Life has a host of speed bumps along the way to slow us down and add a bit more challenge to our lives. It's not like we don't have enough on our plate with a chronic illness, already of course.
But the nuances of life keeps rearing its horns at the most inopportune times. Sometimes there are days we don't expect like an aging parent that comes with little or no other family support. An aging parent can put quite a strain on your daily routine and when it starts you must seek help.
But where do you go?
I was talking to a friend the other day when I found this website. She stated her mother, 93, already had an "aging policy" insurance that has kicked in. She gets in-house nursing care, physical therapy, cleaning, and cooking. I was shocked. How many of us will have the same luck our parents had that particular insight? You can bet those numbers are low. So, many of us will be scrambling these last years ensuring our loved ones are taken care of.
Then there comes a point where you realize you can't possibly do it all to physical inadequacies and/or present responsibilities. You may not know, but ever state has a department that caters to the aging. It was predominately established to keep our elderly at home and independent as long as possible. I'm going to share a little of what Florida offers.
Florida is home to nearly 5.2 million residents age 60 and older and currently ranks first in the nation for the 65+ populations. As our senior population continues to increase, Florida’s future is linked to the financial, health, and physical security of our elder population.
The Department provides most direct services through its Division of Statewide Community-Based Services, which works through the state’s eleven Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers to deliver essential services to a vital segment of the population. The Department also directly administers a wide range of programs, ranging from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Office of Public and Professional Guardians, and Communities for a Lifetime to SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) and CARES (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services).
The Department recognizes that individuals age differently, and therefore the state’s residents do not each need the same kind of care or services as others the same age. Some individuals may suffer from chronic conditions that began long before they reached age 60, while others may be able to live their entire lives without ever needing long-term medical or social services. One of the Department’s highest priorities is reducing the need for many elders to be placed in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Ultimately, the goal is to efficiently use resources to ensure that the greatest number of elders possible get to spend their golden years living healthy, active, and fulfilling lives in their communities.
Mission Statement: To help Florida's elders remain healthy, safe, and independent.
Vision: All Floridians aging with dignity, purpose, and independence.
Goals:
Ensure that any Floridian in need of long-term care services receives a timely and appropriate assessment of need by applying a fair, objective, and transparent priority scoring methodology.
Protect vulnerable Floridians and their families by establishing the Office of Public and Professional Guardians.
Promote compassion and awareness for Floridians affected by dementia by expanding the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) across Florida.
Complete all federal and state statutory and regulatory requirements effectively by maximizing the number of elders served.
Let me tell you there is a whole host of services widely available. They are linked up with virtually every elder care facility in the state to offer assistance in your area. All you have to do is call for an assessment. It is that easy! There is a 30 minute screening interview. They will ask you your loved once physical state, present income, and areas you feel there is needed assistance. There is no need to provide proof of income at this point in time. That will depend on other services he/she qualifies for.
Once you are done, the Department will send you a summary of your phone interview and the services your loved one qualifies for at this point in time. You can update it each year. Also, if at any point that person's state of health declines, you can call immediately for an update to more services.
If you are in a situation with an elderly family member that is putting a strain on your own well-being, please seek out your department for the elderly in your state. Have peace of mind. The last thing we need to is cause our own health decline when this happens.
Here's a list of what services are available locally for me:
Home and Community-Based Programs and Services
But the nuances of life keeps rearing its horns at the most inopportune times. Sometimes there are days we don't expect like an aging parent that comes with little or no other family support. An aging parent can put quite a strain on your daily routine and when it starts you must seek help.
But where do you go?
I was talking to a friend the other day when I found this website. She stated her mother, 93, already had an "aging policy" insurance that has kicked in. She gets in-house nursing care, physical therapy, cleaning, and cooking. I was shocked. How many of us will have the same luck our parents had that particular insight? You can bet those numbers are low. So, many of us will be scrambling these last years ensuring our loved ones are taken care of.
Then there comes a point where you realize you can't possibly do it all to physical inadequacies and/or present responsibilities. You may not know, but ever state has a department that caters to the aging. It was predominately established to keep our elderly at home and independent as long as possible. I'm going to share a little of what Florida offers.
Florida is home to nearly 5.2 million residents age 60 and older and currently ranks first in the nation for the 65+ populations. As our senior population continues to increase, Florida’s future is linked to the financial, health, and physical security of our elder population.
The Department provides most direct services through its Division of Statewide Community-Based Services, which works through the state’s eleven Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers to deliver essential services to a vital segment of the population. The Department also directly administers a wide range of programs, ranging from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Office of Public and Professional Guardians, and Communities for a Lifetime to SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) and CARES (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services).
The Department recognizes that individuals age differently, and therefore the state’s residents do not each need the same kind of care or services as others the same age. Some individuals may suffer from chronic conditions that began long before they reached age 60, while others may be able to live their entire lives without ever needing long-term medical or social services. One of the Department’s highest priorities is reducing the need for many elders to be placed in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Ultimately, the goal is to efficiently use resources to ensure that the greatest number of elders possible get to spend their golden years living healthy, active, and fulfilling lives in their communities.
Mission Statement: To help Florida's elders remain healthy, safe, and independent.
Vision: All Floridians aging with dignity, purpose, and independence.
Goals:
Ensure that any Floridian in need of long-term care services receives a timely and appropriate assessment of need by applying a fair, objective, and transparent priority scoring methodology.
Protect vulnerable Floridians and their families by establishing the Office of Public and Professional Guardians.
Promote compassion and awareness for Floridians affected by dementia by expanding the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) across Florida.
Complete all federal and state statutory and regulatory requirements effectively by maximizing the number of elders served.
Let me tell you there is a whole host of services widely available. They are linked up with virtually every elder care facility in the state to offer assistance in your area. All you have to do is call for an assessment. It is that easy! There is a 30 minute screening interview. They will ask you your loved once physical state, present income, and areas you feel there is needed assistance. There is no need to provide proof of income at this point in time. That will depend on other services he/she qualifies for.
Once you are done, the Department will send you a summary of your phone interview and the services your loved one qualifies for at this point in time. You can update it each year. Also, if at any point that person's state of health declines, you can call immediately for an update to more services.
If you are in a situation with an elderly family member that is putting a strain on your own well-being, please seek out your department for the elderly in your state. Have peace of mind. The last thing we need to is cause our own health decline when this happens.
Here's a list of what services are available locally for me:
Home and Community-Based Programs and Services
- Adult Care Food Program
- Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative
- Community Care For the Elderly (CCE)
- Comprehensive Assessment & Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES)
- Congregate Meal and Nutrition Sites
- Elder Farmers Market Nutrition Program
- Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP)
- Health & Wellness
- Home Care for the Elderly (HCE)
- Medicaid Long-Term Care Services
- Memory Disorder Clinics
- National Family Caregiver Support Program
- Nutritional Education for Older Adults
- Nutrition Programs
- Nutrition Services Incentive Program
- Older Americans Act (OAA)
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
- Respite for Elders Living in Everyday Families (RELIEF)
- Senior Companion Program
- Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program (SMMC LTC)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Adult Protective Services
- Communities For a Lifetime
- Comprehensive Assessment & Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES)
- Disaster Preparedness
- Elder Abuse Prevention Program
- Elder Helpline
- Hospice and End-of-Life Care
- Insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid
- Intergenerational Connections
- Housing
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- Nursing Home Services (Agency for Health Care Administration Website)
- Public Guardianship
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
- Senior Legal Services & Senior Legal Helpline
- Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE)
- Silver Alert and ListServ
- Transportation
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