Page 25 - Scene Magazine November 2023 47-11

Local Interest
BY CASSANDRA LUCAS-MOORE Marketing & Outreach Coordinator
November is National Family Care- givers Month! This month is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers, as well as an opportunity to raise awareness of issues around caregiving and to provide more education and support to caregivers. CareWell Services Southwest is here for caregivers, not just during November, but all year long.
CareWell Services has specially trained and certified resource specialists available from 8am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, to answer questions and provide information on local services for older adults, persons with disabilities, and family caregivers.
response systems, chore services, coun- seling, specialized medical equipment and supplies, caregiver training, nursing home transition services, community living supports, and home modifications.
CareWell Services Southwest is the Region 3B Area Agency on Aging. There is an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) that covers every county in every state across the United States. CareWell Services is a non-profit that has support from the Older Americans Act (federal), the Older Michi- ganians Act (state), Medicaid, local coun- ty governments, health plans, and grants to provide funding for services, programs, and supports to help older adults, care- givers and individuals with disabilities 18 and over maintain their health and remain independent in their homes and communi- ties.
Our certified Resource Navigators
and certified Community Health Work- ers are available to provide information and assistance on thousands of services and resources available for older adults (60+), adults with disabilities, and family caregivers in Barry and Calhoun counties. We can even connect you to agencies
and services in other areas of Michigan
if needed. If you are a family caregiver
in need of additional support services for your loved one, call our Information and Assistance line at (800) 626-6719 or (269) 966-2450 to speak with one of our spe- cialized team members. After hours calls will be returned the next business day.
MI Choice uses an approach that is person-centered, meaning clients are in control and make the decisions about their own care. MI Choice also gives clients the option of directing their own care and hir- ing their own helpers. CareWell Services administers the MI Choice Waiver pro- gram in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties.
As an AAA, we are charged to identify the needs of seniors and adults with dis- abilities and develop plans to enable older adults to maintain their independence with dignity through person-centered services. We help seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers by connecting them with information and assistance, providing care management, offering programs to support healthy aging, and helping individuals navigate Medicare and Medicaid through benefits counseling. We also provide sup- port groups and educational workshops for caregivers and the general public.
If your loved one is in need of more support than you can provide, but you are hoping to keep them in their home environ- ment, the MI Choice Waiver program might be an option. MI Choice is a state-wide Medicaid program that enables older adults and adults with disabilities to function safely in a home environment with services, avoiding or postponing institutional place- ment. This can work in conjunction with an existing caregiver or independently.
For those who do not financially qualify for MI Choice Waiver, Care Man- agement is still available through other funding options. The same services and supports are provided as with MI Choice Waiver. Our intake team will review the options as part of the qualifying process.
If you are looking for support for yourself as you care for your loved one, we’ve
got programs for you too! Our Caregiver Support Circle meets every other week
and provides a place for people caring for loved ones with dementia to gather and connect. We also regularly host educational programs for caregivers to expand their toolkit for caring for their loved one and for themselves. All caregiving programs can be viewed on our website at www. carewellservices.org/events-calendar. CareWell Services is here to support you in finding the services and help that you need. Call us today for assistance with caring for your loved one, we’re here to help!
Happy National Caregivers Month from CareWell Services
Services can include personal care, homemaking, respite, adult day care, home-delivered meals, transportation, private duty nursing, personal emergency
CELEBRATIONS I SCENE 4811 25