![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.457638888888889in"
height="1.0625in"}![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.125in"
height="1.0208333333333333in"} ![](media/image3.wmf)

**Name of Program: Choices At Home**

**Organization: Connecticut Department of Social Services, Aging
Services Division**

Choices At Home is a two- pronged pilot project funded by an
Administration on Aging Nursing Home Diversion Modernization grant
(NHDMG). It is designed to utilize flexible service dollars and a Single
Entry Point system to help seniors avoid nursing home placement and
spend down to Medicaid. The pilot project is comprised of two separate
but key components:

1)  The addition of a Cash and Counseling (C&C) model of service
    delivery through the existing Statewide Respite Care and National
    Family Caregiver programs. Adding a C&C component to the programs
    will expand the options that seniors have for when and how they
    receive home care services, therefore allowing them to remain at
    home longer; and

2)  The Development of an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to
    serve as South Central Connecticut's Single Entry Point system.
    Through the development of the ADRC Connecticut is striving to
    provide seniors and their families with the information and
    resources that they need to make informed decisions about, and gain
    better access to existing health and long term care options in their
    area.

Both components of the Choices At Home project are being piloted in the
South Central region of the state with the goal of developing a model
that can be replicated statewide in the future.

The Choices At-Home program is targeting individuals who are at-risk of
institutionalization and spend-down to Medicaid. For the C&C component
of the project workgroup members developed a comprehensive assessment
tool that takes into account the medical and psychological well-being of
both the client and the caregiver. These factors are rated and scored
from 1-10 according to a built-in priority scale. Individuals with
scores of 7 or higher are considered at-risk of nursing home placement.
Individuals with incomes at or below \$2,500/month and with assets not
to exceed \$45,000 are considered at-risk of spend down to Medicaid. The
above income/asset criteria were selected because individuals at or
below this level would exhaust their income/assets within six months of
entering a skilled nursing facility.

The Connecticut State Unit on Aging recognized the need to establish
strong partners in order assure a successful outcome. Partners include:

1)  The Agency on Aging of South Central CT -- AASCC is administering
    the C&C option through the two Caregiver programs and is serving as
    an access point for and a partner in the development of the ADRC;

2)  The Center for Disability Rights -- CDR is the Center for
    Independent Living in South Central CT. They are serving as an entry
    point for and a key partner in the development of the ADRC. As part
    of this project AASCC and CDR have developed and signed a memorandum
    of understanding to establish agreements for operating the ADRC
    together;

3)  University of CT Health Center, Center on Aging -- Staff from UCHC
    are serving as the evaluators of the Choices At Home project;

4)  Former consumers of the two Caregiver programs.

The State Unit on Aging formed workgroups to develop each side of the
Choices at Home pilot. Grant partners serve on the appropriate
workgroups and much of the work of the grant is conducted through the
collaborative efforts of workgroup members.

Contact: Melissa Morton, State of CT, Department of Social Services,
Aging Services Division at (860) 424-5286 or by emal at
<Melissa.morton@ct.gov>