Connections to Community Living
Information for Consumers
Connections to Community Living is a DHS, Division of Long Term Care
initiative to help support choice to live in the community for
individuals currently living in nursing homes or other institutional
settings. The main goal of the Department is making community living a
success, by integrating long-term services and supports with health care
and housing while building on the promise of equality and full
participation for all.
The nursing home staff is required to ask you questions about your
care. Some conversations you may have include the following:
- “Do you want to talk to someone about the possibility of
returning to the community?” Saying “yes” tells the staff you
want more information about the possibility of living in the
community.
- Returning to the community is an opportunity for you to live in
a house, an apartment, or another appropriate community setting to
get the necessary care and services that would otherwise be provided
in the nursing home. If you say “yes,” it doesn’t mean you have
to leave the nursing home or guarantee that you’ll be able to move
back to the community.
- The staff will regularly ask this question, since your needs and
the services available in the community may change over time.
- What will happen if I ask to speak to someone about returning
to the community? The nursing home staff will contact the Aging
and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for community living. The ADRC
will call or visit you to learn what services and support you need.
Then, they’ll look into available services (like help with your
personal and medical care) and programs that may help pay for these
services. If the services and support you need are available, you
still decide whether or not to start the plan to leave the nursing
home.
- You can change your mind about leaving the nursing home at any
time.
Some counties have been identified as areas with large numbers of
Medicaid funded nursing home residents (PDF
46 KB). In those areas the state will assign
Community Living Specialists (CLS) to assist the ADRC with outreach and
information to nursing home residents and nursing homes staff.
Links to helpful resources:
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Last Revised: January 31, 2013 |
