Service Array

As a central statutory duty under the Older Americans Act, the Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging develops and maintains comprehensive and coordinated service delivery systems throughout its planning and service area. The following services are representative of services made available through the service delivery system. It is important to note that not all of these services are available in every part of MFAAA’s planning and service areas. Each county within the planning and service area has an array of services that is tailored to the highest priority service needs in that respective county.

Abuse Awareness and Prevention

Provides services designed to increase awareness of elder abuse and prevention, and to meet the needs of elders who may be vulnerable to abuse. Services include training, companionship, and caregiver assistance.

Adult Day Care

Therapeutic social and health activities and services provided to adults who have functional impairments, in a protective environment as non-institutional as possible.

Adult Day Health Care

Services furnished four or more hours per day on a regularly scheduled basis, for one or more days per week, in an outpatient setting, encompassing both health and social services needed to ensure the optimal functioning of the individual.

Assisted Living Comprehensive Services

A group of services provided to an Assisted Living for the Elderly Waiver client to delay or prevent admission to a nursing home.

Basic Subsidy

A fixed sum cash payment made to an eligible caregiver each month to reimburse some of their expenses of caring for the client. A basic subsidy is provided for support and maintenance of the care recipient, including medical costs not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or any other insurance.

Caregiver Training/Support

Training of caregivers, individually or in group settings, to: reduce stress, increase coping skills, provide strategies for effective management of caregiving tasks, and enable them to provide high quality care to recipients within the home. Caregiver training and support may be provided through forums which include community workshops, seminars, and other organized local, regional, or statewide events. Support may also be provided to caregivers through telecommunications media.

Case Management

A client centered service that assists individuals in identifying physical and emotional needs and problems through an interview and assessment process; discussing and developing a plan for services which addresses these needs; arranging and coordinating agreed-upon services; and monitoring the quality and effectiveness of the services. Case Management is a service for actively enrolled clients that provides continuing support and addresses the changing needs of clients.

Chore

The performance of routine house or yard tasks including such jobs as seasonal cleaning; yard work; lifting and moving furniture, appliances, or heavy objects; household repairs which do not require a permit or specialist; and household maintenance. Pest control may be included when not performed as a distinct activity.

Companionship Visiting a client who is socially and/or of relieving loneliness and providing continuing social contact with the community by casual conversation, providing assistance with reading, writing letters, entertaining games, escorting a client to a doctor’s appointment, and diversional activities such as going to the movies, the mall, the library, or grocery shopping.

Congregate Meals

The provision of a meal at a congregate meal site which complies with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and provides 1/3 daily RDA for individuals 51 years or older as established by Food and Nutrition Board of National Academy of Sciences.

Congregate Meals (Screening)

Conducts assessments for congregate meal applicants or recipients, with referral and follow-up as needed.

Counseling

Uses the casework mode of relating to a client (via interview, discussion or lending a sympathetic ear) to advise and enable the older person and/or their family to resolve problems (concrete or emotional) or to relieve temporary stresses encountered by them. Through counseling, persons are helped to maximize the use of available resources to assure physical and emotional well being.

Counseling (Mental Health Counseling/Screening)

Services focus on the unique treatment of psychiatric disorders and rehabilitation for impairments for persons suffering from a mental illness, including depression and anxiety. These services include specialized individual, group, and family therapy provided to individuals using techniques appropriate to this population.

Disease Information

Providing information to individuals, families, caregivers, and the general public about chronic conditions and diseases; prevention measures and services, treatment, rehabilitation, and coping strategies for those factors which cannot change. This can be done on a one-on-one or group basis.

Education/Training

(1) Speaking to groups or distributing materials to individuals at public gatherings about services and opportunities available to them within their communities; (2) Providing formal or informal opportunities for individuals or groups to acquire knowledge, experience or skills; to increase awareness in such areas as crime or accident prevention; promoting personal enrichment; and to
increase or gain skills in a specific craft, trade, job or occupation. Training individuals or groups in guardianship proceedings of older individuals if other adequate representation is unavailable can also be done; and, (3) Training conducted by Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative Memory

Emergency Alert Response

A community-based electronic surveillance service which monitors the frail homebound elder by means of an electronic communication link with a response center.

Emergency Home Repair

Provides critically-needed home repairs, modifications, and alterations.

Employment and Job Training

Provides low-income persons age 55 and older who have poor employment prospects with paid work experience in community-service agencies followed by placement in unsubsidized jobs.

Escort

Personal accompaniment and assistance to a person who has difficulties (physical or cognitive) using regular vehicular transportation. The accompaniment and assistance is provided to individuals to or from service providers, medical appointments, or other destinations needed by the client. Escort is essential during travel to provide safety, security, and support.

Health Promotion

Offers individual and/or group sessions that assist participants to understand how lifestyle impacts physical and mental health and to develop personal practices that enhance total well-being. Services are provided at multipurpose senior centers, congregate meal sites and other appropriate places that target elders that are low income, minorities, or medically under served. Services related to health promotion include, health risk assessments, routine health screenings, home injury control services, mental health screenings for prevention and diagnosis, medication management screening and education, gerontological counseling, and the distribution of information concerning diagnosis, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation of aged related diseases and chronic disabling conditions such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases.

Health Risk Assessment

An assessment utilizing one or a combination of tools to test older persons for certain risk factors that are known to be associated with a disease or condition. Many factors are modifiable, including diet, risk-taking behaviors, coping styles, and lifestyle choices (such as smoking and overeating), and can be measured or identified through risk appraisal questionnaires. The Health Risk Assessment helps the individual to determine the addictive nature of many factors in an
individual’s life. This can be done on a one-on-one or group basis.

Health Risk Screening

Utilizes diagnostic tools to screen large groups of people or individuals for the presence of a particular disease or condition. This service is designed for early intervention and detection. Referral is required when screening results indicate professional services are needed or a request is made by the individual being served. Health Risk Screening procedures screen for disease and ailments such as hypertension, glaucoma, cholesterol, cancer, vision, hearing, diabetes, osteoporosis, and nutrition deficiencies.

Health Support Assists persons to secure and utilize necessary medical treatment as well as preventive, emergency and health maintenance services.

Home Delivered Meals

Provision of a home delivered meal which complies with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and provide 1/3 daily RDA for individuals 51 years or older as established by Food and Nutrition Board of National Academy of Sciences.

Home Health Aide Service

The provision of hands-on personal care services, the performance of simple procedures as an extension of therapy or nursing services, assistance in ambulation or exercises, and assistance with self-administered medication as defined by Chapter 400.488, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 59A-8.020, Florida Administrative Code. Services are performed by a trained home-health
aide or certified nursing assistant to an individual in the home as assigned by, and under the supervision of registered nurse or licensed therapist. Types of assistance provided with activities of daily living include: bathing, dressing, eating, personal hygiene, toileting, assistance with physical transfer, and other responsibilities as outlined in Chapter 59A-8, Florida Administrative Code.

Homemaker

The accomplishment of specific home management duties including housekeeping, laundry, cleaning refrigerators, clothing repair, minor home repairs, assistance with budgeting and paying bills, client transportation, meal planning and preparation, shopping assistance, and routine household activities by a trained homemaker.

Housing Improvement

Provides home repairs, environmental modifications, adaptative alterations, installing security devices, or payments for households experiencing a home energy emergency.

Energy Assistance

Assists low-income households experiencing a home energy emergency.

Information

Responds to an inquiry from a person, or on behalf of a person, regarding public and private resources and available services.

Intake

Administers standard intake and screening instruments for the purpose of gathering information about an applicant for services.

Legal Services

Legal advice and representation by an attorney (including, to the extent feasible, counseling or other appropriate assistance by a paralegal or law student under the supervision of an attorney), and includes counseling or representation by a non-lawyer when permitted by law, to older individuals with economic or social needs. Legal Assistance protects against the loss of basic civil rights and ensures the autonomy and independence of older persons.

Material Aid

Aid in the form of: (1) Goods or food such as the direct distribution of commodities, surplus food, clothing, smoke detectors, eyeglasses, hearing aids, security devices, etc.; (2) Food item(s) necessary for the health, safety, or welfare. This may include condiments or paper products necessary for food consumption and delivery charges. Alcohol, drug, and tobacco products are excluded; (3) The repair, purchase, delivery, and installation of any household appliance necessary to maintain a home or assist with household tasks necessary for the health, safety, or welfare of the person; (4) The purchase of materials necessary to perform Chore or Enhanced Chore (refer to Chore and Enhanced Chore services); and (5) The purchase of construction materials necessary to perform housing improvements, alterations, and repairs (refer to Housing Improvement service).

Meals (Emergency)

The Department makes local purchases of meals for use during an emergency situation, such as a hurricane.

Medical Transportation

Transports clients to and from medical care.

Medication Management

Screening, education, identification and counseling regarding the medication regime that individuals are using, including prescription and over the counter medications, vitamins and home remedies. These services also help to identify any dietary factors that may interact with the medication regime. The combination of alcohol or tobacco with various medications and diets, along with the effects on specific conditions would ideally be included in this service. This can be done on a one on one or group basis.

Medicare Fraud Prevention, Awareness and Education

Provides technical assistance and educational services to culturally diverse and non-English speaking elders regarding awareness, detection, and reporting of Medicare fraud, error, and abuse.

Mental Health Counseling/Screening

Includes information gathering and assessment, diagnosis, and development of a treatment plan in coordination with the client’s care plan.

Model Day Care

Therapeutic, social and health activities specific to clients with memory disorders. Services and activities include but are not limited to, active and quiet games, reminiscence, validation therapy, pet therapy, water therapy and other failure free activities appropriate to the client’s level of functioning. Model Day Care Centers shall also provide training for health care and social service personnel in the care of persons having Alzheimer’s Disease or related memory disorders.

Nutrition Assistance

Provides low-income elders living in and around Alachua County with coupons that can be exchanged for locally grown, fresh produce at area farmers’ markets.

Nutrition Counseling

Provides individualized advice and guidance to persons, at nutritional risk because of their poor health, nutritional history, current dietary intake, medications use or chronic illnesses. Nutritional Counseling includes options and methods for improving an individuals’ nutritional status. The service may be provided individually or in small groups.

Nutrition Education

Promotes better health by providing accurate, scientifically sound, practical and culturally sensitive nutrition information and instruction to participants and caregivers in a group or individual setting consistent with their needs and food resources. Nutrition education is the process by which individuals gain the understanding, skills and motivation necessary to promote and protect their nutritional well-being through their food choices and food preparation methods.

Other Services

A miscellaneous category for goods or services not defined elsewhere, necessary for the health, safety, or welfare of the person.

Personal Care

Assistance with eating, dressing, personal hygiene, and other activities of daily living. This service may include assistance with meal preparation, housekeeping chores such as bed making, dusting, and vacuuming incidental to the care furnished or essential to the health and welfare of the individual.

Pest Control Maintenance

Helps rid the environment of insects and other potential carriers of disease and enhances safety, sanitation, and cleanliness for recipients.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a service prescribed by a physician that is necessary to produce specific functional outcomes in ambulation, muscle control and postural development, and prevent or reduce further physical disability.

Public Guardianship

Provides services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable persons who lack the capacity to make decisions on their own behalf and in their own best interest. Guardians protect the property and personal rights of incapacitated individuals.

Recreation

Participation in or attendance at planned leisure events such as, games, sports, arts and crafts, theater, trips, and other relaxing social activities.

Referral/Assistance

An activity provided via telephone or one on one in person. Information is obtained about a person’s needs, needs are assessed, and persons are directed to the appropriate resources most capable of meeting the need. Contact with the resource is made for the person as needed. Follow-up is a mandatory part of Referral/Assistance and is conducted with the referred person and/or the
resource to determine the outcome of the Referral/Assistance.

Respite In-Facility

Relief or rest for a primary caregiver from the constant/continued supervision, companionship, therapeutic and/or personal care, of a functionally impaired older person for a specified period of time.

Risk Reduction - Nutritional

Assessment and guidance provided for the recipient and/or caregiver regarding the planning and preparation of nutritionally appropriate meals to promote recipient health through better nutrition habits.

Risk Reduction - Physical

Assessment and guidance provided for the recipient and/or caregiver regarding specific exercises to promote physical strength, dexterity and endurance to perform activities of daily living.

Screening and Assessment

Administering standard assessment instruments for the purpose of gathering information about and prioritizing clients at the time of active enrollment or to reassess currently active clients to determine need and eligibility for services.

Senior Companion – Adult Day Care

Provides day care for frail elders through elder companions, to allow clients to live independently in their own homes.

Senior Companion - Companionship

Provides companionship services for frail elders through elder companions, to allow clients to live independently in their own homes.

Senior Companion - Respite

Provides respite services for caregivers of frail elders through elder companions.

Shopping Assistance

Assisting a client in getting to and from stores or shopping on behalf of a client; and includes the proper selection of items to purchase. The service also includes storing purchased items upon return to the client’s home. An individual Shopping Aide may assist more than one client during a shopping trip.

Sitter (Direct Pay)

Provides respite sitter services to minor children residing with an elder grandparent or elder caregiver.

Specialized Medical Equipment, Services, and Supplies

Services include: (1) Adaptive devices, controls, appliances or services which enable individuals to increase their ability to perform activities of daily living. This service also includes repair of such items as well as replacement parts; (2) Dentures, walkers, reachers, bedside commodes, telephone amplifiers, touch lamps, adaptive eating equipment, glasses, hearing aids, and other mechanical or non-mechanical, electronic, and non-electronic adaptive devices; (3) Supplies such as adult briefs, bed pads, oxygen or nutritional supplements; (4) Medical services paying for doctor or dental visits; and (5) Pharmaceutical services paying for needed prescriptions.

Telephone Reassurance

Communicating with designated clients by telephone on a mutually agreed schedule to determine their safety and to provide psychological reassurance, or to implement special or emergency assistance.

Transportation

Travel to or from community services and resources, health and medical care, shopping, social activities, or other life sustaining activities.

Volunteer Recruitment, Training, and Placement

Engages volunteers in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment, including respite, home modification and repair, chore services, disaster preparedness and community outreach to elders, caregivers and families.

Volunteer Training

Provides training to individuals interested in assisting caregivers with respite services.