Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
PASSPORT Home Care Program
Do You Need Help to Care for Yourself in Your Own Home...
Do You Know of Someone Else Who Needs Assistance?
The state-funded PASSPORT Home Care Program of the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging may be the answer.
With one simple phone call, you can request a nurse or social worker to meet with you in your own home free of charge. We will answer your questions about in-home care, help you determine what care you need, identify your options for obtaining care, and if you are eligible, arrange for free in-home PASSPORT services.WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR PASSPORT?
Anyone of any age can call PASSPORT for information about long-term care and to help determine what services will best meet their needs.
A person is eligible for PASSPORT in-home services if he or she:
- is 60 years of age or older
- is eligible for Medicaid**
- lives in a home or apartment
- needs hands-on help with daily activities (i.e. bathing, dressing, meals) to remain at home.
- the person and her/his doctor agree to the care plan
- health and safety needs can be met by home care services.
- the entire package of services costs no more than 60% of the cost of Medicaid nursing home care.
** PASSPORT can make a preliminary decision that a person meets financial eligibility requirements; however, the county Department of Human Services makes the final determination.
Persons not eligible for PASSPORT in-home services may be referred to other community-based services or assisted with nursing home placement if appropriate.
WHAT ARE THE IN-HOME SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH PASSPORT?
- Adult Day Service
- Chore Services
- Emergency Response Systems
- Home Delivered Meals
- Home Medical Equipment and Supplies
- Homemaker Services
- Independent Living Assistance
- Minor Home Modifications, Maintenance and Repairs
- Personal Care/Respite
- Social Work/Counseling
- Transportation
Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAA) is a private non-profit corporation, organized and designated by the State of Ohio to be the planning, coordinating, and administrative agency for federal and state aging programs in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina Counties.
A 21-member Board of Trustee governs the Agency. The Board is advised by a Five-County Advisory Council comprised of two representatives from each of the five Counties and eleven at large members.
Operating under the legislative authority of the federal Older American's Act (OAA), the WRAAA is responsible for a wide range of activities in support of older adults. Its major areas of responsibilities are to:
- Serve as an effective and visible advocate and focal point for the approximately 400,000 older adults, aged 60+ within its five county planning and services area;
- Identify the needs and concerns of older adults and create plans for collaboratively addressing the needs through systems of in-home and community-based services and other interventions which enable older adults to maintain their independence and dignity;
- Administer a wide variety of federal, state, local and private funds used to provide home and community-based services, care management and other supports and opportunities for older adults.
WRAAA is the local administrative agency for the federal Older Americans Act and several state aging programs including; the PASSPORT Homecare Program; the Assisted Living Program; the Residential State Supplement Program which subsidizes care in adult care facilities; the Long Term Care Consultation Program which assists families in planning for long-term care; and Universal Pre-Admission Screening of nursing home applicants.
The Agency also monitors service providers to ensure services are delivered in an efficient and effective manner. WRAAA supportive services fall into four general categories: (1) access services; (2) community-based services; (3) in-home services; and (4) services to resident in facilities providing long-term care. Priority in service provision is given to those older adults who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
Under its Older American Act (OAA) Program, the Agency funds and coordinates a regional network of multi-purpose senior centers and specialized service providers to deliver needed home and community-based services which include: adult day care, meals, information and referral, escort, transportation, homemaker, chore, personal care, legal, long term care ombudsman, home repair, health promotion, protective, and volunteerism. The Agency also provides support to informal caregivers under the OAA funded Family Caregiver Support Program. The caregiving assistance includes training, education, counseling, support groups, information, respite and other supportive services. Through its PASSPORT Program, the Agency provides screening, assessment, care management, and home care services to frail and impaired older persons who are Medicaid eligible and qualify for a nursing home level of care.
The Agency is also involved in a number of projects created in response to identified problems, needs and opportunities. Current projects focus on: the prevention of elder abuse; helping residents in senior housing access services; falls prevention; public benefits outreach and enrollment assistance; and the development of a "front door" infrastructure to improve consumer access to long-term care.
For more information, please contact:
Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
PASSPORT Home Care Program
925 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: 216-621-0303 or 1-800-626-7277
Email: Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
Website: www.psa10a.org