C.A.R.E. stands for client, assessment, referral and evaluation.  This program was started in 1994 by the Kansas Legislature.  Everyone seeking admission to a nursing facility after January 1, 1995 has to be assessed by a Kansas Department on Aging, trained assessor.  Some of these assessments are done by hospital social workers prior to discharge from the hospital,  some are done in the community at the persons home by our Area Agency on Aging staff.  The purpose of the assessment is to help people fine appropriate long term care services and to collect data on the need for in home services—helping illustrate where gaps in funding might be. 

Upon making the decision to seek care in a nursing facility you must request a CARE assessment to be completed.  This request would be made of the discharge planner/social worker at a hospital or through our office at 1-800-633-5621.  The assessment is a face to face visit with the person and their family as appropriate.  The assessment can take about an hour.  The first part of the assessment is comprised of questions relating to basic information such as date of birth, address, phone etc.  The second part of the assessment speaks to any diagnosis of mental illness or developmental disabilities that may be present along with any treatment history for that diagnosis.  This may trigger a second evaluation if documentation warrants.  The third part of the assessment details what types of assistance the person needs with daily living skills and activities of daily living.  These include such things as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, shopping etc.  This data assists the assessor in discussions of what types of services may help meet the needs and help facilitate referrals to those services.

Once this assessment is completed the assessor will give a copy of the assessment to the person and/or their family.  The ECKAAA office has the responsibility of keeping the original assessment on file in the event a copy is needed at some point.  The Care certificate page is the page that states the person was assessed, and what decision was made about placement in a nursing facility or if placement was diverted or delayed and community based options were chosen.  It is at this point that any referrals for services will be offered to the person and if needed, a referral will be made for a second assessment to further document issues/care for any mental illness or developmentally disabled diagnoses.

The data from this assessment is entered into a state wide database and is used by the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to determine eligibility for Kansas Medicaid if this program is applied for to help pay for nursing facility care.

If you have need of an assessment or just have questions please call us at (800) 633-5621 and ask for Vicki Seems, Care Coordinator.