Provision of Title III Services Policy #4: Supportive Services

This content is part of a public comment period. For more information, refer to Minnesota Board on Aging – State Plan on Aging.

Authority Reference	Older Americans Act Section 321 45 CFR 1321.85
Operating Category	Provision of Title III Services

Policy

1. Supportive Services are essential services to help older Minnesotans live at home and in the community.

2. For purposes of this policy, Supportive Services are those services funded through Title III-B funds and include the following:

A. Chore

B. Homemaker

C. Assisted Transportation

D. Transportation

E. Legal Assistance

F. Information and Assistance

G. Self-Directed Supportive Services

H. Home Modification

I. Consumable Supplies

J. Consultation

K. Counseling

L. Education/Training

M. Community Legal Education

N. Outreach

O. Special Access

P. Technology

Q. Telephone Reassurance

R.Visiting

3. AAAs should refer to Provision of Title III Services Policy #1: A Listing and Definitions of Allowable Services for more information about these services.

4. Eligibility for supportive services includes individuals who are 60 years of age or older.

5. For those Title III, part B services intended to benefit family caregivers, MBA and AAAs shall ensure there is coordination and no inappropriate duplication of such services available under Title III, part E.

6. Home Modification

A. Home Modifications are those services provided to an older adult (60+) that are necessary to ensure the health and safety of an individual or that enables the individual to function with greater independence in their home and are not available under other programs. Not more than $500.00 of Older Americans Act Title III B funding, per participant/project, may be expended without a waiver request (which, if approved, can only fund projects up to a $1,000 maximum).

Home modification projects may include:

· 1. Home safety devices such as:
- Door alarms
- Smoke detectors and/or Carbon Monoxide detectors
- Anti-scald devices
- Hand-held shower head
- Grab bars for the bathroom

· Adaptive door openers (i.e. replacing doorknobs with levers) and locks

· Handrails (for stair or hallway)

B. Unit of service: one project

C. The following conditions apply to all home modification service(s):

· i. Home modifications are considered when the participant owns a home. Rented homes or apartments or family-owned homes are allowed to be modified only when a signed agreement from the property owner is obtained. The signed agreement must be kept by the provider/contractor, along with other documentation of the service provided.

· ii. Home modification projects must meet applicable Federal, state or local housing codes.

· iii. Must have permits as required for the type of modification being provided.

· iv. Providers/contractors of home modifications are to be licensed, bonded and insured.

· V. Area Agency on Aging (AAA)/providers must show that there has been a home modification assessment for each participant that supports the project. Some examples of assessment:
- American Occupation Therapy Association Rebuilding Together’s Safe At Home Checklist
- CAPABLE model

D. Home Modification with cost of 501.00 up to $1,000 per project (of Older Americans Act Title III funds)

Other larger/higher cost types of home modification will be considered on a case-by-case basis through a waiver approval provided by the Administration for Community Living (dated 5.4.2021) to the state unit on aging, Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA).

The AAA must apply for and receive a waiver, from MBA, for each individual project per the procedures outlined below:

Examples of such projects may include:

· i. Widening of doorways

· ii. Specialized electric and plumbing systems necessary to accommodate medical equipment and supplies

· iii. Floor coverings

· iv. Exterior ramp(s)

· v. Other modifications

For home modification projects above $500.00 per participant/project, the following apply in addition to the above requirements:

If an AAA has cause/substantial reason to believe a waiver above $500.00 per participant/project is required, the AAA may make a waiver request to the MBA Executive Director. (see procedure below). Waiver requests have a maximum of $1000.00 per participant/project. This level of waiver request will require a budget to substantiate the request along with documentation of the credentials of the provider to show that they are meeting housing code, licensing and permit requirements to provide the home modification requested under the waiver. Waivers must be requested for each project.

E. AAAs wishing to spend more than $500 for a home modification project must submit a waiver request as described below under “Procedures” and in MBA Operations Policy #9: Waiver Requests.

7. For information on Legal Services policies, please see Provision of Title III Services Policy #5: Legal Services.

Procedures

1. AAAs shall provide information in their proposed Area Plan about which Supportive Services they will make available and how they intend to make Supportive Services available throughout the PSA.

2. AAAs shall promote Title III-B services through their community-based partners to ensure populations with greatest social need and greatest economic need are aware of these services.

3. AAAs shall report utilization of registered support services through PeerPlace.and unregistered services through Grant Utility.

4. Home modification waiver requests to spend between $501 - $1,000 for a home modification project may be submitted by taking the following steps:

A. The AAA requesting a waiver must submit an email request to MBA.AreaPlan@state.mn.us, for creation of a Home Modification Waiver Follow Up in Foundant.

B. Once the Follow Up is assigned to the AAA, submit the completed Home Modification Waiver Follow Up request with appropriate required documents. (For a list of the questions that will be asked in the Follow Up, see below.)

C. AAAs should be prepared to provide the following information as part of the “follow up” request:

· i. Organization/Provider Name:

· ii. Older Americans Act Title III Contract number:

· iii. Anticipated total cost of project:
(Older Americans Act Title III funds may not exceed $1,000 per project)

· iv. Describe project being requested.

· v. What assessment(s) have been done to assure that the participant’s needs will be met through this project? How will this project enhance the client’s ability to remain at home?

· vi. For projects of $501 up to $1,000, of Older Americans Act Title III funds, the following additional information is to be attached to this request:
a. Project budget
b. Credentials of provider/contractor including contractor license number
c. Any other information that would support this request

D. MBA anticipates a 3-5 business day turnaround for waiver requests.