Services

Although there is no set charge for most services, there are suggested donations set for all services.  Cost Sharing is in place for some programs as well.

Home Delivered Meals: Homebound seniors are eligible to receive a hot noon meal (delivered Monday through Friday) and if requested a cold night meal and frozen weekend meals.  These meals consist of a general, no added salt diet.  Through a doctor's order, a liquid diet can be provided.  There is a suggested donation of $2.00 per meal.  Service area covers Ionia and Montcalm Counties.

Congregate Meals: Several Friendship Dinner Sites are located in Ionia and Montcalm Counties to provide not only a noon meal, but also fellowship with other seniors.  Suggested donation of $2.00 per meal.

Home Health Aide: Provision of health-oriented services prescribed for an individual by a physician which may include: assistance with activities of daily living, assisting with a prescribed exercise regimen, supervising the individual's adherence to prescribed medication and/or special diets, changing non-sterile dressing, taking blood pressure, bathing, nail care, hair and skin care, and other health monitoring activities. Weekly visits made to clients residing in Ionia County.

Homemaker Aide: Performance of routine household tasks to maintain an adequate living environment for older individuals with functional limitations. Tasks such as laundry, vacuuming, mopping floors, and cleaning bathrooms are completed through every other week visits to clients residing in Ionia County.  Suggested donation $5.00 per hour.

Respite Care: Provision of companionship, supervision and/or assistance with activities of daily living for mentally or physically disabled and frail elderly persons in the absence of the primary care giver. Four hour visits made weekly to relieve primary care giver.  Aides are matched with the level of care needed.  Available to residents in Ionia County.  Cost share is in place.

Specialized Respite Care: Provision of respite care for companionship and/or supervision to relieve primary care giver. Either the dependent family member or the primary caregiver must be sixty (60) years of age or older. Four hour visits made weekly to relieve primary car giver. Available in Ionia County.

Transportation: A centrally-organized service for transportation of older persons and handicapped individuals of any age to and from community facilities in order to receive services, reduce isolation, and otherwise promote independent living. Medical needs will receive priority service, available to residents in Ionia County.  Suggested donation of $.30 per mile.

Outreach and Assistance:  Caseworkers identify, contact and provide on-going assistance to at-risk older adults, experiencing social, economic, functional and/or physical isolation and decline. Assistance can be given with insurance billings, Medicaid and Medicare questions, and identifying services in the community that would be of assistance to older individuals.

Socialization Activities:  Card playing (Bridge and Euchre) weekly Music jam session held every Thursday night at 6:45 pm.  Quilting group meeting monthly.  Volunteer help always needed.  Activities are announced in our monthly newsletter, which can be mailed to individuals upon request.

MMAP (Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program):  Caseworkers are available to assist with questions regarding these topics.  Assistance given in applying for Medicaid, and answering routine questions on insurance problems.

EPIC (Elder Prescription Insurance Coverage):  Available to seniors 65 or oder who are at 200% of poverty, who are not on full Medicaid or living in a nursing home, and who have no other prescription drug insurance.  Limited enrollment periods exist.  Those who are accepted are responsible for a monthly co-pay, which will not be any more than 20% of the total cost of the prescription.  Co-pays are based on income.

Information and Referral Services:  Assistance by caseworkers in locating appropriate agency to respond to client needs.