One stop to independence.Finding the services that allow elderly people or those with disabilities to live on their own can be a frustrating experience of red tape and hassles from various agencies. But states have come up with an answer: a one-stop center that cuts through the bureaucratic tangle. Federal money will help 10 states make it easy and convenient to contact different public programs for long-term care long-term care (LTC), n the provision of medical, social, and personal care services on a recurring or continuing basis to persons with chronic physical or mental disorders. . Grants averaging about $800,000 under President Bush's New Freedom Initiative have been awarded to Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. , South Carolina South Carolina, state of the SE United States. It is bordered by North Carolina (N), the Atlantic Ocean (SE), and Georgia (SW). Facts and Figures Area, 31,055 sq mi (80,432 sq km). Pop. (2000) 4,012,012, a 15. and West Virginia West Virginia, E central state of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland (N), Virginia (E and S), and Kentucky and, across the Ohio R., Ohio (W). Facts and Figures Area, 24,181 sq mi (62,629 sq km). Pop. . The states will create Aging and Disability Resource Centers that will offer long-term support resources from a "single, coordinated system," according to Tommy Thompson, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Health and Human Services, HHS (HHS HHS Department of Health and Human Services. ). "States use a variety of approaches to meet the unique needs of the populations they serve," says Josefina Carbonell, HHS assistant secretary for aging. "The program has been designed to allow for a great deal of flexibility. Some state programs will use a single agency, while others can establish multiple coordinated sites that ensure 'no wrong door' for individuals seeking a long-term care system." The centers will help people often desperate to find appropriate and affordable services for family members. Additional grants geared to allowing people with disabilities to reside in their homes and participate fully in their communities can be found at: www.cms.hhs.gov/new freedom/ |
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