Resources
Arizona Dept of Health Services
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-term Care (formerly National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform). Click Here.
AZ Links
AZ Links is Arizona’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), created to help Arizona Seniors, People with Disabilities, Caregivers and their Family Members locate resources and services that meet their needs. Click Here.
Family Caregiver Support Program
The Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) was established as part of the enactment of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000. The program was reauthorized and updated in 2006 (Public Law 109-365). The program was developed by the Administration on Aging (AoA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The program calls for partnerships with local area agencies on aging and faith- and community-service providers and tribes to offer five direct services that best meet the range of caregivers’ needs, including:
- Information to caregivers about available services.
- Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to supportive services.
- Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training to assist caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their roles.
- Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities.
- Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers.
The site also includes an internal link to their “Aging and Adult Services” home page where site visitors will find information on Adult Protective Services who accept and evaluate reports of elder abuse, elder neglect and elder exploitation. Click Here.
Home and Community Living Supports
Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) provides support to aging and vulnerable seniors in need of Long Term Care who choose to remain in their own homes or live with their families rather than be placed in institutional care.
Services, provided through partnerships between the Division of Again and Adult Services and Arizona’s Area Agencies on Aging, include case management and assessment, home care, housekeeping services, home health aid, personal care, visiting nurse services, adult day care, adult day health, respite care, attendant care, home delivered meals, transportation services and congregate meals. Click Here.
Legal Services Assistance
Arizona’s Legal Services Assistance Program was established to offer information, advice, assistance, and advocacy to persons 60 years of age and older who may be unable to manage their own affairs.
The goals of the program include promoting and preserving the autonomy, dignity, independence and financial security of older persons; providing access to the justice system; and advocating for the preservation of the rights and benefits of older persons.
These services are provided under the federal Older Americans Act thru the Department of Economic Security, Division of Aging and Adult Services. Click Here.
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program was designed to advocate for vulnerable seniors living in long term care and assisted living facilities who are often subjected to abuse, neglect, and substandard care. The program’s goal is to identify, investigate, and resolve complaints made by, or on behalf of residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities while respecting the senior’s confidentiality and wishes. Click Here.
Additional responsibilities of the program include:
- Educating residents, families, facility staff and the community about long term care issues and services
- Promoting and advocating for residents’ rights
- Assisting residents in obtaining needed services
- Working with and supporting family and resident councils
- Empowering residents and families to advocate for themselves
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) (also referred to as Title V of the Older Americans Act) provides useful part-time training opportunities with nonprofit or public/government agencies for economically disadvantaged Arizona seniors age 55 or older who have poor employment prospects. Upon completion of the training, seniors are assisted in the pursuit of employment opportunities. Click Here.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
The Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a free health-benefits counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their families or caregivers. SHIP’s mission is to educate, advocate, counsel and empower people to make informed benefit decisions. SHIP is an independent program funded by federal agencies and is not affiliated with the insurance industry. This program is a partnership of the Department of Economic Security Division of Again and Adult Services and the Area Agencies on Aging. Click Here.
SHIP counselors, assist families with questions related to:
- Medicaid (AHCCCS) eligibility, benefits and claim filing
- Medicare Part D (Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage)
- Long Term Care Insurance information
- Medicare Secondary Payor
- Other types of health insurance benefits
- Medigap insurance
- Medicare Advantage Plan options and Enrollment
- Medicare Cost Sharing programs and other Dual Eligible enrollment
- Medicare/Medicaid Fraud, Waste and Abuse
- Information regarding Medicare Costs and Deductibles