Nursing Facility Transitions

1
Nursing Facility Transitions

• People with disabilities and seniors can live
  successfully in the community

2
Why a movement to transition people out of
nursing facilities?

• Personal Choice
• Aging of the Baby Boomers
• The Supreme Courts Olmstead Decision

3
What kind of people can transition out of nursing
homes?

• Just about anybody!
• People with diverse needs, abilities, incomes,
  and available supports successfully transitioned
  out through previous nursing home transition work.

4
History of Nursing Home Transitions in Michigan

• Michigan was one of the first states to undertake
  a statewide effort to transition people out of
  nursing homes. From 1998-2004 advocates worked
  around the state to help get people out.
• 274 people transitioned to community based care
• 466 people diverted from nursing facility
  placement

5
Personal Stories

• Lets take a look at some of the different people
  who have successfully transitioned under previous
  programs.

6
A Real Life Transition Story Tenacious Charlie
7
Background

• In his late 60s
• Became transition client in December 2000
• Has cerebral palsy (CP)
• Lived most of life in state institutions
• Early attempt to live on his own failed

8
Housing

• Needed a barrier free, subsidized apartment
• Long waiting lists for good housing
• Multiple apartment applications
• Several months to locate apartment
• Very limited funding available

9
Accessibility

• 3 heavy steel doors to enter building
• Could not unlock front door
• Could not reach the entrance buzzer
• No wheelchair accessible shower
• Management was slow to resolve these issues

10
Care Requirements

• Needed Medicaid Waiver Services
• Required help with all of his ADLs
• In 2000, Waiver slots very limited
• Coordination of Housing and Waiver services

11
Financial

• Very limited income
• Could not physically manage his own checking
  account or bills
• No family or long standing friends to assist
• Needed representative payee

12
Other Challenges

• In 2004, went back to nursing home

13
Happy Endings

• New apartment
• New opportunity thru NFTI grant
• Transition fund purchases
• Bathing system
• Automatic door opener
• Charlies achievements
• On his own for 5 years
• Spoke at LTC public hearings
• Active in the local CIL

14
Nellie

• Owned home in the community with grandson and
  husband
• 6-month stay in nursing home
• Nursing Home Closure
• Wanted to return to the community
• Successful transition due to collaboration with
  Nellies direction

15
Nellie

• Owned home in the community with grandson and
  husband
• 6-month stay in nursing home
• Nursing Home Closure
• Wanted to return to the community
• Successful transition due to collaboration with
  Nellies direction

16
What services are available to help people live
successfully in the community?

• Supports Coordination
• Home care/personal assistance
• Finding Housing
• Home modification
• Recreational/Social support
• Visiting Physicians and health-related services
• Physical Occupational Therapy
• Financial Services
• Transportation
• Chore Services
• Home-delivered meals
• Personal Emergency Response Devices

17
What is the process like?

• Contact a transition specialist
• Hold an introductory meeting
• Discuss your personal situation, needs, and
  thoughts on community-based living
• Make a plan for the transition
• It can take 6-12 months to put everything in
  place for the transition
• Transition
• Receive needed supports
• Review on-going needs and change plans accordingly

18
Who can I contact for more information and
assistance?

• Your local Area Agency on Aging and/or Waiver
  Agent
• Your local Center for Independent Living
• Your local Nursing Home Ombudsman
• Your local Department of Human Services Office
• Your local United Way First Call for Help or
  2-1-1 organization

19
Resources

• State Long Term Care Ombudsman Office
• (517) 517-335-0148
• www.miseniors.net click on the Ombudsman Program
  under Quick Links on the right hand side of the
  page
• Citizens for Better www.cbcmi.org
• Fact Sheets
• Contact information for many local ombudsmen

20
Resources

• Centers for Independent Living Listings
• www.macil.net
• Waiver Agent Listings
• www.miseniors.net

21
Resources for Community Outreach (cont)

• Area Agency on Aging Listings
• www.mi-seniors.org/
• Local Department of Human Service Office Listings
• www.michigan.gov/dhs
• Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service
• www.mpas.org click on self-help support groups
  (currently the link does not work, but they are
  searching for funding)
• Arcs in Michigan
• www.arcmi.org