A requirement for programming, the completion of an assessment is performed to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for services.
The CARE Assessment was developed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to evaluate a person’s health and functional abilities. The purpose of CARE is to help persons find appropriate long-term care services and to collect data on the need for home and community based services. The assessment is a personal interview with you (and your family or other caregivers such as a guardian/conservator when appropriate).
Anyone seeking nursing home care must be assessed by the CARE program before they can enter the nursing home. If you or a loved one are considering a move to a nursing facility, please contact our office at (913) 573-8531.
More than 15 million adults serve as caregivers to frail, disabled relatives and/or minor children. Everyday families make tremendous sacrifices to provide the care and support needed by their older relatives.
If you find yourself thrusted into this role, contact the Area Agency on Aging: (913) 573-8531 to see how we can help.
Case Management is designed to help meet the multiple needs of Wyandotte/Leavenworth County residents who are at least (60) years old. The program can address a single issue or situations requiring coordination of many services to meet several needs.
Although this service is limited, it enhances the quality of life for seniors by providing dental services to those with limited income.
Inquiries are made to the Area Agency on Aging at
(913) 573-8531.
Enhance Fitness is a free, evidence-based group exercise program geared toward arthritis relief. The program is dedicated to improve the quality of life for seniors (60+) in Wyandotte County.
Older adults (60+) at all levels of fitness will become active, energized and empowered to sustain independent lives. Contact the Area Agency on Aging:
(913) 573-8531 or by
email for a class schedule.
Information and Assistance is the first place to call when you need information on any aging subject.
Staff persons are skilled professionals familiar with community resources that can provide information on aging issues and services
Recipients of these programs must be (60+) years of age.
Examples of in-home services include:
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- Personal Emergency Response System
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Home and Community Bases Services (HCBS) provides
community based supports and services for persons in Kansas with disabilities. Although there are many waivers under the Kansas Department for Aging & Disability Services; the Wyandotte/Leavenworth Area Agency on Aging only provides new and annual assessments for the following:
Frail Elderly (FE) Waivered Program
The Home and Community Based Services Frail Elderly (FE) program provides an option for Kansas seniors who receive Medicaid and qualify functionally to receive community based services as an alternative to nursing home care.
Physically Disabled (PD) Waivered Program
The Physically Disabled Program serves individuals age (16) - (65) who meet the criteria for nursing facility placement due to their physical disability, who are determined disabled by social security standards and who are Medicaid eligible.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waivered Program
The Traumatic Brain Injury program is for individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury and provides the services needed to ensure those individuals are able to be as safe and independent as possible in their homes. The TBI program serves individuals (16) - (65) years of age who would otherwise require institutionalization in a TBI Rehabilitation Facility.
NOTE: The TBI Program is not considered a long-term care program and is designed to be a rehabilitative program for consumers to receive therapies and services that enable them to rely less on supports as the consumer's independence increases.
HCBS CHECK-LIST
If you are a NEW customer applying for HCBS under Kansas Medicaid/KanCare, the following check-list will assist you through this process EACH STEP IS REQUIRED.
STEP 1:
- Complete KanCare application with the KanCare Clearinghouse, call: 1 (800) 792-4292.
STEP 2:
- Contact the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to request Functional Assessment.
- ADRC will complete FAI within (5) business days from your date of request.
- Obtain Level of Care score outcome from the ADRC.
STEP 3:
- Your Managed Care Organization (MCO) will contact you to set-up services once step 1 and 2 are completed.
If you are experiencing delays with STEP 3, please contact your MCO directly.
Other Helpful Contacts
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services: 1 (785) 368-6246
KanCare Ombudsman: 1 (855) 643-8180
The Hearing Aid Program enhances the quality of life for seniors in Wyandotte County by evaluating and providing hearing aids to hearing impaired older adults on a limited income.
Call: (913) 596-5143
KanCare is the program through which the State of Kansas administers Medicaid. KanCare (Kansas Medicaid) can be obtained by completing the KanCare Application or calling 1 (800) 792-4884 to request a paper application.
Each Medicaid consumer is assigned to one of the KanCare health plans. Consumers in KanCare receive all the same services provided under the previous Medicaid delivery system, plus additional services.
Consumers have the option during open enrollment season once per year to change to a different KanCare health plan if they prefer to do so. Open enrollment season corresponds with the anniversary month of enrollment in the program.
Kansas Legal Service for Older Adults is project of Kansas Legal Services, Inc. and is funded by the Older Americans Act. Due to limited resources there is a prioritization of need and Kansas Legal Services for Older Adults is not able to offer assistance in every type of case.
The project provides the following services: Guardians/Conservators, Simple Wills, Division of Assets, Patient’s Rights, Power of Attorney, Living Wills and Consumer Advocacy.
To schedule a visit with Kansas Legal Services for Older Adults call (913) 573-8531.
How Does Meals on Wheels Work?
The Meals on Wheels program is designed to improve and maintain the health of seniors. The meals meet one third of the recommended daily allowance for adults and have no added salt.
Participants have a choice of either hot or frozen meals. Hot meals are delivered once a day Monday through Friday. Frozen meal participants receive one box of five frozen meals, delivered once per week.
Eligibility
Meals are provided to seniors 60 years of age and older who are temporarily or permanently home bound due to physical or mental impairment. Seniors that are not home-bound are encouraged to participate at one of the nutrition sites.
Application Process
A person in need of Meals on Wheels must complete a home delivered meal application. We encourage applicants to have their application signed by their medical doctor. Upon receipt of a completed application, nutrition staff will schedule a home visit for assessment. This assessment will be completed and meals will be started within 10 working days.
Cancelling Meals
If it becomes necessary to cancel a scheduled meal that you call the nutrition office or dispatch by noon the day before the scheduled delivery.
Seniors who are not home bound are welcome to participate at one of our nutrition sites. To begin dining at a nutrition site, contact the Area Agency on Aging office at
(913) 573-8531.
Donations Encouraged
Our Nutrition Program is funded by the Older Americans Act, State funds, Mill Levy dollars and client contributions. The meal program does rely on donations to continue serving meals to new and current participants.
Medical Alert Systems are a vital tool that provide seniors (24) hour care without the need for hired help or constant attention from family members.
These systems will alert a relative or professional urgent care services if there has been an accident in the home. Typically, these devices come equipped with buttons or wearable devices that, when pushed will alert for medical assistance If you fall or need any kind of help.
Contact the Area Agency on Aging: (913) 573-8531 for more information.
See current and archived
newsletters for information
Making decisions about long term care services can be difficult. An options counselor can help by providing unbiased information that is relevant to the individual’s needs, preferences and goals. This person-centered service supports the individual in making informed choices about their long-term care service options.
To speak to an Options Counselor in Kansas, call: 1 (855) 200-ADRC (2372). For an Options Counselor in Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS, call: (913) 573-8531.
The Area Agency on Aging provides support to (2) Senior Centers in Wyandotte County:
Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans (SHICK) is a free program offering Kansans an opportunity to talk with trained, community volunteers and get answers to questions about Medicare and other insurance issues.
For Medicare assistance:
Interested in becoming a Volunteer SHICK Counselor?
Call: (913) 573-8531
Any Senior Citizen (65+) years of age who resides in Wyandotte County is eligible for Demand Response service. Demand Response is a door to door transportation services provided by the Unified Government Transit Department and will only travel within the Wyandotte County limits.
Interested in using Demand Response?
Please register by calling (913) 573-8351 or by submitting a completed registration form to:
Unified Government Transit
5033 State Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66102
Should this option not work for you or your loved one, please contact the Area Agency on Aging at (913) 573-8351 for other options.