The Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver is a statewide program designed to offer assistance to qualified Medicaid beneficiaries. The program allows qualified individuals to remain in a home or community based setting as an alternative to nursing facility care or other institutional care. This program is operated and administered by the Division of Medicaid. Individuals receiving services through this waiver must require the same level of care as someone applying for admission to a nursing facility, be Medicaid eligible, and be at least 21 years of age. Services offered through this program include: Case Management, Adult Day Services, Expanded Home Health Services, Home Delivered Meals, Personal Care Services, Institutional Respite and/or In-Home Respite, and Transition Assistance.

Click here to download a pamphlet of information, including How to Apply, for the Elderly & Disabled (E&D) Waiver Program.

The Independent Living Waiver is a home and community-based program that provides services to individuals with the most severe orthopedic and/or neurological impairments. This program is operated by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation in partnership with the Division of Medicaid. Individuals receiving services through this waiver must be Medicaid eligible, require nursing facility level of care, be medically stable, be 16 years of age or older and be able to express their needs, either verbally or nonverbally, to those involved in their care. Available services through this program include: Case Management, Personal Care Attendant Services, Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies, Home Modifications, and Transition Assistance.

Click here to download a pamphlet of information, including How to Apply, for the Independent Living (IL) Waiver Program.

The Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury (TBI/SCI) Waiver is a home and community-based program that provides services to individuals who have brain injuries or spinal cord injuries due to external trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents and falls. This program is operated by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation in partnership with the Division of Medicaid. Individuals receiving services through this waiver must be Medicaid eligible, require nursing facility level of care and be medically stable. Available services through this program include: Case Management, Personal Care Attendant Services, Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies, Environmental Accessibility Modifications, Respite Care and Transition Assistance.

Click here to download a pamphlet of information, including How to Apply, for the Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury (TBI/SCI) Waiver Program.

The Assisted Living Waiver is a statewide program operated and administered by the Division of Medicaid. It is designed to offer assistance to qualified Medicaid beneficiaries. This program allows qualified individuals to reside in a licensed Assisted Living Facility as an alternative to nursing facility care or other institutional care. Persons must require nursing facility level of care, be at least 21 years of age, and Medicaid eligible. In addition to this, persons qualified for the Traumatic Brain Injury Residential Facility setting must have a diagnosis of acquired traumatic brain injury, must be in a family/participant crisis or have behavioral issues requiring 24 hour supervision, and must have completed acute rehabilitation treatment. Under this waiver, participants must contribute to the facility for their room and board. Medicaid will pay a flat fee for services received in the facility. Some of these include Personal Care Services, Homemaker Services, Attendant Care Services, Medication Oversight, Medication Administration, Intermittent Skilled Nursing Services, Transportation, Attendant Call Systems, as well as Therapeutic, Social, and Recreational Programming.

Click here to download a pamphlet of information, including How to Apply, for the Assisted Living (AL) Waiver Program.

Mississippi’s ID/DD Waiver provides individualized supports and services to people with intellectual/developmental disabilities to assist them in living successfully at home and in the community and are an alternative to care in institutional settings. These Medicaid funded supports and services are available as long as the cost of supporting people in the home or community does not exceed the cost of services in an institutional setting. The ID/DD Waiver, which is operated by the Department of Mental Health, includes an array of services aimed at assisting people to live as independently as possible in their home and community. Services include: Supported Employment, Home and Community Supports, Supervised Living, Supported Living, Host Homes, Day Services-Adult, In-Home Nursing Respite, Community Respite, Crisis Support, Crisis Intervention, Job Discovery, Prevocational Services, Specialized Medical Supplies, Behavior Support Services, Transition Assistance and Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy. To access ID/DD Waiver services, contact the appropriate IDD Regional Program to arrange for an evaluation.

Click here to download a pamphlet of information, including How to Apply, for the Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) Waiver Program.

Bridge to Independence is a state program designed to transition Medicaid enrollees residing in an institution to the community. The program allows qualified individuals to transition into the community with the help of transition services. Transition services are available in addition to appropriate waiver or Community Mental Health Center services.

B2I is a federal Money Follows the Person demonstration grant funded in partnership by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the MS Division of Medicaid. Money Follows the Person is a federal initiative to help states enhance community living options for persons with disabilities and establish person-driven and sustainable long-term care systems. Transition services are available in addition to the appropriate waiver of Community Mental Health services.

Participants will be afforded the same level of safeguards as those available to participants enrolled in existing waivers. Persons must have resided in a qualified institution for at least 90 consecutive days and received Medicaid for at least one day prior to transition from the institution into the community.

In order to receive any services noted under the above waivers, approval must happen first through the Division of Medicaid.

Click here to download a Bridge to Independence (B2I) Demonstration Grant pamphlet

The State Health Insurance Program provides information, counseling and assistance to consumers about Medicare as changes to the program develop.

The Mississippi Senior Medicare Patrol is an educational outreach program designed to recruit and train volunteers to review and analyze medical statements and report suspicious claims, aiding in the fight to prevent and/or reduce fraudulent practices in the Medicare system.

The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is authorized by the federal Older Americans Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 3058g) and Mississippi law (§§ 43-7-51 to 43-7-79). The State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program seeks resolution to problems experienced by residents of long term care facilities and advocates for their rights with the goal of enhancing their quality of life. Ombudsman services are provided by DAAS through contracts with AAAs which employs LTCOP staff ombudsman and utilizes volunteers in districts across the state.

The Older Adults Nutrition Program includes the Congregate Meals Program and the Home-Delivered Meals Program. The Congregate Meals Program gives older persons an opportunity to go to a local senior center and enjoy a meal, fellowship with others and participate in fun activities. The Home-Delivered Meals Program delivers meals to homebound seniors unable to prepare food for themselves and who are at risk for early institutionalization.

This is a planned programs that include a variety of health, social and support services in a protective setting usually during daytime hours. This community-based program is designed to meet the individual needs of functionally and/ or cognitively impaired adults.

Through the Senior Companion Program, volunteers age 55 and older provide assistance and friendship to elderly individuals who are homebound and, generally, living alone. By taking care of simple chores, providing transportation to medical appointments, and offering contact to the outside world, Senior Companions often provide the essential services that prevent older Americans from having to enter nursing homes. They also provide respite care to relieve live-in caretakers for short periods of time.

Please refer to the Senior Companion Program site for additional information.

This support program provides support to caregivers of older adults including:

• Assistance in gaining access to supportive services
• Counseling assistance
• Respite services
• Supplemental services

Please refer to the Family Caregiver Support Program site for additional information.

The Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) is a department of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Its mission is to protect the rights of older citizens while expanding their opportunities and access to quality services in various aspects of their lives in order to maintain the best quality of life for each individual.

Adult Protective Services (APS) Unit within the Division of Aging and Adult Services was created through legislation passed in 2006. APS investigates reports of suspected abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults. Guided by the Mississippi Vulnerable Persons Act, APS provides for the protection of at-risk vulnerable individuals, age 18 and older, residing in private home settings, through direct delivery or referral to resources within the community. The APS program was expanded to 24 staff dedicated to protecting vulnerable adults by investigating suspected and reported claims of abuse, neglect and exploitation in local communities and homes.

Legal Assistance and Advocacy services protect and assist the elderly to secure their rights and benefits, and promote a higher quality of life. Services include:

• Referrals for legal Assistance for older persons who need legal advice, a consultation and/or representation.
• Elder Abuse Prevention activities and public information programs that focus on issues to help prevent abuse, fraud and exploitation.

These services offer caregivers a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Respite time varies based on a caregiver’s specific need.