Transitions In Caregiving (AoA)
Project Description:
Using its 2005 Systems Transformation Grant as an organziaing framework, NH is transforming its long-term care system of support for older adults from a provider driven, medically oriented approach to one that places the older adult and their family at the center of the planning and service delivery process. The focus of a person-centered system is on the indivdiual, their assets, and their network of family and community support in developing a flexible and cost effective plan to allow maximum choice and control over the supports needed to live in teh community.
The Institute on Disability at UNH in partnership with the NH Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services is implementing a consumer-directed model as a central change strategy to shift from a primarily state-controlled, provider-driven model of care to a consumer-driven model to support older adults at risk of institutional placement to remain at home. The project goal is to modernize and transform family caregiver support funds into flexible, consumer-directed service dollars managed locally at two of ten ServiceLink Resource Centers (SLRCs) to support nursing home diversion for persons identified to be at risk of nursing home placement and spend down to Medicaid.
The objectives are to: 1) Establish an infrastructure to divert nursing home placement that is integrated into the SLRC system; 2) Develop a fiscal agent and information technologies to support individual budgeting and accounting; 3) Devolve spending authority for caregiver support funds to the SLRCs; 4) Implement evidenced-based caregiver education and skills training; and 5) Evaluate the efficacy of the program.
The expected outcomes include: 1) 100 participants will receive timely and flexible intervention to prevent spend down to Medicaid and nursing home admission; 2) 100 caregivers will receive training and support to help them sustain caregiving roles for longer periods of time; 3) a fiscal intermediary will be established; and 4) existing funding structures will be streamlined to authorize spending at the local level.
The anticipated products are: an evaluation and final report, an established fiscal agent service, a template for flexible funding, informational materials, media briefs, and a replicable caregiver training program.
Keyword(s):
Caregiver support, nursing home diversion, consumer directed
Core Function(s):
Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Other
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Mulit-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
