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1. What services does the Aging Commission offer?

Our Aging network partners receive funding from us to provide services such as:

• Adult Day Care
• CHOICES
• Congregate Meals
• Caregiver Counseling
• Home – Delivered Meals
• Homemaker Services
• In-Home Respite
• Legal Assistance
• Personal Care
• Public Guardianship
• Prevention of Elder Abuse
• Senior Center Activities
• SNAP
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program
• Transportation

2. Is a Doctor’s order required to receive services through our agency?

Only the CHOICES program requires a medical history and physical requires prior to determining if someone is eligible. None of the other programs require any communication with a physician to determine eligibility.

3. Who is eligible to receive services?

Seniors and adults with disabilities are eligible to receive services.

4. How do you find out if you qualify for services?

You can find out if you qualify for services by dialing 901-222-4111 for the Information and Assistance line.

5. What is CHOICES?

TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports (or CHOICES for short) is for adults (age 21 and older) with a physical disability and seniors (age 65 and older). CHOICES offers services to help a person live in their own home or in the community. These services are called Home and Community Based Services or HCBS.  These services can be provided in the home, on the job, or in the community to assist with daily living activities and allow people to work and be actively involved in their local community. CHOICES also provides care in a nursing home if this is needed.

6. How do I qualify?

To qualify and remain in CHOICES Groups 1 and 2, you must:

• Need the level or care provided in a nursing home; AND
• Qualify for Medicaid long-term services and supports
• Group 3 is only available to clients that receive SSI

To qualify for Medicaid long-term services and supports:

• Your income cannot be more than $2,313 per month (if it is, you may be able to set up a Qualifying Income Trust);
• The total value of things you own cannot be more than $2,000 (the home where you live doesn’t count); AND
• You can’t have given away, sold, or quick deeded anything within the last 5 years that is valued over a $1000

7. Can I get paid to take care of my parent?

Consumer Direction is a way of getting some of the home care you need that offers more choice and control over WHO gives your home care and HOW your care is given than receiving CHOICES services and not consumer directing. You actually employ the people who provide some of your home care services – they work for you instead of an agency. This means you must be able to do the things that an employer would do – like hire, train, and schedule workers.

It can’t be your mother, father, sister, brother, or grandchild.

8. Will they help me find a home?

TENNCARE does not help with housing.

9. How long does it take to be enrolled and receive services?

It takes 45-60 days.

10. Will they take my property after I die?

Estate Recovery is the way TennCare collects money from the estates of people who passed away and received TennCare long-term services and supports, such as nursing home care or home and community based services. If TennCare pays for nursing facility and other long term care services, TennCare is required by federal law to recoup these payments after the death of the recipient. This is referred to as “estate recovery.”

Estate recovery is using the value of property you leave behind when you die to pay TennCare back for care you received while you were living. Your “estate” is the property, belongings, money, and other assets that you own at the moment immediately preceding death. Estate recovery only occurs after your death, and your family is not personally responsible for the debt.

11. How do I receive services?

Call 901-222-4111 and you can be screened over the phone.

12. What services are available?

The services available are:

• Options: Homemaker, Personal Care and Home Delivered Meals
• Older Americans Act: Adult Day Care, Homemaker, Personal Care, Home Delivered Meals, Personal Emergency Response System
• Family Caregiver: Respite In-home Adult Care, Respite Personal Care, Respite Homemaker, Respite Adult Day Care, Assistive Technology, Food Supplement, Home Delivered Meals, Pest Control, Personal Emergency Response System, Medical Equipment/Supplies

13. Who qualifies?

To qualify, you must be:

• Options: 60+ and adults with disabilities
• Older Americans Act: 60+
• Family Caregiver: Caregivers

14. Do the agencies do background checks on their employees?

Yes.