Missoula Area Agency On Aging

TO PROMOTE THE INDEPENDENCE, DIGNITY AND HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS MEALS ON WHEELS SERVES HOUSEBOUND OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT ALL OF MISSOULA COUNTY. LIQUID NUTRITION (ENSURE) IS PROVIDED AT COST. A TOTAL OF 125,579 HOME DELIVERED MEALS WERE PROVIDED TO 781 INDIVIDUALS IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, COMPARED TO 176,880 IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 WHEN MOST OF THE COMMUNITY LUNCH PROGRAMS HELD IN SENIOR CENTERS IN MISSOULA COUNTY (MISSOULA, SEELEY LAKE, AND CONDON) TRANSITIONED TO "GRAB AND GO" LUNCHES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.CONGREGATE DINING PROGRAMS (ALSO KNOWN AS COMMUNITY LUNCH PROGRAMS) PROVIDE OLDER ADULTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WEEKDAY MEALS IN A SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE AT THE SENIOR CENTERS IN MISSOULA COUNTY (MISSOULA, SEELEY LAKE, AND CONDON). A TOTAL OF 32,622 MEALS WERE SERVED TO 768 INDIVIDUALS IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, COMPARED TO 19,845 MEALS IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 WHEN, AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, ONLY ONE SITE CONTINUED TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY LUNCH PROGRAM AND THE OTHER SITES TRANSITIONED TO "GRAB AND GO" LUNCHES.SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM PROVIDES OLDER ADULTS WHO MEET INCOME GUIDELINES WITH VOUCHERS TO PURCHASE FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AT LOCAL MARKETS. IN 2022, 314 SENIORS WERE SERVED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WITH VOUCHERS TO LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS. IN 2021, 278 SENIORS WERE SERVED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.MONTANA SMP (SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL) FUNDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING, IS A STATEWIDE PROGRAM WHICH UTILIZES TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP REDUCE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE. IN 2022, 11,570 MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WERE EDUCATED BY MONTANA SMP COMPARED TO 6,956 BENEFICIARIES IN 2021.RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP) ENCOURAGES VOLUNTEERS AGED 55 AND OLDER TO USE THEIR SKILLS AND LIFE EXPERIENCE TO HELP SERVICE AGENCIES ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. RSVP VOLUNTEERS SERVE UP TO TWENTY HOURS A WEEK. THESE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES SUCH AS TUTORING CHILDREN, SERVING AT FOOD BANKS AND HOSPITALS, ALL WHILE PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE AND DIGNITY FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY.FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM OFFERS VOLUNTEERS AGED 55 AND OLDER THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS MENTORS AND PROVIDE EXTRA SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THEY PROVIDE, ON AVERAGE, 20 HOURS OF SERVICE WEEKLY TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND DAY CARE CENTERS. THIS PROGRAM STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNITY AND BUILDS BRIDGES ACROSS GENERATIONS BY PROVIDING THE NEXT GENERATION WITH SERVICES THAT SCHOOL BUDGETS CANNOT AFFORD.SENIOR COMPANIONS ARE VOLUNTEERS AGED 55 AND OLDER WHO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND COMPANIONSHIP TO ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND AND GENERALLY LIVING ALONE. THEY OFFER CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD FOR OUR OLDER NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ISOLATED. THEY OFTEN PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THAT MORE VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS NEED TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THEY MAY PROVIDE RESPITE CARE TO RELIEVE LIVE-IN CAREGIVERS FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME.406 FINANCIAL SERVICES IS A WHOLLY OWNED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OF MISSOULA AGING SERVICES. ITS PURPOSES ARE THREEFOLD; 1) ACT AS FISCAL EMPLOYER AGENT FOR THE VETERANS DIRECTED CARE PROGRAM BY PROVIDING PAYROLL SERVICES FOR VETERAN EMPLOYERS, 2) CONTRACT WITH COUNTY COUNCILS ON AGING TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES, AND 3) PROVIDE MONEY MANAGEMENT SERVICES ON A LIMITED BASIS FOR OLDER ADULTS IN NEED OF FINANCIAL SERVICES THROUGH BILL PAY, ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT, AND TRUST MANAGEMENT. DURING 2022, 306 VETERAN EMPLOYERS PAID 458 PCA EMPLOYEES, COMPARED TO 255 VETERAN EMPLOYERS PAID 385 PCA EMPLOYEES IN 2021, TO SUPPORT THEIR HOME CARE IN 7 WESTERN MONTANA COUNTIES AND THE PANHANDLE OF IDAHO.

IN-HOME SERVICESIN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDE PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT (PCA) SERVICES TO HELP OLDER ADULTS STAY IN THEIR HOMES SAFELY AND GIVE PRIMARY CAREGIVERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE TIME FOR THEMSELVES. IN FY22, MAS PROVIDED 4,005 HOURS OF IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES CARE TO 93 CLIENTS WITH OVER 91% OF MAS CLIENTS AND CAREGIVERS REPORTING THAT THESE SERVICES HELP THEM REMAIN HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, AND IN THEIR OWN HOMES. THE FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM COORDINATES SERVICES DESIGNED TO ASSIST ADULT FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INFORMAL PROVIDERS OF IN-HOME CARE TO OLDER ADULTS. CAREGIVER SUPPORT MAY INCLUDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: THE PLACEMENT OF SENIOR COMPANION VOLUNTEERS, HOMEMAKER SERVICES TO HELP WITH HOUSEKEEPING, RESPITE CARE TO PROVIDE CAREGIVERS TEMPORARY RELIEF FROM CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES, THE POWERFUL TOOLS FOR CAREGIVERS CLASS SERIES TO GIVES CAREGIVERS THE TOOLS NEEDED TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES WHILE CARING FOR SOMEONE ELSE AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS WHICH MEET MONTHLY VIA ZOOM. THE SERVICES ALL HELP DEVELOP THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO EMBRACE THE ROLE OF CAREGIVER.VETERANS DIRECTED CARE PROGRAM EMPOWERS QUALIFYING VETERANS TO HIRE, EMPLOY AND SUPERVISE PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS TO HELP WITH DAILY NEEDS IN SUPPORT OF INDEPENDENCE. CARE COORDINATORS REVIEW PROGRAM GUIDELINES TO ASSIST WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CARE PLANS FOR THE VETERAN THAT BEST SUPPORT THEM MEETING THEIR PERSONAL GOALS. IN 2022, 99 VETERANS WERE ENROLLED IN THE VETERANS' PROGRAM COMPARED TO 104 VETERANS IN 2021.CARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM STAFF IDENTIFY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL CARE PLANS FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH COMPLEX NEEDS, INCLUDING THOSE TRANSITIONING FROM THE HOSPITAL OR A NURSING FACILITY BACK HOME. STAFF WORKED WITH A TOTAL OF 297 CLIENTS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 421 CLIENTS LAST YEAR.A NEW PROGRAM, MEMORY CARE SUPPORT SERVICES, COMPLETED ITS FIRST FULL YEAR OF OPERATION, PROVIDING PERSONALIZED SUPPORT FOR 43 INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MEMORY LOSS AND 24 CAREGIVERS CARING FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MEMORY LOSS.

RESOURCE CENTERTHE RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE AND ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION FOR SENIORS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS AND IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL TO ADULT CHILDREN SEEKING REFERRALS TO SENIOR SERVICES LOCALLY OR FROM A DISTANCE. INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON TOPICS SUCH AS LONG-TERM CARE, ESTATE PLANNING, MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID. A LENDER'S LIBRARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE, WITH FREE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER AND THE INTERNET. IN 2022, $765,942 WAS SAVED ON MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS, HOMEOWNER/RENTER TAX CREDITS AND MEDICARE SAVINGS PLANS, THROUGH STAFF CONSULTATIONS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, COMPARED TO $749,684 IN 2021.LIFELONG CONNECTIONS, ENLISTS VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE 65 OLDER ADULTS THE TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING THEY NEED TO ACCESS TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS AND CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY. THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS LIVING LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES BY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND AND EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO GOOD CARE. OMBUDSMEN ARE IMPARTIAL MEDIATORS WHO INVESTIGATE RESIDENT CONCERNS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION, SUGGEST SOLUTIONS AND PRESS FOR IMPROVEMENTS ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS. IN 2022, OMBUDSMAN VISITED 3,227 RESIDENTS IN NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES COMPARED TO 2,322 RESIDENTS IN 2021. SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM ACTIVELY WORKS ON SOLUTIONS TO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES VIA A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY BUS SERVICE. MOUNTAIN LINE PROVIDES RIDES ON THEIR ADA PARATRANSIT SERVICE OR SHUTTLE VAN TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE. IN 2022, APPROXIMATELY 44,697 RIDES TO SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WERE PROVIDED COMPARED TO 30,466 RIDES IN 2021.