The Community First Choice (CFC) program is a joint state and federal initiative that provides Medicaid reimbursement to low-income assisted living residents for assistance with activities of daily living, such as grooming, mobility, and basic household chores. It also offers various payment options and financial assistance programs to help care for older people, whether they are in residential facilities or at home. The services provided by this program include assistance with tasks of daily living, therapy, and transitional care services. In addition, authorized personnel can provide direct assistance with medications if a resident is unable to take them on their own.
The Community First Choice exemption is a federal Medicaid program that provides services to elderly individuals who live at home, in the community, or in an assisted living or memory care facility. The AAACAP Long Term Care Ombudsman Program offers friendly support and assistance to people living in nursing care or assisted living facilities. To be eligible for Medicaid exemption benefits in Texas, older people must reside in a type B ALF and require a level of nursing care. In addition to meeting income and asset criteria, applicants must also have a functional need for care that requires a level of nursing care that is provided in a nursing home or residential assisted living facility.
The state of Texas also has a program that provides assistance to older people who don't qualify for Medicaid. All ALFs in Texas, including memory care centers, must have a service plan for new residents within 14 days of their admission. AAACAP benefit counselors are available to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate the federal program's open enrollment process. The following are resources for those living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, their families, or volunteer ombudsmen.
Staff members in memory care units or centers receive specialized training in caring for people with memory problems. Centers often coordinate social activities and schedules specifically for the needs of people living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Staff at Texas memory care centers can help residents manage medications, as long as they have a current medication assistant license and are acting under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. Each facility must ensure that it employs sufficient staff to maintain order, safety and cleanliness within the center at all times and to provide assistance in emergency situations, including evacuation.
Turco specializes in working with people living with dementia, motivating them through music programs and meaningful activities, as well as being a support system for families. In Texas, there is no law that establishes a required staff-to-resident ratio in middle schools or memory care centers; however, every facility must have at least one on-call administrator at all times who is responsible for overseeing staff and ensuring that all of the residents' needs are met.
