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Commonly Asked Questions
Question:
My mother has been hospitalized recently and may have to go into a nursing facility. She will be coming home in a couple weeks. She's never had services in her home before. How do we arrange home services for my mom?
Answer: Speak with the social worker/discharge planner at the hospital or nursing facility. S/he has home care options for your mother. Your mom's doctor may order Medicare services for the short term to manage an acute situation. However, if your mother will need long term care services in the home, ask the facility social worker about getting a long term care assessment from a Goold Health Systems nurse assessor. The assessor will determine whether or not your mother is eligible for home care services that can be paid by Medicaid or by Maine's Home Based Care program. You may also contact Goold Health Systems directly when you mother has returned home and she needs home care. If your mom is found eligible for services then she will be contacted by a Care Manager (formerly Care Coordinator) from Elder Independence of Maine (EIM). |
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Question: My father is getting services through EIM but his Personal Care Assistant is often late. He would really like to change to a different caregiver. What do we do?
Answer: First, contact the provider directly to discuss the problem and make an effort to resolve it. If you do not feel that the situation has been resolved, call your Elder Independence of Maine Care Manager (CM). The CM is there to provide you with assistance in changing caregivers or choosing a new provider if needed. |
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Question:
My mother has Alzheimer's Disease. She already gets help from one of EIM's providers but I am her primary caregiver and I'm there seven days a week. I've been doing this for a long time and I feel like I'm really close to "burn-out." Are there any options for me?
Answer:
Your EIM Care Manager can assist you with information about arranging
respite, either in the home or in a nursing facility, if the consumer qualifies. Call your Care Manager and ask about respite options. You can also ask your Care Manager to make a referral for you to the EIM Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Program. The program focuses only on the primary caregiver's needs and staff may be able to help ease some of the stess you are experiencing. |
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Question: My father has been receiving home care services through EIM for two years. I'm thankful that he has been able to stay in his apartment for this long. But now he really needs nursing facility placement. What do we do?
Answer: Your EIM Care Manager can arrange for a new Goold assessment for your father to see if he qualifies medically for nursing facility placement. The Office of Elder Services' website is also a great resource in your search for right nursing facility
Click here. |
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Question:
I have some questions about whether or not my wife and I will qualify for home care, but I want to talk with someone first. It's all so confusing who do I turn to?
Answer: Whenever you have questions about home care for yourself, a family member, or someone for whom you have responsibility, you can call Elder Independence of Maine. A staff member can guide you through the process of obtaining long term care services in the home. EIM can be reached toll-free at 1-888-234-3920 in Auburn, or 1-866-456-2322 in Bangor. |
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Question:
I need information about services for the elderly and adults with special needs in the State of Maine. Who do I call?
Answer: Elder Independence of Maine can provide you with informative brochures and booklets which will be mailed to you at your request. We also maintain a data base of state and national resources. |
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Question:
I need to know what healthcare facilities exist in the town or county my parent lives in, who do I call?
Answer: Elder Independence of Maine maintains a data base of healthcare providers throughout the state and can provide you with that information. |
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Question:
My mother was recently discharged from the hospital and is receiving Medicare services in her home. She was assessed by Goold Health Systems (GHS) and also found eligible to receive services under the PDNA program. How do home care services under
Medicare and the PDNA program work together?
Answer: When the Care Manager receives your mother's assessment from GHS, he/she will contact her to review the PDNA Plan of Care (POC). The CM will review the services she is eligible for under PDNA. He/she will also get in touch with the Medicare provider to review the services you mother is currently receiving under Medicare as well as the expected discharge date. Medicare services are federally funded and take precedence over PDNA. PDNA services can be provided in conjunction with Medicare so long as the services are not being duplicated and what we are providing is consistent with the program regulations. |
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Question:
My sister is currently receiving services in the home under the Home Based Care program. She was recently hospitalized after falling in the home and breaking her left hip. We are not clear whether or not she will be returning home for quite some time. What do we do?
Answer: When the status of a consumer changes, always notify her Care Manager (CM) at Elder Independence of Maine. The CM will review the options with your sister and provide her with the information she needs to make informed decisions about her services. The CM will also notify all of the providers so that they do not continue going to her home to provide services. When a consumer is hospitalized, they are suspended from receiving services under the HBC program; that suspension period cannot be longer than 30 days. If you sister is expected to be hospitalized for longer than 30 days, she will be discharged from the HBC program and will need to be reassessed before receiving services in the home again. In any case, always keep her CC informed about her status. |
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Question:
Question: My father has been found eligible for one of the EIM Long Term Care (LTC) programs. He is still quite capable of managing his own affairs and was told that he might be able to manage his own services. Could you explain how that works?
Answer: If you are eligible for an EIM-managed LTC program, the Family Provider Service Option (FPSO) may be of interest to you. The Option allows an adult, 21 years or older, to register as a personal care agency solely for the purpose of managing the adult’s own services or solely for managing the services of no more than two of his/her family members. The FPSO Employer hires and directs workers, works with a fiscal intermediary to provide payment to workers, keeps consumer and personnel records, maintains workers’ compensation insurance (paid for with program funds), works closely with an EIM care manager, and complies with program rules and regulations. |
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