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December 3, 2020
Connecting Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities to
Health Services: Resources for Constituents

Overview
Connect to Health Programs
Navigating the U.S. health and long-term care systems can
and Benefits
be confusing and complex for some constituents. Older
ACL funds and administers grants to states for the
adults and individuals with disabilities may face additional
following activities that help individuals connect with
challenges in identifying and accessing needed health care
programs and benefits:
and long-term services and supports (LTSS), such as home
and community-based services that can assist individuals in
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
maintaining their quality of life and living independently.
Local Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)
Decisions about rehabilitative services or LTSS may be
provide one-on-one options counseling and assistance with
made in response to an emergency or crisis. Older adults
accessing a wide range of publicly and privately financed
and individuals with disabilities, as well as their family
LTSS and caregiver supports. Examples of ADRC services
members, may have limited understanding of available
include providing application assistance, screenings and
options for home care versus institutional care, either for
needs assessments, care coordination, support services for
short-term rehabilitation or extended care needs. Moreover,
individuals transitioning from hospital-to-home and nursing
public programs may be financed through different funding
home-to-home, and services to mitigate social isolation.
streams (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, Older Americans Act
ADRCs are part of the No Wrong Door system
[OAA]), and some are state or locally administered. As a
(https://nwd.acl.gov/), which aims to streamline and make
result, eligibility for certain public programs can vary by
seamless the navigation of LTSS.
state or local entity and may be limited only to individuals
with low-incomes or high levels of care need. Private
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs
funding, such as long-term care insurance, for example,
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) offer
may be one option for individuals to offset the potential
one-on-one health insurance counseling to Medicare
high costs associated with needed long-term care.
beneficiaries. SHIPs assist constituents with joining,
leaving, or switching their Medicare Advantage health
In an effort to simplify access to information about health
plans and/or Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans.
care and LTSS options for older adults and individuals with
SHIPs assist Medicare beneficiaries with issues related to
disabilities, many states have developed No Wrong Door
their other health coverage, such as retiree health benefits,
(NWD) systems, which are collaborations between the
Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and Medigap
Administration for Community Living (ACL), the Centers
(Medicare supplemental insurance). SHIPs answer
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) within the
constituents’ questions about covered benefits, premiums,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the
cost-sharing (such as deductibles and coinsurance), and
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) within the
complaints and appeals (e.g., about denials of coverage).
Department of Veterans Affairs. State-administered NWD
systems assist individuals and families needing information
Benefits Enrollment Centers
about public programs or private resources and can help
Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs) help Medicare
with counseling and future planning for LTSS options.
beneficiaries, including older adults and younger
NWD systems also serve as the entry point to publicly
individuals with disabilities, identify and apply for other
financed LTSS, including programs and services funded
programs for which they may be eligible. Such programs
under Medicaid, OAA, and VHA, as well as other state or
may include Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition
locally funded programs.
Assistance Program (SNAP), the Low-Income Home
Energy Assistance Program, Supplemental Security
This In Focus describes federally funded resources that
Income, and pharmaceutical assistance programs. BECs are
provide information, outreach, and assistance to help
supported in part by the National Council on Aging’s
constituents find, navigate, and access available public and
(NCOA’s) Center for Benefits Access.
private health care and LTSS. It is organized into three
groups of resources that can assist constituents connect to
BenefitsCheckUp
(1) health programs and benefits, (2) home and community-
BenefitsCheckUp is an online tool and phone helpline that
based services, and (3) health care providers and facilities.
helps older adults find benefit programs they may be
Table 1 lists the websites and contact information for the
eligible for. Constituents answer a confidential
various resources described.
questionnaire/screener, and they receive a contact list for
potential benefit programs they could investigate further.
Such programs can help with topics such as tax relief, food
and nutrition, housing, utilities, discounts, employment,
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link to page 2 Connecting Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities to Health Services: Resources for Constituents
prescription drugs, and health care. The site is operated by
facilities, board and care facilities, assisted living facilities,
NCOA.
and other adult care homes. These programs also advocate
for residents and educate residents and their families about
Connect to Home and
their rights, how to find a long-term care facility, and how
Community-Based Services
to receive quality care. State LTCOPs are funded and
ACL also administers and provides funding to states for the
administered by ACL.
following activities to help individuals connect with home
and community-based services:
Websites and Contact Information
Table 1
lists the websites and contact information for the
Area Agencies on Aging
programs and resources described in this In Focus to help
Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) serve as local entities
constituents find these resources in their local communities.
that, either directly or through contracts with local service
Table 1. Resources: Websites and Contact
providers, oversee a comprehensive and coordinated service
Information
system for the delivery of social, nutrition, and long-term
services and supports to older adults.
Resource
Contact information
Eldercare Locator
Connecting to Health Programs and Benefits
The Eldercare Locator is an information and referral service
Aging and Disability
1-800-677-1116 and ask to be
that connects older adults and caregivers with local
Resource Centers
connected to the local ADRC,
resources, benefits, and services. Examples of such services
or https://acl.gov/programs/aging-
include meals, housing, transportation to medical
and-disability-networks/aging-
appointments, home and community-based LTSS, caregiver
and-disability-resource-centers
training, health insurance counseling, legal services, elder
abuse prevention, adult protective services, and elder rights
State Health Insurance
https://www.medicare.gov/
services.
Assistance Programs
Contacts/#resources/ships
Centers for Independent Living
Benefits Enrol ment
https://www.ncoa.org/
Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are operated by and
Centers
centerforbenefits/becs
for community members with disabilities. Core services
BenefitsCheckUp
1-800-794-6559 or
include information and referral, independent living skills
https://www.benefitscheckup.org
training, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy,
assisting those at risk of entering nursing homes and other
Connecting to Home and Community-Based Services
institutions, and facilitating transition of youth to
Area Agencies on Aging
1-800-677-1116 and ask to be
postsecondary life. Examples of CIL services include
connected to the local AAA, or
service coordination, services that facilitate transition from
https://eldercare.acl.gov
institutions to the community, helping with accessible
housing and food insecurity issues, and advocating for
Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116 or
health equity in medical settings.
https://eldercare.acl.gov
Connect to Health Care Providers
Centers for Independent
Includes list of CILs:
and Facilities
Living
https://acl.gov/programs/centers-
independent-living/list-cils-and-
Find Doctors and Medical Facilities
spils
Find Doctors and Medical Facilities is a compilation of
Connecting to Health Care Providers and Facilities
tools and tips for finding providers (such as physicians) and
health care facilities (such as hospitals). Some of the listed
Find Doctors and Medical
https://www.usa.gov/doctors
directories incorporate quality measures. Health plan
Facilities
enrollees should also check their health plan’s website for a
Care Compare website
https://www.medicare.gov/care-
provider directory. The website is administered by the U.S.
compare/
General Services Administration.
Long-Term Care
https://theconsumervoice.org/
Care Compare
Ombudsman Programs
get_help
CMS’s Care Compare website has detailed information
Source: Compiled by CRS.
about individual hospitals, home health services providers,
Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes,
Kirsten J. Colello, Specialist in Health and Aging Policy
Medicare-participating physicians and clinicians, hospice
Michele L. Malloy, Research Librarian
providers, long-term care hospitals, and dialysis facilities.
The database includes certain quality measures.
Angela Napili, Senior Research Librarian
IF11694
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs (LTCOP)
investigate and resolve complaints of residents in nursing


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Connecting Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities to Health Services: Resources for Constituents


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