People with Disabilities
Individuals with Disabilities
The MnCHOICES assessment (PDF) is a service provided by the county agency to assist individuals and their families in planning and choosing services. A social worker or nurse will conduct a home assessment with the client and family, at the residence of the client. The assessor can then provide direction and information regarding resources based upon the client's assessed needs and eligibility. The client, family, and assessor can then discuss options regarding a care plan, taking into consideration all aspects of the client's unique situation and what is important to and for them. This is a free service.
An assessment can also be requested when a person is residing in a nursing facility. This can be useful if someone is looking at moving back into a community setting.
State Waiver Programs
There are a number of waiver programs for seniors and disabled individuals that may be identified as resources for persons who have had a MnCHOICES assessment. The purpose of the waiver program is to delay or avoid an institutional placement for a person and maintain them in a community setting.
The two waiver programs for persons over age 65 who are at risk for nursing home placement are the Alternative Care (AC) and Elderly Waiver (EW) Programs.
Elderly Waiver
- Requires eligibility for Medical Assistance and pays for a variety of services such as:
- assisted living service
- home health aide and nurse visits
- adult day care
- homemaker
- equipment and supplies
- care giver support
- short-term respite,
- case management
The Alternative Care Waiver
- Pays for most of the same services with the exception of Assisted Living services.
- It does not require the individual be receiving Medical Assistance; however, there are financial eligibility guidelines for this program, and a financial application needs to be completed.
Waiver programs for the disabled, under 65 populations include Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals (CADI), Brain Injury (BI), and Community Alternative Care (CAC) programs.
- All of these waiver programs require the individual to be receiving Medical Assistance and to be certified disabled through Social Security or by a State Medical Review Team.
- These programs are appropriate for those individuals who have health and safety service needs that cannot be met through a Medical Assistance program such as the Personal Care Assistance Program (PCA).
- The Brain Injury waiver and Community Alternative Care Programs have additional eligibility criteria that need to be met.
- In Washington County some new semi-independent apartment living programs have been developed that provide Independent Living Services and 24 hour assistance.
- Clients are entering these programs as an alternative to corporate foster care homes because there are no new corporate homes being developed.
Services available
- home health aide
- homemaker
- personal care attendant
- skilled nurse visits
- supplies and equipment
- day programs
CADI and the BI waiver programs also cover funding for:
- supported employment or pre-vocational training
- home and vehicle modifications
- family and corporate foster care homes
- specialized behavior services
When a person is receiving waiver services
- The service plan is managed through either a social worker or nurse at Washington County who authorizes and monitors the services the client is receiving and adjusts the service plan as needed.
- he plan is formally reviewed annually to assure the client continues to meet eligibility criteria and that the services they are receiving meet their health and safety needs.