DOEA CARES Unit

CARES (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long Term Care Services)

is a Statewide program administered by the Department of Elder Affairs

CARES is a federally mandated nursing home pre-admission assessment program. Persons who are applying for Medicaid nursing home care are assessed by either a CARES nurse or social worker, with medical review by a physician prior to approval.

Goals of the CARES Unit include:

• Prevention of unnecessary or premature admission to a nursing home;
• More effective coordination of an individual's medical, social and psychological needs and resulting level of care;
• Referral and assistance in obtaining in-home and community services to avoid nursing home care; and
• Education of the public, particularly health care providers, about less costly alternatives to long term care.

CARES is the entry point for the Nursing Home Long-Term Care Diversion Program.

The Nursing Home Long-Term Care Diversion Program is a Medicaid Program designed for seniors who need help to remain at home or live in an assisted living facility. The program provides a wide range of services to make it easier for seniors to get the care needed to live independently in the community.

Eligibility:

* You must be 65 years of age or older.

* You must have Medicare Part A & B.

* Your income and assets must meet the levels required to be in a nursing home under Medicaid.

* You must require some help or supervision with 5 activities of daily living (ADL) such as bathing, dressing, walking, toileting, eating, transferring
OR require some help with 4 ADL plus require supervision of medications
OR require some help with 3 ADL and have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
OR require total help with 2 ADL
OR have a diagnosis of a degenerative or chronic condition requiring daily nursing services.

* You must be determined by the CARES Unit to be a person who, on the effective date of enrollment, can be safely served with home and community based services, in lieu of nursing home placement. This program is NOT designed to provide 24 hour care in the home.

PSA 5A - Pinellas County
David Hicks, Supervisor
11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 303
Largo, FL 33778
(727) 588-6882

PSA 5B - North Pinellas and Pasco Counties
Pati Anderson, Supervisor
2435 US Highway 19, Suite 340
Holiday, Florida 34691
(727) 943-4958

To learn more about the DOEA CARES Unit or to locate the CARES Unit in another area of Florida see the DOEA web site page for the CARES Units.