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| YOUR OWN HOME... OR A NURSING HOME? Do you need or do you know someone who needs the following services? Through the Indiana Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled (better known as CHOICE ) Program, an alternative to institutionalization was created in 1987. This program does exactly what its name implies, provides individuals with a "choice" regarding the way in which they receive the care they need. The intent of the CHOICE program is to provide an array of in-home supportive services which would allow the elderly and disabled to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, thus providing maximum independence by assisting the individual in avoiding institutionalization. ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES : To be eligible for assistance under the CHOICE program, you must be an Indiana resident, 60 years of age or older, or disabled because of a severe physical and/or mental condition which is expected to last indefinitely and be at imminent risk of losing one's independence. In addition, it must be medically feasible to provide home care to the individual. There are no income restrictions. Persons who are at risk of losing their independence are those who are unable to perform the activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, grooming, etc.), in need of in-home medical services or in need of support services for their caregivers. Without these services, institutionalization may become a reality. Individuals who are currently residing in an institutional setting who could be maintained in their original residence but have been unable to return home due to the lack of funding sources to pay for the in-home services, may also benefit. APPLICATION FOR CHOICE SERVICES: The Council on Aging is responsible for administering the program at the local level. When services are requested, a case manager will make a home visit to complete a detailed assessment of the individual's situation. Through the assessment, the case manager will determine the services needed. They will develop a care plan to address the ongoing needs of the individual and monitor the individual and the services they are receiving. Individuals will be reassessed at regular intervals to make sure that services continue to meet the person's needs. PAYMENT FOR SERVICES: The case manager reviews all possible options of payment for services through private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and other social service programs. Only when all of these options have been exhausted are the CHOICE funds used. The CHOICE program also contains a cost share formula which may require a client to pay for all or a portion of the cost of the services; therefore, the cost share is discussed with the client and determined at the time of assessment. In determining the amount of the cost share, the client's financial resources and expenses, the availability of informal support, and the cost of services purchased through CHOICE are considered. Effective July 1, 1994, the client cost share formula (1) imposes no charges for an eligible individual whose income does not exceed 150% of the federal income poverty level; and (2) does not impose charges for the total cost of services provided to an individual through the CHOICE program unless the eligible individual's income exceeds 350% of the federal income poverty level. The calculation of income of an eligible individual under the CHOICE program must include the deduction of the person's medical expenses and the medical expenses of the individual's spouse and dependent children who reside in the eligible client's household. In-Home Vs. Institutional Cost Average Choice Cost Compared to Average Medicaid Institutional Cost *Total is weighted average based on percentage of all elderly and disabled recipients and length of service. The state share of the total Medicaid cost is 37.96%. Federal funding provides the remainder. CHOICE SERVICES: The services available through CHOICE , in addition to Case Management, are: Home Health Services, Home Delivered Meals, Homemaker Services, Respite Care, Transportation, Attendant Care, Adult Day Care, Medical Supplies and other services as required to maintain independence. CHOICE - - Clients Served Per Year THE PARALYZED HOOSIER VETERANS AND CHOICE CHOICE is a state administered program funded with our tax-dollars. The Paralyzed Hoosier Veterans advocate for and support legislation that will provide sufficient funding to operate the program. Even though additional funding was approved for the 1999-2001 FY budget, there is a waiting list of 6,000 people caused partly by Medicare cuts. You can help with a letter to your State Senator and Representative in Indianapolis. Tell them how important the CHOICE program is to you or someone you know and ask them to support adequate funding for the Program. For information about CHOICE services in Central Indiana (Marion and surrounding counties), contact the Central Indiana Council on Aging, Inc. at 4755 Kingsway Drive, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46205-1560. Phone 1-800-432-2422 or 317-254-3660. HOOSIER UPLANDS Area 15 Agency on Aging - 800-333-2451 or 812-849-4457 (Covering Crawford, Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties) AREA 10 Council on Aging 800-844-1010 or 812-334-3383 (Covering Owen and Monroe Counties) AREA 11 Board on Aging 812-372-6918 or 812-445-3885 (direct dial for Jackson County) LIFESTREAM SERVICES (formerly known as Area 6) 800-589-1121 or 765-759-1121 (Madison, Henry and Delaware) NORTHEASTERN AREA (Ft. Wayne): Phone 1-800-552-3662 or 260-745-1200 All other Areas call 800-986-3505 |
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