ElderChoices
ElderChoices is Arkansas' Medicaid home and community-based waiver designed for its
elderly population. ElderChoices, implemented July 1, 1991, is designed
for persons who due to physical, cognitive or medical reasons, require
a level of assistance that would have to be provided in a nursing facility,
if it were not for the services offered through this program. The program
is designed to assist elderly persons reside in their own homes, or live
with relatives or caregivers for as long as possible, if that is their
choice.
ElderChoices has provided services to
more than 20,000 elderly Arkansans since 1991. There are currently 5,865
recipients participating in the program with a statewide total of 291
providers of service.
The services offered through
this program include:
Homemaker - includes
basic upkeep and management of the home and household assistance,
such as laundry, essential shopping, errands, household tasks and
meal preparation.
Chore - provides heavy
cleaning and/or yard and sidewalk maintenance in extreme circumstances,
when lack of these services would make the home uninhabitable.
Home Delivered Meals - Nutritious home-delivered meals provided to individuals who are
homebound and unable to prepare their own meals.
Personal Emergency Response System
(PERS) - provides an in-home 24-hour electronic alarm system
that enables an elderly homebound person to summon help in the event
of an emergency.
Adult Day Care - provides
for a group program designed to provide care and supervision in a
licensed adult day care facility.
Adult Day Health Care - provides a continuing, organized program of rehabilitative, therapeutic
and supportive health and social services and activities in addition
to basic day care.
Adult Foster Care - provides
a family living environment for one or two clients who are functionally
impaired and are considered to be at imminent risk of death or serious
bodily harm and are not capable of living alone.
Respite - provides temporary
relief to persons providing long term care for clients in their homes.
It may be provided in and/or outside of the client's home to meet
an emergency need or as periodic scheduled relief from continuous
care giving.
In addition to ElderChoices services, waiver recipients
may receive other Medicaid covered services such as physician visits,
some prescription drugs, personal care and others.
Need More Information?
If you need more information about the ElderChoices Program or have
concerns regarding your ElderChoices services, please call your local
DHS County Office or the Division of Aging and Adult Services at
501-682-2441 OR Arkansas Relay Service at 1-800-285-1121 (VOICE) OR
1-800-285-1131 (TDD).
Need An Application?
If you would like an application
for the ElderChoices Program, please call or visit your local
DHS County Office.
