Area Office on Aging of NWO - PASSPORT Program

PASSPORT - Helping You or Someone You Know Remain Independent.

For many older adults, the senior years are a time for looking back and remembering the good times with family and friends. But for some, growing older often results in feelings of uncertainty. An increasing number of older adults, who live in their own home, need personal care assistance and a little help around the house. PASSPORT, a state-wide elder care program, assists seniors with these personal concerns and helps them remain independent. PASSPORT care management staff, registered nurses, and licensed social workers provide seniors and their families with information about community-based services and home care options in the privacy of their own home.

A new service option available under the PASSPORT Waiver Program is the Choices Home Care Attendant Service (C-HCAS). The service allows for eligible consumers to direct their own care and have more management over the home care attendant service. This is called consumer-direction. Consumers are the "employer of record" . You may hire a Home Care Attendant, or Individual Provider (IP) directly. This may be family members, with some exceptions, or friends, neighbors, etc. Persons enrolled in PASSPORT may contact their Care Manager for more information.

PASSPORT CAN HELP WITH:

- Personal hygiene
- Home delivered meals
- Housekeeping/homemaking
- Medical transportation
- Emergency response systems
- Adult day services
- Medical equipment & supplies
- Counseling/social work
- Planning for long-term care
- Nutritional Supplies

PASSPORT APPLICANTS MUST BE:

- At least 60 years of age
- Permanently residing in a non-institutional setting
- Meet the established Level Of Care (hands on help with personal care needs)
- Financially eligible under current Medicaid Waiver guidelines

INCOME (2020 guidelines):
-Possible co-pay for services - if monthly income of applicant is above $1,527
- No charge for services - if monthly income of applicant is $1,527 or less

ASSETS:
- 2,000 for applicant who is single or widow(er)
- 2,000 each (applicant spouse) or $4,000 total for applicant whose spouse is already on Medicaid
- $2,000 applicant+$24,180 spouse=$26,180 (minimum standards) for applicant whose spouse is not on nor applying for Medicaid

IN ADDITION APPLICANTS MUST:
- Need hands-on assistance with personal care or require the presence of another person on a 24- hour-a-day basis for purpose of supervision.
- Be able to live safely and cost-effectively home setting.
- Have attending physician approve home care plan.
- Agree to total plan of care.