INFORMATION AND REFERRAL

Information on both AAASC and community services is made available to community members through radio programs, newspaper articles, brochures, videos, the Agency newsletter, telephone or personal contact, and presentations to groups/organizations. As part of an initial interview and evaluation of a particular situation, helpful information is made available to the consumer and his/her family. Care Management staff assist with referrals to AAASC services and/or other service providers, as appropriate. This assistance may also include the completion of forms for Medicare and supplemental insurance reimbursement, Fuel Assistance, Rent and Property Tax Rebates and the PACE prescription drug program.

NURSING HOME TRANSITIONS

Nursing Home Transition (NHT) is the process of assisting and empowering people who want to move from a nursing facility back to a home of their choice in the community. NHT includes: providing outreach and education to consumers, nursing facility staff, families, and community, members about NHT; identifying individuals who want to move out of nursing facilities as consumers of the NHT process; educating consumers so they have information they need to make well-informed decisions about their transition; empowering consumers to direct their own transition; connecting consumers to the services and resources they have identified and chosen as needed supports for living independently in the community; advocating for consumers to ensure that their transition plan is what they want and need, or providing them with the tools to be self-advocates if they so desire.

OUTREACH

Outreach services include the Agency’s attempts to seek out and identify those who need services, but lack access to them due to a disability, communication barriers, isolated home location, and/or aloneness. Outreach is also the ongoing process for identifying additional community resources to meet a person’s needs.

PENNSYLVANIA MEDICARE EDUCATION AND DECISION INSGHT - PAMEDI

Effective July 1, 2021, APPRISE is now Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight, PA MEDI Same Program, Same Services for Pennsylvania's Medicare Beneficiaries, now with a New Name.

Understand Your Medicare, Medicaid, and Long Term Care Benefits

Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) offers free Medicare counseling to older Pennsylvanians. PA MEDI Counselors are specially trained to answer your questions and provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Medicaid, and Long-Term Care Insurance. PA MEDI Counselors do not sell Medicare products but rather offer current, unbiased Medicare education to help you make the most informed choice about the Medicare options available to you. Our PA MEDI Counselors can help you:

Understand Medicare eligibility and enrollment

Understand your Medicare benefits by explaining what services are covered under Medicare Parts A and B and your Medicare Summary Notice

Understand your Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) benefit

Make informed choices about Medicare coverage options, Medigap policies and Medicare Advantage Plans

Understand financial assistance programs that may be available to help pay for your Medicare premiums, deductible and co-pays, as well as your prescription drug needs (Extra Help and Medicare Savings Plan)

Understand and assist with the Medicare appeal process

Understand benefits under Long-Term Care policies

By making presentations on Medicare to your group or organization

If you or a family member needs assistance with Medicare-related issues, please contact the Agency’s PA MEDI Coordinator at 814-443-2681 (toll free 800-452-0825)

The program is operated under a contract with the Area Agency on Aging of Somerset County, with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Administration on Community Living.

Somerset County PA MEDI Update

PACE APPLICATION HELP

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation services are available to persons age 60 and older to and from community locations through the Somerset County Transportation Program. Trips are scheduled to meet the most important needs first, with an emphasis on health maintenance and daily living activities such as medical appointments, grocery shopping, senior community center activities and banking. Other trips for shopping or recreation are scheduled as space is available. Transportation is available to individuals requiring wheelchairs. These services are arranged one day in advance through a telephone reservation system. Please call Community Action Partnership for Somerset County/Tableland Services, Inc. 814-445-9628 or 1-800-452-0241. Assistance with other transportation options, can be provided by calling the Area Agency on Aging at 814-443-2681 or 1-800-452-0825.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

The need for legal counsel to draft wills, Power of Attorney and living wills, are addressed through the Agency’s Legal Assistance Program. Each service is offered one-time to an individual who qualifies. For more complicated and extended long-term legal needs AAASC supplies a list of local attorneys who accept reduced fees or an individual can contact the American Association of Retired Person’s Legal Hotline.