Independence & Choice Options for Adults with Disabilities Living at Home & in the Community RI Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Purpose This presentation provides information about services available in the state of Rhode Island that help adults with disabilities live independently at home and in the community.

Topics  How you and your health care professionals can determine when help is needed  How to plan ahead  Services available for home and community-based care  How to find the services listed in this video  How to determine your eligibility for help from the State  Other resources

 There are many services that can help you live independently, but it is important to know when you need help.  The terms “activities of daily living (ADLs)” and “instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)” describe how well a person accomplishes everyday tasks. Activities of daily living can include dressing, eating, transferring, or personal hygiene. Instrumental activities of daily living can include housework or making meals. Knowing When Help is Needed

 Difficulty with some of these activities can signal that you need help to live independently.  Friends and family can provide this help and so can many organizations and programs. Knowing When Help is Needed (cont’d)

 If you are waiting to be discharged from a hospital or nursing home, talk with medical staff about what services you will need.  Write down any questions you may have.  Ask for a telephone number for you to call after you are discharged. Plan Ahead

 Start setting up some of the services you will need ahead of time. Your discharge planner or social worker can help with this. For example, you can get a referral for a visiting nurse or other home care services before discharge. Some services require a waiting time, so get started early.  Get help making your home ready. For example, have someone remove the area rugs. See about installing grab bars. Think about what arrangements you can make if you have stairs.  Ask the discharge planner about arranging for medical equipment, such as a wheelchair. Plan Ahead (cont’d)

Help with household tasks includes:  Grocery shopping  Meal preparation  Laundry  Light housekeeping Homemaker Services

Have someone help for a few hours each week or each day with activities such as:  Eating  Help getting in and out of bed  Bathing  Dressing  Grooming Home Health Aide

Home health care may include:  Services of a nurse who can help people recover from an illness or injury.  Certain types of therapy, such as physical, speech or occupational therapy. Home Health Care

 A medical alert system connects you to a trained professional who can send help quickly in the event of an emergency, such as a bad fall.  This medical lifeline service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Personal Emergency Response System

 Your home may need modifications for safety and accessibility. Some changes are simple and inexpensive. Some changes may be more involved.  Get a professional assessment of your home. Contact an Independent Living Center for advice on this. Environmental Modifications

 You may need medical equipment you haven’t needed before, such as a wheelchair.  Discuss this with your healthcare professional and they can make the appropriate referral. Equipment

Good nutrition is very important to health and independence.  Meals on Wheels If you can’t leave home or prepare your own meals, a nutritious lunch can be delivered to your home.  The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can give you extra money each month to buy food. Food Assistance

You can get help paying for part of the cost of some prescription drugs.  There are several programs that can help with this, such as: Medicare Part D URI Pharmacy Outreach Program  The SHIP program can advise people on sources of help.  The VA helps veterans pay for prescriptions. Prescription Drug Assistance

 This is a day program that can help expand your social circle.  Adult day centers are a good place to meet new people and enjoy the company of others.  You can have a meal, enjoy recreation and activities, and get help with medication, health and personal care services.  Services are offered weekdays and some weekends. Adult Day Services

 If you don’t want to or can’t live on your own, assisted living may be a good solution.  Assisted living consists of rooms or small apartments you can furnish with your own belongings. It provides 24-hour support, supervision, meals, housekeeping and personal care.  There is a common dining room where meals are served, and activity areas for socializing.  Assistance with medications is provided.  This living arrangement may be good for people who need help with some activities of daily living. Assisted Living

 Shared living is a new option for adults who cannot live alone and require a considerable amount of help with activities of daily living. It provides a home-like setting for people who want to continue living in the community as long as possible.  A Shared Living Agency will help you find an appropriate host home/caregiver. The Agency will match you with a caregiver and will make sure the caregiver receives all needed training and support. The caregiver may be someone you already know, like a relative, neighbor or friend. (He or she cannot be a spouse.) Shared Living

 Caregivers often need to be reminded to take care of themselves.  Caregivers often feel isolated, and the added stress can hurt their health.  Respite services give caregivers some time off. Respite Care

When a nursing home is the best option, it is important that you visit potential facilities, take a tour, and meet with staff. You can use state and federal websites to help you find safe, comfortable nursing homes that you can then visit. Nursing Home

 The “Choosing a Nursing Home” section at the RI Department of Health website helps you think about personal needs and how to narrow your choices.  Go to and select “Nursing Homes” under “Resource Locator”. This will take you to the Nursing Home Compare page so you can search by area. (Data gathered by our state inspectors are fed into this national system.)  Print the Nursing Home Checklist from the Medicare website to take with you when you visit. Nursing Home (cont’d)

 Receiving help from the state depends on your: Level of need Income and other assets  To get more information, contact The POINT. Call (401) or (401) TTY On the web at  Veterans and their spouses may qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefit available through the U.S. Veterans Administration. Call (800) Eligibility

 For information on these and many other services, contact The POINT: (401) or (401) TTY  Brain Injury Association of America (703)  Independent Living Centers (ILCs) PARI Independent Living Center (401) Ocean State Center for Independent Living (401) Other Resources

 If you are having a problem with any long term care service, contact the Ombudsman Program at: Alliance for Better Long Term Care at (401) or toll free at Alliance (888)  The Office of Rehabilitation Services helps people with disabilities become employed and live independently in the community. (401) or (401) TDD or (401) (Spanish) Other Resources (cont’d)

 Rhodes to Independence has comprehensive information and resources for people with disabilities seeking to become employed.  R.I. Association Facilities and Services for the Aging (401)  The Rhode Island Health Care Association can be reached at (401) or Other Resources (cont’d)

 The Alliance for Better Long Term Care provides information and recommendations for adult day centers, assisted living, and nursing homes (401) or toll free at Alliance (888)  A Family Caregiver’s Guide to Hospital Discharge Planning Other Resources (cont’d)

Contact state and federal agencies at:  Rhode Island Department of Human Services (401)  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (877) Other Resources (cont’d)

 There are many services available to help you live independently.  “Disability is a natural part of the human experience.”  Having a disability is not a barrier, but a need to find a different way of doing things. You Are Not Alone