Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 2 - Division of Aging and Adult Services › Chapter 1 - State Plan on Aging › Section 18-2-1-IX - Attachments › Attachment 18-2-1-IX-K - PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Current through June 25, 2024
Adult Day Care
This program provides exercise, therapeutic, socialization,
					 and recreational activities along with hot nutritious meals to meet the
					 specialized needs of the chronically ill, Alzheimer's patient, frail elderly,
					 or functionally impaired participant. Many of the AAAs support the operation of
					 Adult Day Care Centers.
Adult Protective
					 Services
The DAAS will fill six (6) vacant APS family protection
					 worker positions, and one APS supervisor position with state funding, to add to
					 the state's current twelve front line workers and two (2) supervisors. The new
					 protection workers will be stationed in local offices to investigate reports of
					 abuse, neglect and exploitation. The DAAS contract with Social Work p.r.n. will
					 end August 15, 2010. The department's centralized intake unit, which became
					 operational effective November 1, 2009, will continue to take vulnerable adult
					 abuse, neglect and exploitation reports and forward the reports electronically
					 to the appropriate APS supervisor for further handling. Information and public
					 education will be produced in collaboration with the APS program and the Area
					 Agencies on Aging. Participation in outreach and training opportunities will be
					 afforded to APS professionals, law-enforcement, public safety, the Attorney
					 General's Office and other appropriate agencies and organization, as well as
					 vulnerable adults and caregivers. APS staff will make referrals and collaborate
					 with agency stakeholders and other identified partners to facilitate
					 convictions of crimes perpetrated against vulnerable adults. Intake reports and
					 the investigation findings will be tracked electronically through the
					 Mississippi Automatic Child Welfare Information System (MACWIS) and complied
					 via calendar, state, and federal fiscal years for legislative review. The APS
					 program will continue to be a regional-based operation, with the DAAS having
					 administrative oversight. With the passage of the Elder Justice Act (EJA) in
					 March 2010, federal funding was authorized for all states' APS programs,
					 effective FFY 2011. Contingent upon the receipt of federal appropriations,
					 DAAS/APS will hire additional frontline protection workers, supervisors, and
					 clerical support staff at the regional level to be housed in county offices,
					 state office staff to manage the fiscal and budgetary duties, training and
					 technical support, and provide staff training to better serve vulnerable adult
					 victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Aging and Disability Resource
					 Center
The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) grant
					 program will stimulate the development of state systems that combine
					 information and referral, benefits and options counseling services, as well as
					 easing access to publicly and privately financed long term care services and
					 benefits. The goal of the ADRC program is to empower older adults and adults
					 with disabilities to make informed choices and to streamline access to long
					 term support. DAAS is partnering with Central Mississippi Area Agency on Aging
					 (CMAAA) to develop the first ADRC pilot site in the state of Mississippi. The
					 ADRC project will be highly visible and a single point of entry for access to
					 public long term support programs and benefits. The project will assist
					 individuals with current long term support needs and planning for future long
					 term care needs. A single information and referral access coordinated system
					 will enhance an individual's choice and support informed decision making. The
					 pilot project in Central Mississippi AAA will expand to include statewide
					 coverage.
Case
					 Management
Case management promotes independence and brokers,
					 coordinates, and monitors services to provide continuity of care for the frail
					 elderly. Case managers identify the needs of frail elderly adults through a
					 comprehensive assessment followed by the development of a care plan, with the
					 input of family members. Guided by the care plan, appropriate services are
					 delivered and monitored to ensure proper care. The service is available
					 statewide. Case management services are supplemented through the Elderly and
					 Disabled system funded by the state Medicaid agency. The Medicaid Elderly and
					 Disabled Case Management system is legislatively linked to the Planning and
					 Development Districts. In four AAAs the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled case
					 management reports to the AAA Director. In six, the AAA is not involved with
					 the Medicaid case management project.
Chore Maintenance or Household
					 Repair
Many older Mississippians are unable to perform various
					 tasks in and around their homes to keep them safe and comfortable. Chore
					 maintenance workers perform household tasks, seasonal or heavy cleaning,
					 lifting or moving furniture/appliances or other heavy household objects, and
					 other essential tasks such as raking or mowing yards. Simple household repairs
					 that do not require special tools, materials, skilled workmen or contractors
					 are done for elders who are unable to perform the tasks in their homes due to
					 impairment, frailty or disability. This service is provided by AAAs statewide
					 as funds and programs are available.
Chronic Disease Self Management
					 Program
The Mississippi CDSMP intervention provides a six-week
					 course called "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions" for an estimated
					 700 to 1,000 seniors sixty years or older who have at least one chronic
					 disease. Participants learn how to manage their health and maintain active and
					 fulfilling lives through participation in this highly interactive
					 evidence-based program facilitated by trained community lay and professional
					 people who have chronic disease themselves.
Older Adult Nutrition
					 Program
Adequate nutrition is essential in maintaining everyone=s
					 overall health and it is a primary component in keeping older persons from
					 premature institutionalization. The State=s Elderly Nutrition Program
					 contributes to the basic health needs of seniors by providing one meal a day
					 five days per week with each meal containing one-third of the Recommended
					 Dietary Allowances (RDAs). The congregate and home-delivered meals are provided
					 by a statewide food service vendor at a moderate cost.
Congregate Meals
are
					 well-balanced meals provided in a group setting in a centralized location five
					 days a week, except for designated holidays or emergencies when the site may be
					 closed. In addition to a healthful meal, participants receive the social
					 benefit of peer contact, directed activities tailored to their needs/desires,
					 and scheduled nutrition education.
Home-Delivered Meals
are well-balanced meals provided to eligible homebound older persons in all
					 eighty-two counties five days a week, including designated holidays and
					 emergencies when congregate sites are closed. Participants enjoy a measure of
					 socialization from their delivery person(s) and receive printed nutrition
					 education material as scheduled and distributed by the AAA/service
					 provider.
Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
					 Prevention
Sometimes physical or mental impairments or lack of family
					 support leave older persons at-risk of abuse or exploitation or of harming
					 themselves through their own actions or self neglect. Each AAA sponsors an
					 abuse awareness program which includes public education, outreach, reporting,
					 and receiving complaints and referrals, and recognition of signs of elder
					 abuse. The DAAS and AAAs coordinate efforts in Elder Abuse Prevention to
					 implement the mandates in Title VII.
Emergency Response
					 System
This technology is designed for the elderly and families
					 who have concerns about an older person being alone in the event of a fall or
					 other type of emergency. A personal Emergency Response System is installed in
					 the home of the frail, elderly client for 24 hour use to signal for help. A
					 small radio device transmits a code signal or message over existing telephone
					 lines to a control station such at the local hospital or police station which
					 has the elderly person's name, address, phone number, and emergency contact on
					 file. Assistance is sent to the older person's home if he/she does not
					 immediately respond to a phone call. Emergency response devices may be worn
					 around the neck or wrist and can be activated in emergencies. This service is
					 available in several AAAs.
Emergency
					 Services
Accepting assistance is difficult for many older persons
					 who are reluctant to rely on agencies and resources for a helping hand.
					 Emergency services provide social, financial, and supportive assistance to help
					 elderly individuals through a crisis such as a life-threatening or unexpected
					 emergency situation which demands or requires immediate action or intervention.
					 Emergency services can be temporary, short-term, or extended assistance
					 designed to satisfy the unmet needs of elderly individuals. Emergency services
					 can include food, clothing, medical supplies, equipment, and other items needed
					 in a crisis situation. Emergency services are available throughout the ten
					 PSAs.
Family Caregiver
					 Assistance
The Family Caregiver Support Program is the only program
					 that provides services to the caregiver. The caregiver is any individual caring
					 for a person 60 years or older, or a grandparent or other relative caregiver,
					 60 years or older, caring for a child 18 years or younger. The services
					 provided include: information about available services, assistance in gaining
					 access to services, individual counseling, organization of support groups,
					 caregiver training to assist the caregiver in making decisions and solving
					 problems relating to their caregiving roles; respite care to enable caregivers
					 to be temporarily relieved from caregiving responsibilities, and supplemental
					 services, on a limited basis to complement the care provided by caregivers. An
					 assortment of Family Caregiver services are provided by the AAAs.
Homemaker
This program gives elderly adults the option of having
					 homemakers perform the housekeeping tasks they can no longer do or need
					 assistance in doing. Homemaker services are available to help older people who
					 need assistance with daily living tasks such as cooking, cleaning, mending,
					 grocery shopping, doing laundry, providing safety and consumer education,
					 bathing, dressing, and assisting with oral hygiene assistance. The amount of
					 time spent in the home depends on the needs of the older adult and the
					 availability of the homemaker service. This service is provided at no cost to
					 the older person, although voluntary contributions are solicited to help expand
					 the availability of the service. Homemaker services are available in all
					 PSAs.
Information and
					 Referral/Assistance
Information and referral/assistance is the entry point into
					 the aging service delivery system for a majority of older Mississippians. This
					 service is critical to elderly individuals and their caregivers in obtaining
					 information and contributes towards maintaining older people in their
					 communities by linking them with needed services. Closely linked to the Aging
					 and Disability Resource Center concept, Information and Referral helps
					 underserved individuals link to needed services and provides follow-up
					 mechanisms to record that help was rendered and needs were met. A statewide
					 toll-free telephone system enhances access to information.
A well-implemented information and referral/assistance
					 system makes older people aware of services and opportunities, furnishes facts
					 about the agencies and organizations which provide services, and identifies the
					 services available to them. Additionally, a well-implemented information and
					 referral/ assistance system assists individuals who cannot make their own
					 contacts with service providers, who are unable to negotiate the receipt of
					 services on their own, or who are unable to determine the best resource needed
					 to address their problem. Every AAA has electronic information and
					 referral/assistance services, thus every older Mississippian has access to
					 information regarding local services.
Legal
					 Assistance
Seniors may need specialized legal assistance regarding
					 benefits which include Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
					 Medicare, or related issues. The State Unit assists and works closely with the
					 AAAs to reach out to elderly Mississippians and help them resolve their special
					 legal needs. In addition to the legal services program providers, the DAAS
					 encourages private practicing lawyers to finance and provide legal services and
					 consultation to seniors. This program provides or secures legal assistance to
					 ensure the rights and entitlements of older persons. The senior who needs
					 assistance can contact a legal assistance program through their AAA by means of
					 a phone call. There is no charge to seniors to whom services are provided.
					 Title VII mandates are considered under legal assistance planning and funded
					 through the IFF.
Mississippi State Health Insurance and
					 Assistance Program (SHIP)
The Mississippi Health Insurance and Assistance Program
					 (SHIP) is funded through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and managed by
					 DAAS' SHIP Coordinator through the AAAs. A system of volunteers guided by the
					 designated AAA SHIP Coordinator provides counseling and information on Medicare
					 and Medicaid for an individual needing assistance or having questions about
					 health care coverage. The SHIP is the service leading implementation of the
					 Medicare Modernization Act, including enrollment in new Medicare prescription
					 medication programs. SHIP services are available at the state level and in each
					 AAA.
Mississippi Senior Medicare Patrol
					 (SMP)
The Mississippi Senior Medicare Patrol promotes the
					 reduction of fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid through a system of
					 trained volunteers who assist seniors to identify and report billing
					 problems/errors. SMP is active statewide via subgrants to Central MS AAA
					 (assisting the state office to serve 26 counties), Three Rivers AAA (serving 41
					 counties) and the Southern Mississippi AAA (serving 15 counties).
Ombudsman
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program's (LTCOP) mission is
					 to seek resolution of problems and advocate for the rights of residents of
					 long-term care facilities with the goal of enhancing the quality of life and
					 care of residents. The LTCOP serves residents of licensed nursing homes,
					 personal care homes, and assisted living facilities by investigating and
					 working to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents.
Ombudsmen regularly visit long-term care facilities to be
					 assessable to residents and monitor conditions. In addition, Ombudsmen provide
					 education regarding long-term care issues, identify care concerns of residents,
					 and advocate for needed change.
The Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman operates
					 within the MDHS DAAS. Ombudsmen services are subgranted to AAAs to provide a
					 full-time certified ombudsman responsible for program components. Title VII
					 Ombudsman Program mandates are coordinated in the Ombudsman program by
					 DAAS.
Outreach
Outreach involves seeking out people who need or may need a
					 service and helping them obtain it. Many elderly have no knowledge of the
					 resources or services available to them. After they are informed of the
					 services, it is often difficult to get older persons to take advantage of
					 available services. Outreach activities ensure that services are accessible in
					 the PSA.
Program Development and Coordination
Program development and coordination activities of the AAAs
					 relate to either the establishment of a new service(s), or the improvement,
					 expansion, or integration of an existing service(s). The two major
					 characteristics of program development and coordination activities are that
					 they must be intended to achieve a specific service(s), goal(s), or
					 objective(s) in the Area Plan and they must occur during a specifically defined
					 and limited period of time rather than being cyclical or ongoing.
Program development/coordination activities can involve any
					 number of administrative tasks, that include: identifying problems in the
					 community; handling problems between agencies; overseeing the development of
					 new services; obtaining funding for the program; maintaining liaison with the
					 agencies involved; monitoring services for quality improvement; and
					 recommending changes in services, policies, and procedures as needed.
Recreation
This service includes activities and events like sports,
					 games (physical or mental activities), field trips, physical fitness, and other
					 social activities in which an elderly person participates or attends as a
					 spectator during his/her leisure time.
The State's mild climate, with an average temperature of 63
					 degrees and yearly rainfall of about 50 inches, facilitates outdoor recreation
					 year-round. Mississippi has 17 state parks offering boating, camping, fishing,
					 nature trails, and recreational facilities. Historic sites and arts and crafts
					 shows and festivals, featuring everything from blues to watermelons, offer
					 additional opportunities for Mississippians to relax and have fun. Fresh and
					 salt water fishing provides another form of recreation, as does hunting small
					 game, deer, and wild turkey. Persons age 65 and older may obtain a free hunting
					 and fishing license from their Circuit Clerk's Office.
In order to assure opportunities for participation, most
					 AAAs co-sponsor the Mississippi Senior Olympics, a statewide athletic event
					 designed for this age group.
Residential Repair/Minor Home
					 Modification
Minor modification and repair of elderly individuals' homes
					 facilitate the ability of older persons to remain in their homes. Home
					 maintenance services are available in a limited number of PSAs.
Residential Repair
includes physical maintenance, replacing or reconstructing a dwelling owned by
					 an older individual who is unable to perform the needed work. Repairs or
					 renovations of a dwelling must be essential for the health and safety of the
					 elderly occupant, such as repairing a roof.
Minor Home
					 Modification
includes alterations or improvements of a
					 dwelling to make it more accessible and usable by physically disabled and frail
					 older individuals. This involves adaptations to the interior of the dwelling by
					 constructing grab-bars or rails to make it easier and safer to carry out
					 activities such as bathing, cooking, walking and opening doors.
Respite
Caring for a frail person can be a highly stressful
					 situation. As more family members and friends are keeping their frail loved
					 ones at home, there is a critical need for time away from the situation for the
					 caregiver. This service is designed to give primary caregivers a break from
					 their regular care responsibilities. The time off can vary from a few hours to
					 a week, enabling families to pursue other activities or even take a vacation.
					 Family caregivers may also hire someone privately to provide respite care.
					 Respite care provides much needed time off for the primary caregiver, thereby
					 reducing stress, the risk of elder abuse, and burnout. This service is
					 available statewide.
Senior Center
A Senior Center is a community focal point where older
					 persons come together for services and activities that enhance socialization,
					 support their independence, and encourage their involvement in and with the
					 community. As part of a comprehensive community strategy to meet the needs of
					 older persons, Senior Center programs take place within a facility. These
					 programs consist of a variety of services and activities in such areas as
					 education, creative arts, recreation, advocacy, leadership development,
					 employment, health, nutrition, social work, and other supportive services. The
					 Center also serves as a community resource for information on aging services,
					 for training professional and lay leadership, and for developing new approaches
					 to aging programs. Senior centers facilitate access to other services such as
					 transportation, health and counseling, and sometimes meals and legal
					 assistance.
Senior Centers serve communities as a social and
					 recreational congregating place and a source of health and social service
					 assistance. Senior Centers will become important "safe havens" for seniors
					 during emergency situations. These Centers are located statewide.
Senior Community Services Employment
					 Program (Title V)
Adults age 55 and older are working throughout the state
					 through assistance from the Senior Community Service Employment Program. The
					 program identifies employment opportunities for older persons whose incomes
					 place them at or below the federal poverty level and who are unemployed,
					 underemployed, or have difficulty finding a job. Adults in the program
					 generally work an average of 20 hours a week, receiving at least minimum
					 wage.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program, also known
					 as the Title V program, provides low-income seniors a variety of job-supported
					 services to help them enter or re-enter the job market. These include an annual
					 physical examination, personal and job-related counseling, transportation, on
					 the job training, and job referral. The Title V program promotes part-time
					 community employment for low-income persons age 55 and older and assists in
					 their transition to unsubsidized employment. Title V is available
					 statewide.
Senior
					 Discount
Adults age sixty and older are increasing their buying
					 power through senior discount programs. The discount program encourages
					 businesses and professionals to provide discounts on products and services
					 purchased by senior consumers. AAAs may issue a directory of participating
					 senior discount businesses. The discount program is available throughout the
					 state.
Special Needs
There are times when Medicare does not cover the cost of
					 needed medical supplies or equipment, the food stamps are not enough to last
					 through the month, and meals are not delivered on weekends. In these times, the
					 older person is faced with the dilemma of finding help for their special needs.
					 Special Needs are necessities, demands, or wants desired by the older persons
					 due to deprivation, poverty, cultural or social isolation, disabilities, or
					 factors that threaten the elderly individual's capacity to live
					 independently.
The purpose of Special Needs services is to:
- Improve the quality of life and care of elderly
					 citizens;
- Prolong independence of elderly citizens;
- Prevent premature institutionalization; and,
- Provide intervention and assistance to the older person
					 whose resources are not readily available, who cannot afford to pay, and whose
					 need for help threatens independent living.
Telephone Reassurance
Telephone reassurance is an organized system of calling
					 homebound elderly clients who have telephones, who live alone or are
					 temporarily alone; who live in remote areas, or who are incapacitated. This
					 service is usually staffed by volunteers who make phone calls to homebound or
					 at-risk older people once a day to offer reassurance and support. In general,
					 the service is provided by hospitals, senior centers, churches, and social
					 service agencies. The TRIAD program has begun to provide telephone reassurance
					 as an option of service in some AAAs.
The purpose of telephone reassurance is to alleviate
					 loneliness and the feeling of isolation; to check on and determine the person=s
					 health status, safety and well-being; and to determine the person=s need for
					 emergency assistance. Telephone reassurance is available in a limited number of
					 PSAs.
Transportation
Continued independence of older adults in the state is
					 facilitated by transportation services offered in their communities. Nearly 300
					 vehicles-from vans to mini-buses-take older adults to dental and medical
					 appointments, shopping areas, senior centers, recreational areas, food stamp
					 offices, social security offices, and/or educational facilities.
Transportation is provided by local, civic or community
					 groups or AAAs in coordination with programs funded by the Mississippi
					 Department of Transportation. This program secures or provides transportation
					 to older persons so they can access other essential services. Seniors may call
					 their AAA to investigate the availability of different types of transportation
					 in their community. AAAs coordinate with Medicaid for travel alternatives for
					 eligible elders. Transportation is available in all the PSAs.
Special
					 Programs
In addition to the many services funded through Title III
					 Older Americans Act and other sources, the DAAS offers several specialized
					 programs such as:
Senior
					 Olympics
The Golden Games, Mississippi Senior Olympics, is a quality
					 recreation experience for adults age 55 and over, and its purpose is to promote
					 excellence and healthy lifestyles. The goals of the annual event are to educate
					 the citizens of Mississippi of the importance and potential of experiencing
					 good health throughout their lifetime; to provide quality, competitive athletic
					 experiences for older adults; to improve the quantity and quality of
					 health-related programs for older adults; to provide an opportunity for
					 community organizations to work cooperatively in the provision of senior games;
					 to establish a year-round educational program on health and wellness for older
					 adults through clinics, workshops, written materials and supportive resources;
					 and to establish a statewide network of local and state level senior games
					 programs.
Jackson County Senior Companion
					 Program
This program promotes the use of volunteers as companions
					 to seniors who need assistance with activities of daily living. Through this
					 grant older persons have assistance getting to the doctor's appointments, bill
					 paying and daily home management tasks.
Volunteer
					 Services
Volunteers have been an integral part of the aging service
					 delivery system in Mississippi for many years. The Aging Network relies on
					 volunteers to provide services that would not be available to seniors through
					 other sources because of limited funding. Volunteers enhance the Aging
					 Network's ability to serve as many elderly citizens as possible. Volunteer
					 services available to seniors in the state include:
Congregate Meals Service
Home-Delivered Meals Delivery
Friendly Visitor
Senior
							 Center Activity Leadership
Telephone Assurance
Escort
Reading and Writing
Shopping Assistance
Senior Companion
Insurance Counseling
Visit Long-Term Care Facilities
Fraud and Abuse
Assist at Senior Events
Access to Benefits Coalition
SenioRxMS-Prescription Medication
							 Support
Additionally, the DAAS coordinates volunteer services
					 through various volunteer agencies such as ACTION, RSVP, Foster Grandparents,
					 Telephone Pioneers, AARP, Faith-based organizations, and others.
SeniorRx MS
In 2004 the Mississippi Legislature mandated the creation
					 of a prescription medication program for seniors and indigents who have
					 difficulty affording medications. The service that helps seniors unable to
					 afford medications identify and locate free and deeply discounted drugs
					 available from the manufacturer. The web-based service is available from any
					 computer and adds to the resources available to the public, AAA staff, State
					 Health Insurance Counselors, Case Managers, Access to Benefits Coalition
					 Members, and other professionals in the Aging Network. A partnership with the
					 national Prescription Assistance Program NOW provides a toll free access number
					 to the SenioRxMS resource system. Annual reports to the Mississippi Legislature
					 indicate considerable savings to low-income senior and indigent Mississippians.
					 Every AAA participates in the program.
Americor Vista
In 2006, the DAAS applied for and received a grant from the
					 National Corporation for Community Service to help restore services available
					 through the AAA for seniors in areas affected by the nation's largest national
					 disaster. The AmericorVista project will provide "volunteers" for special
					 projects designed to help seniors in dire need to receive benefits due,
					 understand Medicare changes, recover from the affects of major life disruption,
					 seek alternative housing, and rebuild lifestyles.