Promoting Greater Consumer Direction & Access to Home and Community Based Services for Seniors and People with Disabilities
Priority Policy Recommendations
To continue to improve South Carolina’s long term care services and supports for persons who prefer to receive care at home, the Real Choice Advisory Committee has identified key issues that should be given priority. These issues were chosen based on information from consumers and their families, friends and advocates. Since progress will require the active support of these groups, public forums have been scheduled to give them an opportunity to express their thoughts about the recommendations. Are these the most important issues? What difference will progress on these issues make in people’s lives? How should we move forward, so these recommendations are carried out?
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Information About Programs and Services
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Comprehensive, up-to-date information about programs and services should be available to consumers. This should include a description of the services, options for consumer choice and control, payment options, eligibility criteria, application process and appeal rights.
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Information should be available through a variety of media: written, web-based, telephone and in person. It should be available in places frequented by consumers. Consumers should be involved in the development and distribution of these informational materials.
Application for Services
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There should be a simplified application process, for all publicly funded programs for persons with functional needs, coordinated across agencies, funding sources and services, that allows application to be made through more than one agency/office location.
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More public education is needed about applying for services and eligibility requirements.
Consumer Choice and Funding
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There should be a flexible array of service options that are responsive to individual consumer preferences. Services should be available in homes, in assisted living or other community residential settings, as well as other locations outside the consumer’s home.
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Consumers should be allowed to choose their services and their providers. This includes the amount of care (within designated budget limits), type of care, and scheduling of services as well has how the services are delivered and by whom.
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Funding for institutional and home and community based long term care services should be integrated so that consumers are able to have the money follow them across programs and services.
Secondary Recommendations
Staff Training
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All persons involved in assisting consumers and their families in obtaining home and community based services (including public and private agency staff, discharge planners and providers) should be trained to provide clear explanation of all home and community based services available in SC.
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Staff should have knowledge of the broad array of services available outside their own agency and know how consumers access them.
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Intake and eligibility staff must have the knowledge and skills to present information simply and clearly and to communication with persons with diverse backgrounds or cognitive/sensory impairments.
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Formal and informal providers should be trained to respect individual choices, including consumer rights and decision-making.
Client Assessment/Service Coordination
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There should be a common, independent process for assessing consumer needs, strengths, and preferences, across agencies and disabilities.
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Assessment and service coordination/monitoring should be separate from service provision and should be provided by different agencies.
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Consumers and their families should be able to choose their service coordinator/care manager and be involved in all service planning and monitoring activities.
Quality
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Quality should be defined and measured in terms of the personal goals, outcomes, and satisfaction of the individual consumer.
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A complaint system for in-home care, similar to the Ombudsman program, should be developed.
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Adequate pay, manageable workloads, and competency-based training are needed to recruit and retain quality personnel.
