Relevance to Centers for Independent Living (CILs)
This section suggests areas where the Areas Agencies on Aging and Centers for Independent Living could collaborate.
Older consumers (60+ years) with disabilities want the same rights and privileges as other people but may not know how to advocate for them. They want to live in their homes for as long as possible, receive support services in their homes, and remain participants in their community. Many of these consumers do not know where to turn for assistance. As baby boomers age, they will demand change and services, which will put a strain on service providers. CILs will be able to capitalize on this, by providing services to this population through the four core services and by developing new programs.
CILs are encouraged to get to know the AAAs in their community and to find out how they can serve this growing population. Many older consumers do not meet the eligibility requirements for federal or state-funded programs. There is opportunity to expand fee-for-service programs for these individuals.
Transportation Issues | Community Education & Awareness | Employment Issues | Deinstitutionalization | Consumer Choice/Consumer Directed Approach | Aging with Disability Issues | Accessibility | Housing Issues | Assistive Technology Acquisition
Available and accessible transportation is needed for our growing aging population, especially for seniors who are no longer able to drive. Some may experience a loss of independence when no longer able to drive themselves to shop, visit family and friends or go to medical appointments.
The demand for available and accessible transportation for seniors will increase. Many seniors who have always driven may not understand or know the procedures to utilize public transportation or know about the available transportation services in their area.
The AAAs keep track of the available transportation services in their region. CILs are positioned to provide training in the use of various modes of alternative transportation to seniors. The AAAs and CILs can help meet the demand for transportation through collaboration. CILs are encouraged to contact the AAA in their area to explore ways they could work together.
• First, contact the AAA Director and introduce yourself and your agency.
• If your center provides transportation services, get your center's name on the AAA listing for a transportation provider.
• Educate the AAA about your service and procedures for obtaining your transportation services. Find out how your center can help provide services to the AAA's senior population. This could be an opportunity for the AAA to contract your center for transportation services.
• If your center and the AAA does not have an established transportation program, the two agencies could work together to develop a program to meet the need.
• Offer your services for training older adults in the use of public and alternative transportation.
According to many AAAs, they have not been strong in self-advocacy, community awareness and education regarding their rights. CILs can train the AAA staff in these areas.
• CILs have long experience working to increase the rights of people with disabilities. CILs could provide sensitivity training to caregivers, Meals On Wheels personnel, home health and personal care aids and to employers of older adults.
• Offer self-advocacy training to senior consumers to help them obtain the services they need.
• Become involved in joint community efforts with the AAAs in providing education and awareness about disability.
Elders are working longer due to many factors; some out of choice, others out of need. As we age, age-related changes (physical, sensory, mobility), can affect our ability to complete work tasks. Many elders may feel the need to resign due to these changes. CILs have experience working with individuals through vocational rehabilitation in providing work place accommodations for those in need. CILs can apply this knowledge by assisting the older employee and their employer with ways to make work place accommodations, provide names of contractors and vendors who can provide the modifications.
• Examine current programs that provide these types of services. Will they meet the needs of those over age 60? If not, talk to the AAA to find ways they can be redesigned to meet the needs of elderly consumers. If yes, tell the AAA about your programs so it is aware of your services.
• Meet with the AAA staff to discuss your agency's programs. How can your agencies work together to provide each other with referrals for services? Some AAAs may not have these services since it has not been an issue until now. If this is so with your AAA, ask if they would contract with your center to provide services to their elderly consumers.
AAAs typically do not have any experience with the de-institutionalization process. Traditionally, elder consumers are institutionalized when unable to live independently in their homes. Services and funding are limited to those in the community. Service provisions are provided by long-term care institutions and the money provided for these services were given to the institutions. A bill has been introduced into Congress to allow the money for services to follow the person instead. Currently, the aging networks are considering the adoption of consumer choice/directed approach to services like that of independent living centers. CILs are in a great position to provide education and training to the AAA staff on the de-institutionalization process.
• Initiate contact with the AAA in your area.
• Make an appointment with them to discuss this opportunity.
• Provide examples of success stories in which de-institutionalization worked.
• Discuss how your center's programs and services can be utilized to assist those identified as de-institutionalized.
• Identify common areas for agencies to work together for the greater good of the consumers.
The Administration on Aging is promoting the consumer choice/consumer directed approach to the state and local aging agencies. They are in the process of trying out the approach in ten states. The aging network can benefit from the skills and talents of CIL peer counselors and their independent living philosophy. Historically, the approach used by the aging network for providing services has been medically based and professionally directed. The consumer was told what services they needed and which ones would be paid for by the insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. This approach will be new to the healthcare professionals who will need time to get used to the transition. CILs can be instrumental in assisting the AAA and local healthcare agencies in this transition.
• To help the aging networks in the transition, CILs can provide valuable information about the philosophy of independent living and the concepts of consumer choice/consumer directed services.
• CILs can provide training to aging network services providers about these two areas. It will help them understand the positive impact these concepts have on consumers and their well-being. Services that are needed by the consumer will be utilized more effectively than those they do not want or feel they need.
• Offer to help train the consumers about this process so they can become more involved and empowered with the decision-making process regarding their services. Training the consumer about available services, how to obtain them, etc. will help relieve the burden of care by the AAAs. Also, funding for services are stretched and becoming more difficult to obtain through the AAAs. Personnel to provide these services through the AAAs are being eliminated due to cutbacks. CILs can promote their existing services or develop new programs to fill the gap. The AAAs can in return help the CILs develop programs that will directly benefit the aging population.
The aging population will grow rapidly over the next 30 years. With the demand for services increasing, it will be difficult for the aging network to accommodate them. Outside agencies will be needed to assist. CILs can be instrumental in providing services to this population. Networking with the AAA will help CILs understand the specific needs, problems and solutions that are unique to the senior population.
• Contact the AAA in your area to offer your assistance in helping serve the older population. CILs can promote their services and become one of the AAA's community contract service providers.
• Call the AAA staff to see if they would provide training to your staff regarding age-related changes, specific problems, and issues regarding the older consumer. Older consumers age 60 and over may have unique problems and multiple issues than younger consumers.
• Both agencies advocate for services, rights, and programs that support their consumers. Working together for better services and programs, advocacy, funding, etc. will provide a stronger voice and presence to support government policy changes to better the quality of life of all people with disabilities regardless of age.
Universal design and visitability guidelines benefit people of all ages regardless of functional ability or disability. Both groups can support these concepts by working together to increase awareness among the public, community leaders, architects, contractors, and building associations.
• Call the local AAA to encourage participation in the development of an educational workshop regarding universal design and visitability.
• Together, do public service announcements about these concepts.
• Together, attend state legislative meetings to advocate for change.
As people age, they may often acquire disabilities that interfere with aging in place successfully. The CILs and AAAs can work together to intervene and assist older adults in remaining independent in their own homes. It is important that each agency is familiar with the other and aware of the services each provides to allow CILs and AAAs to make appropriate cross-referrals. Each has expertise that benefits older adults: the AAAs are familiar with challenges an older adult encounters and CILs are knowledgeable in promoting independence. Together they can work to help older adults remain independent in their homes by referring or providing personal care, housekeeping services, environmental adaptations, support groups, caregiver classes, and peer counseling. They can also work together to help older adults obtain and learn to use assistive devices. If they work together, more seniors may remain in their homes and avoid hospitalizations that lead to nursing home placement.
• Call the local AAA and introduce your CIL. Let them know the services the CIL provides and offer assistance in serving the older population. Become one of the AAA's community contract service providers.
• Offer to do workshops or presentations to senior groups on obtaining a personal care attendant, assistive technology, support groups, or environmental adaptations
• Offer to do a presentation for the local AAA on your CIL and all that it offers. Likewise, invite the AAA to present on older adult issues at the CIL.
CILs are knowledgeable about assistive technology that promotes independence for their consumers. CILs provide information and training in the use of assistive technology. Elderly people are not aware of the various technologies that can help them improve, restore or maintain their functional abilities. Those that do learn about them had some type of rehabilitative experience. Many service providers outside the rehab personnel are not aware of these technologies and how to acquire them for their consumers. CILs can offer assistive technology training sessions to increase the aging network's knowledge about various technologies and how to obtain them.
• Investigate the type of programs the AAAs offer regarding assistive technology. If there are none, call them and work together to develop a workshop that would meet their personnel's needs and those of other community service providers.
• Provide information on acquisition procedures for assistive
technology. How can one obtain needed technology successfully without payer
denial?
Rather than competing for funding, work together to develop grants that would meet a dual purpose of helping people of all ages with disabilities.
• Talk to each other. Find out what areas need to be addressed to meet the needs of your consumers. Are the needs similar or different? If similar, work together to serve those in need. If different, investigate what makes it different; age-disability, organization?
• Find out if there are any private organizations that
would support joint efforts to serve multigenerational groups.
Working together on various boards will increase each agency's knowledge about the other. Each can learn indirectly of each others needs, priorities, similarities and differences. Both can teach the nonprofit and for-profit board members the needs of their respective consumers.
These issues are mutually important to each agency's consumer base. Working together to promote home safety and modification will provide a stronger voice to government officials to encourage policy change to address these issues. Work together to collectively educate the public and advocate for the consumer regarding these issues.
More grandparents are working longer and becoming the primary caregivers for their grandchildren. They are raising their grandchildren due to several factors: the grandchild is disabled, parents are deceased, incarcerated or financially unable. AAAs are experienced in working with the elderly consumer's needs but not children, particularly those that are disabled. CILs are experienced with working with all ages, and most may have more experience working with the young and disabled. As older adults begin to decline in functional status due to age-related changes and/or chronic conditions, they will need assistance maintaining their own functional status while continuing their caregiver roles. CILs can provide assistance, training, and support for grandparents in caregiver roles.
• CILs will need to let the AAAs know that they can provide some assistance.
• The AAAs can set up a referral to CILs for those grandparents who may need help with a disabled grandchild or adult disabled child.
• CILs can offer training in assistive technology and acquisition, and information and referral to providers of home modification, respite care, day programs, and personal assistance services.