Eligibility Guidelines
Individuals must be 65 years old, meet Medicaid income eligibility guidelines and meet the Medicaid long-term care threshold.

Where to Get More Information
or Apply
Contact JAAA or contact your area SRS office.

Housing Continuing Care Retirement (CCRCs)
CCRCs provide independent living units such as apartments or cottages. Various social, recreational, maintenance and health care services are offered usually on the premises.

The terms of a CCRC contract typically last more than one year. The facility agrees to provide housing, health care and other services in exchange for your advance payment to help cover these costs. The fees cover the cost of housing but do not give you ownership rights in the property. Most facilities additionally require an entrance fee and monthly service charge. Always seek advice from an attorney before signing a contract or paying the often substantial entrance fee.

Because of the complicated financing required to develop and operate such a facility, the potential for financial management does exist. Kansas law requires these facilities to provide a copy of their annual audit to residents on request.

Considering Moving to a Nursing Facility?

There are three goals of this free assessment. The first goal is to help people find appropriate long-term care services. These services may be community based or in a nursing home. The second goal is to collect information about services consumers need but are not available. The third goal of the CARE assessment is to determine whether an individual has serious mental health or mental retardation needs, which may require further evaluation. Sections of the CARE assessment are required by federal law and are referred to as Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR).

Through the CARE assessment process, the assessor will give you a chance to review the services that are available in your community so that you can make an informed decision regarding what services will meet your long-term care needs. After the assessment, you may decide to remain in your home, at which time (with your permission) the CARE assessor can make referrals for the community-based services you need.

The CARE assessment takes about one hour and is designed to evaluate your health and ability to perform daily activities such as shopping, dressing, laundry, etc. The CARE assessor from the Area Agency on Aging will conduct the assessment in your home. If you are in a hospital and plan to go to a nursing home, the hospital personnel (probably a nurse or social worker) will conduct the CARE assessment before you leave the hospital. If you wish, your family, friend, or legal representative are encouraged to be present during your interview.

Once the CARE assessment is completed, you will be given a Certificate of Assessment, which will either indicate you may enter a nursing home or you need further evaluation. If you decide to enter a nursing home, you should take a copy of the certificate with you.

If you lose your certificate, you or the nursing home may contact the Area Agency on Aging for another copy. It should be noted that a CARE assessment is not Medicaid eligibility. If you believe you will need Medicaid assistance you will need to apply through your local Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) office.

Tips on Selecting a Nursing Facility
If you need 24-hour skilled nursing care, several options are available. Sometimes, moving to a nursing home is the best option. When you are selecting a nursing home, taking the following steps will help ensure that you will be satisfied with your new home.

Ask for Recommendations
Talk to people you trust who can help you make a good choice, such as family, friends, or your doctor or other health care providers. Also, contact your local Area Agency on Aging and ask for information.

Narrow your Search
Consider factors that may be important such as location, special care needs, religious or cultural preferences, availability of a room or bed, and cost. Once these have been determined, narrow your search to those nursing homes that meet minimum requirements.

To find out additional information about your preliminary choices, you may want to access the Medicare web site. This is a database that provides information and survey findings on nursing homes participating in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.

This database will list the following information about the homes specified: Basic information such as number of beds and type of ownership Resident information, including the percent with pressure sores, urinary incontinence, etc.

Nursing home inspection summaries

Nursing home staffing ratios If you do not have access to a computer, your local library can be of assistance. You may also contact the Kansas Department on Aging or us.

Visit Potential Nursing Homes
It is suggested that you visit a nursing home you are considering at least twice, one scheduled visit and one random visit. The first visit should be a guided tour by a staff member to familiarize you with the home and its services.

During this visit, you should ask to see a contract to find out the cost of care and any additional fees that may be charged for such items as haircuts, cable television, and activities. Also, ask to see a copy of the most recent state survey report completed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The report will contain information on areas of care where the home did not meet federal and/or state regulations.

The second unannounced visit will allow you the opportunity to see how staff interact with residents, how the meals are served, and how actively involved residents are in determining their own daily schedules. Activities should be provided that you find to be of interest.