Aging and Disability Resource Centers
The Purpose of the Program and How it Works
The Aging and Disability Resource Center Program (ADRC), a collaborative effort of AoA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is designed to streamline access to long-term care. The ADRC program provides states with an opportunity to effectively integrate the full range of long-term supports and services into a single, coordinated system. By simplifying access to long-term care systems, ADRCs and other single point of entry (SEP) systems are serving as the cornerstone for long-term care reform in many states.
AoA and CMS envision ADRCs as highly visible and trusted places available in every community across the country where people of all ages, incomes and disabilities go to get information on the full range of long-term support options.
Nationally, ADRC programs have taken important steps towards meeting AoA and CMS’s vision by
- creating a person-centered, community-based environment that promotes independence and dignity for individuals;
- providing easy access to information to assist consumers in exploring a full range of long-term support options; and
- providing resources and services that support the range of needs for family caregivers.
ADRCs target services to the elderly and at least one additional population of people with disabilities, including individuals with physical disabilities, serious mental illness, and/or developmental/intellectual disabilities. The ultimate goal of the ADRCs is to serve all individuals with long-term care needs regardless of their age or disability.
ADRC programs provide information and assistance to individuals needing either public or private resources, to professionals seeking assistance on behalf of their clients and to individuals planning for their future long-term care needs. ADRC programs also serve as the entry point to publicly administered long-term supports including those funded under Medicaid, the Older Americans Act and state revenue programs.
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Data Highlighting Services Provided to Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
AoA and CMS launched the ADRC initiative in the fall of 2003. As of October 2008, there are 175 ADRC demonstration sites across the nation, serving 90 million residents. Since the inception of this initiative, ADRCs have had over 3 million contacts, which includes consumers, caregivers, providers and professionals. 21 states have appropriated state funding to support ADRC programs, staff and functions. Twelve states offer their ADRC services statewide.
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Resources and Useful Links
The ADRC Technical Assistance Exchange (TAE) provides training and technical assistance to states working on ADRC or other SEP programs. The ADRC TAE website, www.adrc-tae.org, includes summary information on state efforts, a variety of resources related to the development and implementation of ADRC/SEP programs, and provides a forum for peer-to-peer information exchange on policy and program issues. The ADRC TAE also provides direct technical assistance to states and communities as they develop, implement and evaluate their ADRC/SEP projects.
The documents below provide additional background information on the Aging and disability Resource Center Grant Program.
CMS funding for the ADRC program comes from the Real Choice Systems Change Initiative. For more information on CMS funding for the ADRC program and other Real Choice Systems Change grant opportunities, go to
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/RealChoice/02_WhatsNew.asp.
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| Last Modified: 1/12/2009 2:44:12 PM |
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