Assisted Living Homes
Betty Bates, Coordinator - EMail: bbates@ccg.carr.org
Barbara Bingham, Assistant - EMail: bbingham@ccg.carr.org

Assisted Living Program (ALP) Assisted Living Program means a residential (1 through 16) or facility (17 plus) - based program that provides housing and supportive services, supervision, personalized assistance, health-related services, or a combination of these services to meet the needs of residents who are unable to perform, or who need assistance in performing, the activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living, in a way that promotes optimum dignity and independence for the residents.

A residential facility must be licensed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as an Assisted Living Facility provided all applicable local requirements have been satisfied, such as zoning, housing, life safety, and health codes.

Assisted living is the fastest growing industry in the continuum of care arena. It offers choice, dignity, and maximum independence for residents in a safe, healthy, and home-like setting and promotes the concept of aging in place. Oversight of assisted living will ensure that citizens receive the care and services that they need and expect.

Assisted Living includes, but is not limited to the following minimum elements:

1. Service Plans
2. Meal Service - three meals daily served in a family setting
3. Personal Services, such as assistance with bathing, grooming, and mobility
4. Housekeeping and Laundry
5. 24-hour on-site supervision
6. Health Care and Social Services
7. Social and Spiritual Activities

Funds may be available in some ALP's to subsidize low income elderly 62 years and older who need financial assistance in order to access needed assisted living services. Applications for subsidies are received and evaluated by the local Area Agency on Aging. For more information about existing ALP homes, contact Betty Bates at 410-386-3821.

Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver for Older Adults (MWOA)

Cynthia Howe, MWOA Coordinator - EMail: chowe@ccg.carr.org
Betty Bates, MWOA Case Manager - EMail: bbates@ccg.carr.org
Martha Holland, MWOA Case Manager - EMail: mholland@ccg.carr.org
Diane Miller, MWOA Case Manager - EMail: dmiller@ccg.carr.org
Barbara Bingham, MWOA Provider Biller - EMail: bbingham@ccg.carr.org

This Waiver gives eligible, low-income adults a choice of receiving long term care services in a community-based setting (in their own homes or a large or small assisted living facility) , rather than in a nursing facility.

The applicant must meet three categories of requirement:

• Medical - requires a nursing home level of care / a nurse's care
• Financial - assets and income must be within the Medical Assistance guidelines (gross monthly income no more than 300% of the Supplemental Security Income and assets that are no more than $2,000, or $2,500 depending on the eligibility guideline)
• Technical - at least 50 years of age; is appropriate for the program; cost of services will not exceed the "cost neutrality", etc.
  
  

Services may include:

• Personal care
• Respite care
• Senior center plus
• Personal emergency response systems
• Extended home health care
• Environmental modifications and assessments
• Case management
• Home delivered meals
• Assisted living services
• Family or consumer training
• Dietitian/nutritionist services
• Assistive devices
• Behavior consultation services
• Other services available under Medicaid, such as medical day care; durable medical equipment; disposable medical supplies; acute, primary, & preventive services; medications; home health care; transportation
  
  

For more information regarding an application for the program contact Betty Bates at 410-386-3821.

Guardianship Program

Gail Jones, Coordinator - EMail: gjones@ccg.carr.org

Under Maryland law, the Chief of the BOA is appointed the Guardian of any adult over the age of 65 who is no longer able to make decisions regarding his or her care and no one else is available to make those decisions. The Guardianship program only handles the medical and social needs of the client. They do not handle finances.

In-Home Care/Respite Registry - EMail: coler@ccg.carr.org

The program's goal is to prevent inappropriate institutional placement of older adults. The Bureau of Aging refers providers from the community to go into clients' homes to perform duties such as: bathing, companionship, meal preparation, grocery shopping, etc. Providers are private-paid and schedules are negotiated between client and provider.

Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.

This organization provides legal assistance, advice, information and referrals to anyone over the age of 60. Public speaking presentations are also available to any senior group. Please call 1-800-679-8813 for information and to schedule appointments.

National Family Caregiver Support Program

Linda Musiani, Coordinator - EMail: lmusiani@ccg.carr.org

The focus of this program is on individuals serving as caregivers in our community. The program is designed to assist caregivers who are caring for family members over the age of sixty, and grandparents who are raising grandchildren under the age of 18. Assistance may be information, referrals to community programs, and limited financial help to provide supplies and respite care. The part-time coordinator can be reached Tues., Weds, and Thurs. 8:00am-4:30pm.

Seniors Keep In Touch (SKIT)

The SKIT program offers older adults a pre-arranged daily safety telephone call six days a week. This program improves the quality of life for an isolated older adult by providing caring home-based access to safety assurance, health & human services and socialization. This service is free to eligible county residents.

Nutrition Program

Diane Unglesbee, Nutrition Coordinator - EMail: dunglesbee@ccg.carr.org

The congregate nutrition program is a federally-funded program for people 60 years of age or older. People come together to socialize while enjoying a nutritionally-balanced meal. A donation up to the cost of the meal is encouraged.

Senior Inclusion Program

Charlene Fischer, Coordinator; Carol Kaczor, Assistant Coordinator - EMail: cfischer@ccg.carr.org

The Senior Inclusion Program is designed to offer structured and non-structured retirement activities for seniors with developmental disabilities, within a mainstreamed setting. Our mission is to help improve the quality of life of older citizens by promoting independence and increasing self-esteem. Multiple levels of activities are offered within a senior center environment with participants intermingling and sharing activities.

Education, community excursions, meals, transportation, social and recreational activities help to maintain the seniors within the community and avoid premature institutionalism.

The program operates five days per week from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information, please call the Carroll County Bureau of Aging, 1-410-386-3800.

Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

Carol Purkins, Coordinator - EMail: cpurkins@ccg.carr.org
Gina Valentine, Program Specialist - EMail: gvalentine@ccg.carr.org

The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) upholds the rights of residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Carroll County. By providing education and information about long term care (LTC), including Residents' Rights, Restraints, and Elder Abuse, the Long Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) empowers the residents in LTC facilities with a sense of independence and control.

The LTCO receives and works to resolve complaints that may adversely affect LTC residents. Anyone can contact the LTCO. All information received is kept confidential.

Volunteers are needed to serve as Ombudsman Representatives. Training and continuing education is provided by the LTCO. Immediate access to the LTCOP is assured through the involvement of volunteer representatives.

The LTCO may be contacted at 410-386-3800.

Senior Care Program

Deborah Frame, Sr. I & A Supervisor - EMail: dframe@ccg.carr.org

The purpose of the program is to help older adults remain in their homes. Senior Care serves moderately to severely impaired persons 65 years or older who are at risk of entering nursing homes. Senior Care provides screening, assessment, case management, and financial subsidies. The financial subsidies can help purchase personal care, homemaker services, medication and medical supplies, and adult day care.

Senior Centers

Patty Whitson, Community Services Supervisor - EMail: pwhitson@ccg.carr.org

The Bureau of Aging is responsible for the operation of five senior centers throughout Carroll County. Our centers provide social, recreational, educational, health, and nutrition opportunities to those 60 years and older. The centers include:

Westminster Senior and Community Center

North Carroll Senior and Community Center

South Carroll Senior and Community Center

Taneytown Senior and Community Center

Mt. Airy Senior and Community Center

Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)

Susan Cronin, Coordinator - EMail: scronin@ccg.carr.org

Medicare and Medicaid information

Medicare information

Maryland Department of Aging

Medicare Part B information

Maryland Insurance Administration

Trained health insurance counselors are available on an appointment basis to help senior citizens, age 60 and older, with questions and problems regarding: Medicare, Medigap, Health Maintenance Organizations, Long Term Care, Qualified Medicare, Beneficiary Program and Pharmacy Assistance. Home visits are available when needed for the homebound.

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

Susan Cronin, Coordinator - EMail: scronin@ccg.carr.org

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is an anti-health care fraud, waste and abuse project administered by the Maryland Department of Aging through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration on Aging. The SMP mission is to increase senior awareness of health care fraud, waste and abuse and to mobilize national, state and community resources to work together in resolving and publicizing health care fraud concerns. Home visits are available when needed for the homebound.

Every year health care fraud, waste and abuse results in the loss of millions of senior and taxpayer dollars. Examples of fraud, waste and abuse include:

• Billing for services, medicine, equipment or supplies not prescribed, not provided or not needed.
  
  
• Offering cash, free services or gift awards to influence use of a particular doctor, insurance plan, HMO, home health agency, nursing home or other medical service.
  
  
• Giving false or misleading information that benefits the health provider or service but increases consumer costs.
  
  
• Providing care or services that are below acceptable standards.
  
  
• Stopping insurance coverage or ending services without prior notice or reasonable cause.
  
  

• Trained volunteers who provide free, confidential assistance to senior Medicare and Medicaid consumers to help them learn about, identify and report health care fraud, waste and abuse.
  
  
• Individual counseling available in person or by telephone.
  
  
• Home counseling visits for seniors who are physically unable to visit a SMP service site.
  
  
• Community educational meetings to involve more seniors in the fight against health care fraud, waste and abuse.
  
  

How can you help?

• Participate in SMP education and counseling sessions.
• Report suspected cases of fraud to Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP).
  
  

To contact a SMP representative for information or an appointment call: 1-888-307-2532 or your nearest SMP Service site:

Senior Information and Assistance

Deborah Frame, Supervisor; Michele Laughman, I & A Assistant - EMail: dframe@ccg.carr.org

The Older Americans Act of 1965 recognized the need for senior citizens to have access to benefits, entitlement programs, services, and information from one source. Assistance is given in completing applications for the Maryland Energy Assistance Program, Renters Tax Credit Rebate, Home Owners Tax Credit Program, Maryland Pharmacy Assistance Program, Qualified Medicare Benefit Program, Specified Low-Income Medicare Benefit Program, and Independence Cards. Referrals are made to supporting services and agencies. Information is available concerning care giving, housing options and pharmacy assistance, as well as other topics. Similar offices are located all across the country.

Although the main office is located at the Bureau of Aging, satellite offices are located at each senior center and monthly visits are made to the centers. At this time, information is given about issues important to older citizens and time is set aside to complete applications. Home visits can be made for those not able to come to the centers.

Support Groups

Alzheimer's Support Group     Sharon Baker - EMail: sharon.baker@lyricbrass.com

The Alzheimer's Disease Support Group offers support to the care givers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other memory loss disorders. The Carroll County Alzheimer's Support Group is sponsored by the Bureau of Aging and the Carroll County Health Department, and is affiliated with the Baltimore Alzheimer's Association. It is facilitated by both a social worker and a registered nurse with no cost to its participants.

The Carroll County Alzheimer's Support Group meets once a month, at the Westminster Senior Activities and Community Center. For additional information call 410-386-3800.

Transportation

Transportation services and tickets are available through the Carroll Area Transit System (CATS) by calling 410-876-7433 or 410-857-0080.