This service is provided at no cost to the older person, although contributions are solicited to help expand the availability of the service. In some areas home health and respite care are also provided in the home. Adult Day Care Adult day care centers specialize in supervised care for functionally impaired elderly adults. The centers care for adults four or more hours a day while their family members work or enjoy a respite from their role as caretaker. Center services are individualized, based on a systematic evaluation of each person's needs and strengths.
Care is guided by an individual plan which outlines long and short term goals.
The plan is reviewed periodically with family members for refinement and adjustment. The Ombudsman Program provides an avenue for linking older adults in long-term care facilities with the communities from which they come. The program serves as an advocate and friend for older adults in such facilities. Each of the ten Area Agencies on Aging has staff persons responsible for implementing the Ombudsman Program. To get this tax advantage, residents over 65 must file for homestead exemption with their county tax assessor's office.