Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care and the State of Washington are the recipients of a special grant to develop a new Aging and Disability Resource Center in Pierce County.

The Federal Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services and Administration on Aging awarded grants totaling $15 million to 19 states to create a single source of information and assistance for families navigating the often confusing array of long-term care services available in their communities. “The Aging and Disability Resource Center is another step ahead in our ‘No Wrong Door’ approach to providing services,” said Sally Nixon, Aging and Long Term Care manager. “The grant will help us make people aware of the choices that are available in the community and how best to access those services and programs.”

The first step in the creation of the new resource center for Pierce County will involve the development of an advisory committee of community partners who work with older adults and individuals with disabilities. The creation of physical resource center sites, materials, and web based tools will be the first priority.

Resource centers are a help to families who need to find effective long-term care for a loved one, often with little time to prepare. The Aging and Disability Resource Center grant program is intended to help tie together various long-term support programs. The aim is to make it easier for families to get the most effective care for their loved ones, usually right in their own communities.

“Aging and Disability Resource Center grants offer states the opportunity to create ‘one stop’ entry points to long-term support services,” said Administration on Aging Administrator Josefina Carbonell. “These centers can serve as visible and trusted places for information on long-term care options to help seniors and people with disabilities get long-term care where they want it.”

Aging and Long Term Care currently administers four community programs:

– Senior Information and Assistance includes a free telephone helpline
(253-798-4600) as well as community presentations on topics crucial for
seniors;

– Family Caregiver Support serves the needs of unpaid family caregivers enabling them to remain healthy and more effective in their roles;

– Ombudsman advocates for the needs of individuals in long term care settings and assists in the resolution of complaints;

– Case management serves the needs of over 2,000 older adults and individuals with disabilities.