Chenango Agency on Aging eyes state funds to provide respite care
NORWICH – The Chenango County Area Agency on the Aging is pursuing state funds earmarked to provide respite to caregivers who are working with individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
The Central New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association recently received $7 million from the NY State Department of Health to allocate to the 15 counties in the CNY region. Of that, Chenango County is eligible for nearly $30,000 over a five-year period. Funds are reserved solely to meet the needs of providing respite to caregivers.
According to Brian Wessels, Director of the Chenango County Area Agency on the Aging, the extra funds could make a big difference in helping to expand in-home services to local individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia related diseases.
“This money falls in line with what we do. We’re trying to keep people at home, maintain a level of independence, and keep them out of an institutional setting,” said Wessels. “This is a situation where we would be assisting the caregiver and the care receiver.”
Respite care provides caregivers a temporary rest from care giving, while the person with Alzheimer’s continues to receive care in a safe environment. According to Wessels, the allocation would help enhance services already provided through the department’s Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP).
Barring concerns from the county’s attorney, Wessels said he hopes to follow-up on a memorandum of understanding with the CNY Alzheimer’s Association.
The Agency on Aging contracts with Family Home Care, a licensed home health agency that provides level one and level two personal care services, through the EISEP program. The contract allows for Family Home Care to provide respite services. If given permission from the County Board of Supervisors, the Agency on Aging will use Family Home Care to provide respite services and receive vouchers for those services from the Alzheimer’s Association.
Moreover, by using state money to provide care to individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the Agency may be able to use existing funds in its EISEP program to provide services to individuals who are not diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, Wessels explained.
“There are people who have an Alzheimer’s diagnosis that we’re providing services to now through our EISEP program,” he said. “If we can use these dollars, it frees up a slot or two for someone who doesn’t have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia that can get that personal care of level one or level two service.”
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. The Center for Disease Control approximates that 9 percent of older adults living in Chenango County are currently diagnosed with the degenerative disease.
A proposal to pursue the extra funding for respite care will go before the county’s Finance Committee on Thursday. If committee members agree, it will head to the County Board of Supervisors for final approval next month.
The Central New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association recently received $7 million from the NY State Department of Health to allocate to the 15 counties in the CNY region. Of that, Chenango County is eligible for nearly $30,000 over a five-year period. Funds are reserved solely to meet the needs of providing respite to caregivers.
According to Brian Wessels, Director of the Chenango County Area Agency on the Aging, the extra funds could make a big difference in helping to expand in-home services to local individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia related diseases.
“This money falls in line with what we do. We’re trying to keep people at home, maintain a level of independence, and keep them out of an institutional setting,” said Wessels. “This is a situation where we would be assisting the caregiver and the care receiver.”
Respite care provides caregivers a temporary rest from care giving, while the person with Alzheimer’s continues to receive care in a safe environment. According to Wessels, the allocation would help enhance services already provided through the department’s Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP).
Barring concerns from the county’s attorney, Wessels said he hopes to follow-up on a memorandum of understanding with the CNY Alzheimer’s Association.
The Agency on Aging contracts with Family Home Care, a licensed home health agency that provides level one and level two personal care services, through the EISEP program. The contract allows for Family Home Care to provide respite services. If given permission from the County Board of Supervisors, the Agency on Aging will use Family Home Care to provide respite services and receive vouchers for those services from the Alzheimer’s Association.
Moreover, by using state money to provide care to individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the Agency may be able to use existing funds in its EISEP program to provide services to individuals who are not diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, Wessels explained.
“There are people who have an Alzheimer’s diagnosis that we’re providing services to now through our EISEP program,” he said. “If we can use these dollars, it frees up a slot or two for someone who doesn’t have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia that can get that personal care of level one or level two service.”
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. The Center for Disease Control approximates that 9 percent of older adults living in Chenango County are currently diagnosed with the degenerative disease.
A proposal to pursue the extra funding for respite care will go before the county’s Finance Committee on Thursday. If committee members agree, it will head to the County Board of Supervisors for final approval next month.
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