REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) will be contracting for the
Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program in State Fiscal Year 2013, effective July 1,
2012. See attached job description program details.

Interested parties must compete for a contract in a Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
Only one applicant will be selected to provide services within Lewis, Mason and Thurston
Counties. Contracts are awarded on a state fiscal year, with an annual option to renew up to three (3) additional years, at the discretion of LMTAAA. The parties to an awarded contract are LMTAAA and the contracting entity.

LMTAAA is an Equal Opportunity Agency. Veteran, minority and woman-owned businesses are encouraged to apply. LMTAAA reserves the right to reject any or all submittals and to waive irregularities.

See announcement memo for more detailed information.

To be considered, a completed RFP Response must be received no later than February 17, 2012. Interested parties may request an RFP packet by calling (360) 664-2168.

Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Announcement

The Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) will be contracting for supportive services provided to family caregivers funded by the Older American’s Act Family Caregiver Support Program and State Family Caregiver Support Program in 2012.  Services will be provided in Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties.

LMTAAA is conducting a non-competitive Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to identify qualified providers of:

1) Out of Home Respite Care;

2) Level 3 (Skilled Nursing) In-Home Respite Care; and

3) Family Caregiver Counseling Services

Respite Care services relieve unpaid family caregivers by providing temporary care or supervision to adults with a functional disability. Out of Home Respite Care providers may include nursing homes, adult day care or adult day health centers, hospitals, and licensed residential care facilities such as boarding homes, adult family homes and assisted living facilities.  Nursing homes providing Respite Care must be licensed and comply with WAC 388-97-1880.  Adult Day Services must comply with WAC 388-71-0772 through 388-71-0076.

Level 3 In-Home Respite Care is provided only by a licensed health practitioner (LPN or RN) in the care recipient’s home.  LPNs or RNs contracted for this service may be employed by a home health agency or as sole proprietors.

Family Caregiver Counseling provides individual emotional support, mental health intervention and improved coping skills for the family caregiver.  Counseling services are short term and solution-focused and include identifying the caregiver’s personal strengths and abilities and affirming their efforts.  At a minimum, providers must be licensed in the state of Washington as one of the following:

• Mental Health Counselor
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• Clinical Social Worker
• Psychologist

This procurement is a non-competitive process. Services will be provided by several vendors at a rate established in the contract and clients will have the choice of vendor. The RFQ will require each applicant to provide information demonstrating minimum qualifications. Those applicants who submit RFQ Responses demonstrating minimum qualifications shall be awarded a contract. Contracts are awarded on an annual basis, with an annual option to renew up to three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of LMTAAA.

LMTAAA is an Equal Opportunity Agency. Minority and woman-owned entities are encouraged to apply. LMTAAA reserves the right to reject any or all submittals and to waive irregularities.

Interested entities may request a Family Caregiver Support Services RFQ packet by calling (360) 664-2168. Completed RFQ responses are due to LMTAAA on January 23, 2012.

Area Code Scam Alert

There are three area codes that if you call any number in that code area,  you will get charged large sums of money on you phone bill.  So far the we have seen $70.00 charges for just few seconds of phone time.

The scam starts when a caller leaves a message that you have won a prize and to call the number for more information.  When you call the area code the person stalls you as long as they can which causes the cost to rise.

This scam has been around for a while and there have been reports of phone bills up to $1200.00 for one call.  In the past the caller would claim that one of your relatives is injured and needs help.  They ask you to call the number.  When you call you are again stalled as long as they can and put you on hold for an extended period of time while they “transfer” the call to your relative.

So far there are three area codes to watch out for.  They are 809, 876 and 284.  The area codes are out of Jamaica and seem to be set up just for the purpose of the scam.  They use collection agencies in the US to collect on the bill and they will affect your credit if the bill is not paid.

The LMTAAA office in Shelton has moved to a new location!

Google Maps

NEW ADDRESS:

628 W Alder Street
Shelton, WA 98584

Flu vaccine is already available for this upcoming influenza season. Please help spread the word about how to protect older adults against this potentially serious illness.

According to reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year the majority of hospitalizations and deaths from flu and pneumonia-related causes involve people aged 65 years and older. Flu and pneumonia shots can decrease the rate of hospitalizations and deaths from these diseases.

Flu and Pneumonia Resources 2011