with the cost of energy. Eligibility will be determined
when application for other assistance programs is completed.
Communications
Lifeline is a program through Verizon Telephone
Company that discounts telephone service for eligible residents
whose telephone use is very limited. Eligibility will be determined
when application for other assistance programs is completed.
Link
Up America is a Verizon Telephone Company program
that provides a 50% discount on telephone connection charges for
persons meeting the eligibility criteria of certain programs,
including PAAD.
Back
to top of this page
Help
with Insurance
We need help understanding my mother's Medicare
insurance. Where should we go?
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program
(SHIP)
provides free help to New Jersey Medicare beneficiaries who have
problems with, or questions about Medicare supplement policies,
long-term care insurance policies, benefits or claims. Volunteer
counselors, trained in areas of health insurance coverage and
benefits that affect Medicare beneficiaries, evaluate health insurance
needs and provide information and assistance for dealing with
claims. Contact SHIP at 1-800-792-8820 or your local AAA, and
a trained volunteer will be able to provide telephone assistance.
What is the difference between Medicare,
Medigap and Medicaid?
Simply put, Medicare
is the national health insurance for people over 65 and certain
disabled people under 65. It comes in two parts: "Part A" covers
hospital expenses while "Part B" covers doctor bills and other
medical expenses. Medigap
insurance is designed specifically to supplement
and complement Medicare benefits by filling in some of the gaps
in coverage. Medigap insurance policies are non-group policies
that may pay for Medicare deductibles, prescription drugs, or
other services not covered by Medicare. Medicaid
is a government health insurance program for low-income individuals.
Medicaid covers a wide range of health care services including
the cost of long-term care for individuals meeting program clinical
and financial eligibility requirements.
What is long term care insurance?
Long
Term Care Insurance is a type of insurance policy
designed to cover long-term care expenses in a facility or at
home. Neither Medicare nor Medigap insurance will pay for these
expenses. For more information contact the State
Health Insurance Assistance Program or your local
AAA.
Who should I call if my mom, who is a Medicare
beneficiary, is denied services by a doctor or other healthcare
professional?
Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc. (HQSI) monitors the quality of care Medicare patients receive from doctors, hospitals, home health agencies and nursing homes. They may be contacted by calling 1-800-624-4557.
Can older adults get a discount on auto
insurance?
Insurance companies may offer discounts on automobile
insurance policies for New Jersey drivers 65 or older. Contact your
auto insurance company for more information.
Back
to top of this page
Caring for
Adults Living at Home
Are there any state programs that help people
care for their aging parents in their own home rather than in
a nursing home?
The New Jersey Division of Aging and Community
Services administers a number of programs and services to help
individuals receive care in the community rather than in a nursing
home setting when appropriate. These in-home services may include
home health aide, home delivered meals, transportation, adult
day care, and respite care for family caregivers. These services
are available to income-eligible individuals age 60 and older.
Contact your
local AAA for more information.
Which program helps people on Medicaid living
at home to remain in their homes?
There are a number of state and federal (i.e. Medicaid Waiver) programs with special eligibility for people aged 65 and older, or disabled who require nursing facility level of care but may be served in a less restrictive environment. Contact your local
AAA for more information.
Is there a program like CAP for older adults
with incomes or assets above the Medicaid limits?
Jersey
Assistance for Community Caregivers (JACC) is a program
of home-based services for nursing home eligible seniors who are
not eligible for Medicaid or Medicaid Waiver services. Contact
your local
AAA for more information.
I'm concerned my dad may not be eating right.
Can I get meals delivered or arrange for him to go out to a senior
center for a nutritious midday meal?
Home
delivered meals are hot and nutritious meals delivered
to homebound persons at least five days a week, and up to seven
days a week for some participants. A needs assessment is required,
but there are no strict income requirements. Congregate
meals offer at least one hot and nutritious meal
daily to persons 60 years and older and are provided in local
senior centers, schools and churches in New Jersey. Along with
meals, these sites offer counseling, socialization and other services.
Contact your local
AAA.
What are the benefits of social adult day
care?
Social
Adult Day Care provides care and activities for those
who are not capable of full time independent living. The program
emphasizes social and recreational activities in a group setting,
with some health and medication monitoring. Services may include
personal care, assistance with eating or using the toilet, assistance
with taking medications, therapies and social activities. Social
Adult Day Care Facilities are not licensed by the State of New
Jersey but must meet all local and building code requirements.
What if my mom needs medical help, too?
Adult
Day Health offers medically supervised, health-related
services to Medicaid-eligible individuals who do not require 24-hour
inpatient care, but do require health maintenance and restorative
services. Some programs may offer special services for individuals
with diagnosed Alzheimer's disease. Adult Day Health Services
are located in health care facilities such as nursing homes and
hospitals, and serve clients five days/week for up to 7 hours/day.
Call your local
AAA for information.
I think the elderly man who lives next door
to me may be the victim of fraud, abuse or neglect. How can I
get help for him?
The
Adult Protective Services Program (APS) includes the
24 hour, 365 day a year capacity to accept reports of possible adult
abuse. The report will either be referred to an appropriate authority,
or investigated to assess the needs presented by the situation.
APS is a service available to New Jersey residents living in New
Jersey who are 18 or older and may be at risk. Contact the APS Agency
in your community, or the local
AAA immediately if you suspect adult abuse. You may
also call the Division of Aging and Community Services, Information
and Referral toll free number at 1-800-792-8820.
Back
to top of this page
Transportation
My dad is still able to drive but needs
a disabled license plate so that he can park closer to building
entrances. How can he get such a plate?
Under New Jersey law, a disabled person may
obtain either a special license plate or vehicle placard that
provides special parking privileges. To obtain the request form
that must be certified by a physician or podiatrist, call Motor
Vehicle Commission toll free at 1-888-486-3339 or 609-292-6500.
Can senior citizens
get a discount on New Jersey transit buses and trains?
Senior citizens between age 62 and 64 are eligible
for New
Jersey Reduced Fare Program paying no more than one-half
the regular one way fare on most intrastate bus and rail lines,
and most interstate bus and rail routes in New York, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM
weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays. People 65 and
older, or people with disabilities, have round-the-clock discounts
for most routes. Either a Social Security card or program ID card
will be required. Contact your local
AAA for information.
I've seen buses in my town for seniors and
people with disabilities. How can I get a ride for my elderly
dad to local stores and doctor's offices?
Casino tax revenues have been made available
to support local para-transit services in the counties. Services
may include door-to-door and fixed route service. Individuals 60
and over or individuals with disabilities may contact your local
AAA or the website for New
Jersey Council on Special Transportation for information.
Back
to top of this page
Legal & Regulatory
Services
My sister and I are going to be managing
our mom's affairs now that her Alzheimer's disease has progressed.
What options do we have to make decisions for her legally?
You and/or your sister can be appointed by
a court to be your mother's guardian or conservator.
Guardianship allows you to manage a person's
financial and/or personal affairs because the person is not able
or competent to do so. Conservatorship would give you either
specific or wide-ranging powers over your mother's property only.
For example, power can range from check cashing to selling property.
Conservatorship can be used for people who cannot make financial
decisions, but can manage other personal decisions.
What does the Office of the Public Guardian
do?
The Office
of the Public Guardian provides guardianship or conservatorship
services of last resort to adults who are at least 60 years old,
and have no willing and appropriate family member or friend who
can serve in that capacity. The Public Guardian may be appointed
as either conservator for competent adults who require assistance
with financial and proprietary affairs, or as guardian for those
deemed mentally incompetent. The OPGEA provides case management
as well as legal and financial management.
What is power of attorney or durable power
of attorney?
In New Jersey, any person of capacity, 18 or
older, can designate another person to serve as Power
of Attorney to act on his/her behalf. Power of attorney
can be limited to certain specific responsibilities or it can
cover large general areas of decision-making regarding financial
affairs. It is best to work with an attorney to make the arrangement
as precise but as flexible as needed. The individual does not
give up decision-making power with a signed power of attorney.
He/she has simply named an agent who has the authority to act
under circumstances as outlined in the power of attorney document.
Should the individual become incompetent, the agreement will continue
(be durable) unless specifically prohibited in the original agreement.
What are living wills (also known as advance
directives)?
An Advance
Directive is a written document that may be used
under certain circumstances to tell others the care one would
like to receive or not receive in the event one becomes incapacitated.
A living will is a form of advance directive.
Where can I get legal assistance for my
elderly parents?
Legal
Aid for persons 60 and older who have legal problems
is funded through your local
AAA. Assistance is provided in priority cases, and
to those with the greatest social and economic need. The AARP
Legal Services Network (LSN) is a member benefit providing
easy access to attorneys across the country who reduce their fees
for AARP members and their spouses. In addition, many lawyers today
specialize in legal planning needs of the older adult. These elder
law attorneys help with estate and lifetime planning, asset protection
planning and financial planning. Your local bar association will
have a list of attorneys specializing in this area of law.
Back
to top of this page
Caring for Adults
Who Do Not Live at Home or Need Alternatives to Living at Home
What are some of the housing options available
for seniors in New Jersey?
There are many housing
alternatives available for the older population.
Health supervision will vary from 24 hours to minimal, depending
on the type of facility and the regulations that pertain to the
particular patient population served by the facility.
Which housing options are for older people
who can live independently?
Independent
senior housing consists of self-contained apartments
designed to promote independence yet provide common space and
activities. Independent senior housing units are available in
many communities throughout New Jersey.
Retirement
communities provide a wide spectrum of care from
independent living arrangements to skilled nursing facilities.
Major retirement housing categories include active adult retirement
communities, congregate housing, assisted living, and continuing
care retirement communities.
Continuing
Care Retirement Communities or life-care communities
provide a wide spectrum of care from independent living arrangements
to skilled nursing for individuals and couples for the remainder
of their lives. These communities include independent apartments
or homes, assisted living, and skilled nursing on the same grounds.
Which housing options are for people who need some assistance
with activities of daily living?
Assisted
Living Facilities provide a coordinated array of
personal and health services, medication management and 24-hour
supervision, if needed, in a home-like setting. Assisted living
facilities in New Jersey are licensed by the Department of Health
and Senior Services, and are available as a Waiver option or on a private-pay basis.
Comprehensive
Personal Care Homes offer room and board, and assisted
living services including assistance with activities of daily
living, 24-hour supervision when needed, and medication management.
These facilities, converted from other entities such as boarding
homes, typically offer rooms to share. The New Jersey Department
of Health and Senior Services licenses these facilities, and are available as a Waiver option or on a private-pay basis.
Assisted
Living Programs offer a package of assisted living
services in some publicly-subsidized housing units, including
personal care, medication management, and 24 hours supervision,
when needed. The program is administered through an agency licensed
by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services,
and is available as a Waiver option or on a private-pay
basis.
Adult
Family Care is a package of services including
room, board and some health care for no more than three persons
living in a home of an unrelated individual who has been trained
and approved by a sponsor agency. The New Jersey Department
of Health and Senior Services has licensed the sponsor agency,
and is available as a Waiver option or on a private-pay
basis.
The Congregate Housing Service Program provides some supportive services to low-income frail elderly
who live in selected subsidized housing facilities. The services
include meals, housekeeping, personal assistance and service
coordination. Service subsidies are available.
What housing options are there for people who need frequent
or full-time assistance and supervision?
Hospice
programs provide management of terminal illness
and support and bereavement care for the family through the
use of an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, paraprofessionals,
social workers, clergy, and volunteers. The services may be
provided in a participating hospital, in a free-standing hospice
facility, or in the home. The New Jersey Department of Health
and Senior Services licenses hospice programs. Contact your
local
AAA for more information.
Community-based acute care hospitals
provide short-term inpatient health care to residents of New
Jersey.
There are approximately 350 skilled
nursing facilities in New Jersey. They provide
physician-ordered medical services and supervised nursing care
on a 24-hour basis for persons who do not require acute care
hospitalization, and whose needs can be met only through inpatient
care in a long-term care facility. The New Jersey Department
of Health and Senior Services licenses Long Term Care facilities.
Contact your local
AAA for more information.
Rehabilitation
Hospitals provide a multidisciplinary approach
to the delivery of patient care. The treatment team may include
physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists,
speech therapists, respiratory therapists, social services,
psychological services and orthotic/prosthetic services. Nursing
care is available 24-hours a day. Therapies are provided throughout
the day with each patient receiving a minimum of three hours
of therapy a day. Contact your local
AAA for more information.
Who regulates hospitals, nursing homes,
assisted living residences and other facilities for seniors?
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior
Services, through the Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing licenses and inspects many acute and long-term care facilities, including all hospitals, nursing
homes and assisted living facilities. Yearly survey visits and
periodic monitoring visits provide a mechanism by which compliance
with both federal and state regulations are assessed and licenses
are renewed. If you have a complaint about a New Jersey health
care facility, call the department at 1-800-792-9770.
Who responds to reports of abuse, neglect
or exploitation of seniors living in nursing homes and other long-term
care settings?
The Office
of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly
receives complaints
made on behalf of people 65 and older and who are consumers of
long term care services. The office works with all parties to
resolve problems, while protecting consumer's privacy, confidentiality
and rights. In addition, the Ombudsman provides information on
resident rights, and oversees ethical decision-making in long
term care facilities.
Back
to top of this page
Support Groups and Support
Services
My family is having a very hard time dealing
with the stress of caregiving. Can we participate in counseling?
Counseling services are generally provided
to caregivers by individuals trained in social and interpersonal
relations. This service is designed to assist caregivers in adjusting
to the change in personal roles, and in learning effective tools
for controlling personal and family stress. Call your local
AAA for information.
Are there any support groups specifically
for caregivers?
Children
of Aging Parents is a non-profit organization dedicated
to assisting adult children and their aging parents. From its
beginning as a self-help group, CAPS has grown into a national
clearinghouse of information on elderly parent issues and resources
for help. It also offers informational printed materials and video
tapes. In addition, there are several support groups operating
throughout the state for family members whose relatives have Alzheimer's
disease. Group members share coping techniques for handling the
decrease in functioning of Alzheimer's patients. Contact the Greater
New Jersey Chapter, the Delaware
Valley Chapter, or your local
AAA for more information.
Where can I find a support group of individuals
facing the same issues that are confronting me and my family,
be it alcoholism, victims of crime, or stroke survivors?
The New
Jersey Self-Help Clearinghouse was founded to increase
awareness, utilization, development and understanding of mutual
aid self-help groups to help reduce suffering and isolation for
the caregiver, and provides extensive data on self-help and support
groups serving all areas of New Jersey.
Back
to top of this page
Help with Disability
Issues
What services are available for younger
adults with disabilities and their caregivers?
The New Jersey Department of Human Services
works in partnership with families, consumers, advocacy groups,
service providers and state and municipal officials throughout
the state to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities
are protected and that they and their families have access to
quality programs and services that meet their needs. Services
include, but are not limited to, the provision of health care
for people with special needs, community living, employment-related
and day programs, community-based mental health and in-patient
care for both children and adults with emotional and behavioral
problems, and assistive technological devices for people who are
blind or deaf. For more information, visit the Division
of Disability Services website, or call the division
toll-free at 1-888-285-3036.
|
