The DEA Home and Community Care Program provides eligible seniors with several innovative
options to help them remain in the community and avoid premature institutionalization.
These options are designed to assist the functionally impaired senior meet
a wide variety of medical, environmental, and social
needs.
Based on eligibility, Home and Community Care Programs may provide home health aide services, adult day services, Meals on Wheels, Senior
Companion, Personal emergency response system, minor home modifications or minor assistive devices. If appropriate, placement in an assisted
living facility may be made.
To be eligible for the Home and Community
Care Program, a person must be 65 or older,
a resident of Rhode Island, and be basically
homebound (unable to leave home without considerable
assistance).
For some persons on Medical Assistance
(Medicaid), services under the Home and Community
Care Program are may be provided at no charge. Other Medicaid clients may have to make a contribution towards services.
For information call 462-0570.
For persons meeting the guidelines for the Rhode
Island Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Elderly
(RIPAE) program, services are provided at a reduced rate. Currently, these annual income
guidelines are $18,724 for a single person and
$23,407 for a couple.
Each year these guidelines are
changed to reflect the Social Security cost-of-living
adjustment (COLA).
DEA works with a network of regional case management agencies
and other senior service organizations to develop
care plans to help seniors remain in the least restrictive environment with maximum independence.
For more information about the Home and
Community Care Program, call 462-0570.
The Home Health Quality Initiative
(HHQI) is part of a national effort by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve the quality of care for those who use home
health care services provided by Medicare-certified
suppliers. Go to www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227) or 1-877-486-2048
(TTY), to get access to data intended
to help seniors, family members, and
caregivers find out about the quality of home care their
loved ones are receiving.
