Fulfilling the Promise for Community Living

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Fulfilling the Promise for Community Living

• Bergen NJ EASE

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Purpose

• FAMILIARIZE CONFERENCE ATTENDEES OF THE BENEFITS
  OF A COORDINATED INFORMATION SERVICE ACCESS
  SYSTEM

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NJ EASE

• A CONSUMER FOCUSED STATEWIDE SYSTEM THAT AIDS
  ACCESS TO INFORMATION SERVICES FOR OLDER NEW
  JERSEY CITIZENS AND THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THEM
• PROMOTES INFORMED PERSONAL CHOICE, DIGNITY AND
  THE USE OF HIGH-QUALITY COST-EFFECTIVE SERVICES

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NJ EASE

• UMBRELLA UNDER WHICH ALL SERVICES FOR SENIORS
  THEIR CAREGIVERS ARE COORDINATED
• CONSUMERS ARE ENTITLED TO INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE
  AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT
• CONSUMERS ARE ENTITLED TO CARE PLANNING CARE
  MANAGEMENT SERVICES

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NJ EASE Care Management

• A CONSUMER FOCUSED, COLLABORATIVE PROCESS
• ASSESSES INDIVIDUALS NEEDS
• PLANS, IMPLEMENTS, COORDINATES, MONITORS
  EVALUATES OPTIONS SERVICES
• FORMAL INFORMAL RESOURCES ARE UTILIZED

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NJ EASE Care Management

• PROMOTES THE ABILITY OF THE OLDER ADULT AND THEIR
  CAREGIVER (S) TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS
  ADDRESSING PERSONAL NEEDS
• ALL SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE SYSTEM MUST
  ADHERE TO NJ EASE CARE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

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What is Bergen NJ EASE?

• A COORDINATED SYSTEM DESIGNED TO SIMPLIFY ACCESS
  TO SERVICES NEEDED BY OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH
  DISABILITIES OVER THE AGE OF 18 AND CAREGIVERS

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What is Bergen NJ EASE?

• A STATE AND COUNTY INITIATIVE DEVELOPED IN
  PARTNERSHIP WITH A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY BASED
  ORGANIZATIONS

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What is Bergen NJ EASE?

• A REFINED SYSTEM FOR OLDER ADULTS, INDIVIDUALS
  WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS TO LEARN
  ABOUT AND RECEIVE SERVICES

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Who Benefits from Bergen NJ EASE?

• ADULTS 60 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
• ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
• CAREGIVERS
• HUMAN SERVICES HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
• FUNDING ENTITIES PLANNING BODIES

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What Assistance is Available through Bergen NJ
EASE?

• GENERAL INFORMATION IN AREAS SUCH AS PAAD,
  LIFELINE, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, ADULT DAY CARE,
  NUTRITION, EDUCATIONAL RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS,
  VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND HEALTH PROMOTIONS

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What Assistance is Available through Bergen NJ
EASE?

• ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING APPLICATIONS FOR
  SERVICES
• REFERRALS TO OTHER AGENCIES AND HELP IN
  CONTACTING THEM
• BENEFITS SCREENING FOR PROGRAMS WITH INCOME AND
  RESOURCE LIMITS

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What Assistance is Available through Bergen NJ
EASE?

• IN-HOME COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS CONDUCTED BY A
  TRAINED CARE MANAGER TO DETERMINE AN INDIVIDUALS
  NEED FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
• DEVELOPMENT OF CARE PLAN TO IDENTIFY AND ARRANGE
  FOR SERVICES

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What Assistance is Available through Bergen NJ
EASE?

• HOME VISITS TO HELP WITH PAPERWORK OR TO CHECK ON
  EASE CONSUMERS WHO MAY BE HAVING TROUBLE TAKING
  CARE OF THEMSELVES

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What Assistance is Available through Bergen NJ
EASE?

• ASSISTANCE BY A CARE MANAGER TO OBTAIN AND
  MONITOR SERVICES AND TO ADJUST THE INDIVIDUALS
  CARE PLANS AS NEEDED

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How Does One Access Services Through Bergen NJ
EASE?

• CALL 1-877-222-3737 OR 1-888-263-3273
• CONTACT ANY OF THE EASE ACCESS POINT PROVIDERS

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Who Are the EASE Partners?

• TRAINED ACCESS SPECIALISTS FROM BERGEN COUNTY
  DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES, DIVISION ON
  DISABILITY SERVICES, CARE PLUS, INC., MARTIN
  LUTHER KING JR. COUNTY ADMINISTERED SENIOR
  ACTIVITY CENTERS

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Who Are the EASE Partners?

• EASE CARE MANAGERS FROM CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
  SERVICES, FAMILY SOCIAL SERVICES FEDERATION,
  JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES, BERGEN REGIONAL MEDICAL
  CENTER AND HEIGHTENED INDEPENDENCE PROGRESS
  (CIL)

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What Are the Funding Elements of Bergen NJ EASE?

• OLDER AMERICANS ACT AREA PLAN FUNDING
• BERGEN COUNTY PEER GROUPING DOLLARS
• MEDICAID WAIVER FUNDS

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What Are the Funding Elements of Bergen NJ EASE?

• NJ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SENIOR SERVICES
• ENHANCED COORDINATION OF CURRENT FUNDED DIRECT
  SERVICE PROGRAMS
• PRIVATE AGENCY FUNDS AND GRANTS

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What Are The Preliminary Steps To Establish A
System?

• IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDERS EXISTING PROVIDERS
• ESTABLISH A PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT WORKGROUP
• WRITE PROTOCOLS WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME
• TEST MODIFY PROTOCOLS
• PUBLICLY LAUNCH SYSTEM

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What To Expect As The System Develops?

• NEED TO INCREASE NUMBER OF ACCESS POINTS
• REFINE SYSTEM BASED ON QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
  MEASURES
• THROUGH SERVICE GAP IDENTIFICATION, ADJUST SYSTEM
  TO ADDRESS UNMET NEEDS