Residents of Lewis, Mason or Thurston County: Apply early for WA Cares. Join the interest list. Act Now.
We support unpaid family caregivers in Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties as they help adults experiencing brain change, disability, and more.
Preventing falls is a key part of maintaining independence for older adults. Through the Lewis Mason Thurston Falls Prevention Coalition, we join community partners to support this goal. Click the link for falls prevention tips, programs and more.
LMTAAA provides Medicaid case management for older adults and adults with disability who need support to stay in their own homes. We also provide guidance on financial and other eligibility requirements.
As a client, you can choose an agency care provider or an independent paid provider.
If you want an independent provider but are not sure who to hire, you can contact the Home Care Referral Registry (HCRR). The HCRR will provide a list of care providers. Then, you or your representative can interview professional caregivers to choose the person who best meets your needs. Working with your personal case manager, you will then authorize the provider of your choosing for payment before service starts.
This process begins at the Home and Community Services (HCS) division of the Department of Social and Health Services. Our Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) specialists can explain how it works and help you connect with the HCS office in your area. Simply call our main line for help at 360-664-2168.
In-home personal care options can include programs ranging from Medicaid Long-Term Care and Medicaid Alternative Care (MAC) to Tailored Supports for Older Adults (TSOA) and paid providers. Scroll down this page to see additional options.
If you want an independent provider, click the link below to connect with Consumer Direct Care Network Washington or call our main line and ask to speak to an ADRC specialist.
Services are available for grandparents or other relatives raising children. Help can include information and assistance, support groups, educational events, and emergency help.
Do you or someone you know live in a long-term care facility?
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program champions the interests, well-being, and rights of people who live in places like nursing homes, adult family homes, and assisted living facilities.
Volunteer certified Ombudsmen educate staff members, families, and the community about resident rights.
Volunteers are also available to provide resources and advocate for quality-of-life issues.
If the person you are caring for values independence, they are not alone.
We are focused on options that help adults living with disability or aging-related challenges stay home as long as possible.
If home is no longer an option, there are other choices.
We can provide resources and information about assisted living facilities, adult family homes, and skilled nursing facilities. Together, we can explore choices that respect the needs of the person receiving care.
Eating healthy or even sharing a meal with others can be tough on a fixed income.
We fund local partners that provide nutrition services for older adults, including group meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals, and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
While we do not directly coordinate food bank assistance, we can refer people to food banks when needed.
Do you or someone you care for have questions about Medicare or Medicaid? You are not alone. Here are the basics.
Medicare provides health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older and younger people with some disability. It includes programs that help cover hospital stays, preventative care, ambulance services, medical second opinions, and medications.
Medicaid is a federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. It also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, including nursing home care and personal care services. To receive Medicaid, people must meet income and medical requirements.
Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical and health services in the United States. Washington State consistently ranks as a top performer in Medicaid long-term care services.
MAC and TSOA are Medicaid-funded programs. They support unpaid caregivers and older adults in Washington State.
These programs offer a small benefit for in-home services based on care needs and preferences.
MAC and TSOA can provide no-cost services to unpaid family caregivers taking care of someone 55 years or older living with dementia, memory loss, or chronic health conditions.
If you are 55 years or older and do not have an unpaid caregiver, TSOA can also provide services at no cost.
Services may include, but are not limited to:
Call us at (360) 664-2168 (ext. 102) or email lmtfcspintake@dshs.wa.gov to learn more.
*Additional qualifications may be needed. Not subject to estate recovery.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers gives you the skills to take care of yourself while caring for someone else. By tending to your own health and well-being, you become a stronger caregiver.
Offered during select dates each year, the class meets once a week on Zoom for six sessions.
You will learn:
· Self-care tools to reduce personal stress
· How to change your self-talk
· Communication tools to express your needs to family and professionals
· How to communicate effectively in challenging situations
· Ways to work with emotions and difficult feelings
· Strategies for making tough caregiving decisions
Participants receive The Caregiver Helpbook to use during class as well as additional caregiving resources.
Interested in joining an upcoming session? Call us at 360-664-2168, extension 102.
LMTAAA funds local providers that offer transportation for adults living with disability and older adults age 60 and older. These rides help people get to important activities that support quality of life.
Examples include:
We can refer people to transportation services throughout Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties.
The STAR-C program, designed by the University of Washington, helps family caregivers who support someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
In STAR-C, you meet one-on-one with a caregiving coach over several weekly sessions. You'll learn how to decrease problem behaviors and reflect on your own responses.
As a STAR-C coach puts it, “We will work together as a team using tools that have been shown to reduce difficult behaviors in the person living with dementia and decrease stress in the person helping them. This involves breaking down behaviors and trying new strategies."
Powered by Trualta, the Washington Family Caregiver Learning Portal is free to all unpaid family caregivers. You can use it on a laptop, tablet or smart phone with internet access.
Designed for families, support includes:
• Articles
• Videos
• Tip Sheets
• Webinars
• Online Chat Rooms and Support Groups
It can help family caregivers to:
• Reduce Stress
• Find Local Resources
• Provide More Informed Care
