Services for Aging in Place

Care Coordination

Care Coordination is a service of LOA to help persons over age 60 remain as independent as possible for as long as possible.  Care Coordinators evaluate cases to determine which services are needed and link the person with those services. Another component of Care Coordination is Options Counseling which allows the senior to select and arrange the services of their choosing after meeting with a case manager.

“I’m pleased with LOA helping me to continue to live at home and the ability to remain independent and God has blessed me with the nice caregiving.” – LOA Client

This comprehensive program of acquiring and coordinating services and resources for seniors and their caregivers helps the senior to remain in their own home. 

We Help You…

    • Get through the complex red tape of government agencies.
    • Arrange for needed services.
    • Develop a plan for your independence.
    • Make sure that the services you get are what you want and need.

LOA Care Coordination begins with a phone call to one of LOA’s offices. We ask some basic information such as your name, age, and what sort of support you are looking for. We call this your “intake.”

If you need more than a referral to another agency or some basic information about available services, a case manager will come to your home and complete an “assessment.”

Your Assessment

When your case manager comes to visit, you can talk more about your lifestyle and the problems you are having; the kinds of help you already receive; and your sources of income. This confidential discussion is very important. It helps your case manager determine what additional kinds of services are available to you. Your case manager will ask you questions such as:

    • Can you get in and out of the bathtub on your own?
    • Can you cook your own meals?
  • What kinds of medication do your take?

Your Care Plan

A care plan is completed with input from you.  The care plan lists the services that will be provided and time frames as to when the service(s) may begin.  This is done with your agreement.  Services that may be arranged are explained and you may choose a provider based upon availability.  You can always contact your case manager to make changes as needed.  The arranged services may continue as long as they are needed and more services can be added when necessary.

Options Counseling

Options Counseling respects the rights of individuals to control and make choices about their own lives.  An LOA Options Counselor works with individuals and their families to determine goals for their care, action steps, resources needed and time lines to achieve these goals.  

Options counseling is a person-centered process that helps individuals and families explore their long-term services and supports, understand available resources, and make informed decisions based on their goals, preferences, values, and circumstances. Options counseling can also include support from family members, friends, or other support systems in the individuals life. The process can include multiple contacts over a short-term period or may be over a longer period of time. Rather than telling someone what they should do, an options counselor provides unbiased information, answers questions, and helps people weigh the benefits and challenges of different choices so they can decide what best fits their needs.  
 

What’s the Difference Between Care Coordination & Options Counseling?

 
A helpful way to think about the difference between options counseling and care coordination is to imagine planning a trip. An options counselor is like a travel consultant who helps you compare destinations, transportation, budgets, and accommodations, so you can choose the trip that best matches your goals. They provide information and guidance, but the decision is yours. A care coordinator, on the other hand, is like a travel agent who steps in after you’ve chosen your destination. They help arrange the flights, book the hotel, and make sure all the details come together so your plan can be carried out successfully. 
 
Options counseling focuses on decision-making and informed choices, while care coordination focuses on implementing and managing services once those decisions have been made. Both are very valuable services to have and can complement each other. However, depending on the individual circumstances and needs of a client, one may be a better fit. 
 
This support is available to individuals age 18 and over with a disability and to adults age 60 and over who request long-term supports and/or who are planning for the future regarding long term supports.

For more information about care coordination and options counseling call LOA:


Roanoke Valley (540) 345-0451
Alleghany Highlands (540) 962-0465
Botetourt County (540) 580-5085
Craig County (540) 864-6031

Toll-Free (888) 355-6222