The Medicaid Waiver Program is designed to provide services for elderly and disabled low-income people, who, without assistance, might have to be cared for in a nursing home. The Medicaid Waiver Program provides clients the following services, which are paid for by the Alabama Medicaid Agency.
- Homemaker Services - Homemaker Services are general household activities, which include meal preparation, food shopping and routine household care. These services are provided by a trained homemaker when the individual responsible for these activities is absent or unable to manage the care and home. The homemaker may also run errands.
- Personal Care - Personal Care Services include bathing, dressing, ambulation, housekeeping, emotional security, eating, and supervising the self-administration of medications. Personal care is intended to be in addition to bath or aide visits by Home Health Agencies and never in place of already existing services.
- Respite Care (skilled or unskilled) - Respite Care is provided to individuals unable to care for themselves. It is provided on a short-term basis offering relief to the person normally providing the care. The Respite Care worker stays with the client in the client's home for a limited period of time allowing the caregiver a break from the home.
- Case Management - Case Management is provided for each client. The Case Manager coordinates services, makes home visits, updates the plan of care and provides an ongoing needs assessment. They provide information and referrals for homebound meals, legal services, community programs and assistance in applying for benefits and entitlements.
- Adult Day Health Care - Adult Day Health Care provides social and health care for individuals who need additional interaction or who can no longer remain safely at home. Adult Day Health Care provides health monitoring and also may allow the caregiver the freedom to continue to work or simply to have additional time for other needs and interests. Limited transportation is also provided to bring clients to and from the Day Care Center.
- Companion Services - Companion Services provide non-medical care, supervision and socialization to a functionally impaired adult who lives alone. Companions may assist or supervise the individual with such tasks as laundry, meal preparation and other light housekeeping tasks which are incidental to the care and supervision of the individual. Companions may remind clients to bathe, care for their personal grooming and hygiene, and to take their medication.
- Home Delivered Frozen Meals - Frozen Meals are delivered to the home once per week. The client must have a microwave or traditional oven for the heating of the meals and freezer space to accommodate a week's supply of meals.
To qualify for the program, prospective clients must be either on Alabama Medicaid or eligible for Alabama Medicaid and meet certain standards of medical need established by Medicaid. To make a referral or for more information, call the Southern Alabama Regional Council On Aging (SARCOA) at (334)793-6843 or 1-800-239-3507 or write to: Post Office Box 1886 / Dothan, Alabama 36302
