Programs and Services
Dementia Care
The NCTAAA serves people with memory loss or dementia, their family caregivers, and professionals. Dementia-specific services provided by its staff include the following.
- Help finding community resources
- Advice on responding to challenging behaviors
- Help understanding Medicare and Medicaid services and eligibility
- Information to help people choose nursing and assisted living facilities and understand programs that can help pay for care
- One-on-one education and support through Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers’ Health (REACH)
- Temporary case management services through the Care Coordination and Caregiver Support Coordination programs
- Brain health/dementia screening and referrals
- Depression screening and counseling for people living with dementia and their family caregivers
- Group education for older adults, family caregivers, and professionals on the following topics
- Brain health
- Signs and symptoms of dementia
- Getting an accurate diagnosis
- Managing dementia-related behaviors
- Dealing with caregiver stress
- Getting paid as a family caregiver
- The new GUIDE benefit for people with traditional Medicare
To request a presentation, complete the Request for Dementia Presentations on Resources and Education form.
For more information contact an NCTAAA Dementia Resource Specialist.
The NCTAAA also provides funding to the following organizations to support those who care for family members or friends with dementia.
Alzheimer’s Association
Provides caregiver information and support
Call 800-272-3900
James L. West Center for Dementia Care
Conducts workshops on dealing with dementia and Stress-Busting for Family Caregivers
Contact Jaime Cobb Tinsley at 817-877-1199 or jcobb@jameslwest.org
Mascari Corporation
Conducts training programs on various aging and caregiving issues
To be added to the distribution list for training opportunities, email to marty@ntads.net
Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County
Provides education to family caregivers
Call 972-771-9514
Senior Source
Provides caregiver information and support
Contact Kimberly Knight at 214-823-5700 or kknight@theseniorsource.org
Wellness Center for Older Adults
Provides individual and group counseling to caregivers and hosts a Memory Café for people living with dementia and their family caregivers
Call 972-953-7669
Z-Quest
Maintains Family Caregivers Online and coordinates WellMed’s Teleconnections virtual education and support programs
Home by Choice
The Home by Choice program helps long-term residents of nursing facilities return to independent living. Its relocation specialists arrange housing (e.g., move in with family, get apartments of their own, or move to assisted living facilities), apply for transition grants to pay for expenses such as security/utility deposits, essential furniture, and start-up groceries. They also set up other community services that are not paid by the Medicaid program.
To qualify, a resident must be approved for nursing home Medicaid and receive Medicaid benefits through Molina, United or Wellpoint.
For more information about Home by Choice, contact Tamara Busby at tbusby@nctcog.org or 817-608-2396.
The North Central Texas Aging and Disability Resource Center also has a program that helps nursing home residents without Medicaid connect with community-based services. For more information, contact options counselor Kelley Kaiser at kkaiser@nctcog.org or 817-695-9212.
Medicare Information and Legal/Advocacy Help
Benefits counselors help those who get Medicare benefits and those who will be getting Medicare benefits soon get the most from their Medicare coverage. They can:
- Explain what Medicare covers
- Help choose between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Compare Medicare supplements
- Compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
- Help those who qualify for Medicare savings programs and low-income subsidies fill out application forms
- Explain eligibility for Medicaid benefits, including SNAP and nursing home Medicaid
- Provide information about Qualifying Income Trusts for those with incomes above the nursing home Medicaid income limits
- Provide information about alternatives to guardianship, including Health Care Power of Attorney
- Explain how to detect, report, and avoid Medicare fraud
- Provide information about consumer rights
- Provide referrals to attorneys
Staff Benefits Counselors
Staff and volunteer benefits counselors provide help over the phone and at local clinics. As their schedules allow, they make presentations to groups throughout the 14-county service area. To request a presentation, email SHIP@nctcog.org.
The NCTAAA is recruiting volunteers to serve as certified benefits counselors. Volunteers must complete 25 hours of training and can choose when and how they volunteer. For more information, contact Melinda Gardner at mgardner@nctcog.org or 817-817-695-9122.
Transportation
The NCTAAA contracts with local organizations to provide limited transportation for people aged 60 and over who need transportation within Collin, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Kaufman, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, and Wise counties. For more information, contact the organization that serves your county.
The NCTAAA also has a Senior Rides program that pays for out-of-county medical transportation for older residents of Hood and Somervell County. Contact Marsha Hayford at mhayford@nctcog.org or 817-695-9224 for more information.
Call 855-937-2372 to see what other transportation programs may be available.
Healthy Living Programs
The NCTAAA sponsors several Healthy Living programs to help older adults reduce their fall risk and manage ongoing conditions.
A Matter of Balance – A series of eight small-group workshops that help participants reduce their fall risk and overcome fear of falling
Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention – A series of 16 small-group workshops that help participants increase their balance and flexibility
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program – A series of six small-group workshops that help participants manage ongoing health conditions
Diabetes Self-Management Program – A series of six small-group workshops that help participants manage diabetes or avoid pre-diabetes developing into diabetes
For more information about the above programs, including becoming a volunteer for A Matter of Balance and Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, contact Kim Mathis at kmathis@nctcog.org or 940-999-1024.
PEARLS – One-on-one support for people who are experiencing depression or persistent sadness. For more information, contact Doni Green at dgreen@nctcog.org or 817-695-9193.
Referrals
The NCTAAA has an open referral system and accepts referrals from those who are looking for services for themselves, a family member/friend, or a patient/client. Call 800-272-3921 to see what services are available and make a referral.
The NCTAAA accepts referrals for Care Coordination and Caregiver Support Coordination services by phone at 800-272-3921. Requesters may also complete download the screening and intake forms below and fax them to 940-222-4171 or mail them to NCTAAA, P.O. Box 5888, Arlington, TX 76005-5888.
Care Coordination
The Care Coordination program provides goods and services (medical equipment and supplies, housekeeping and personal care services, accessibility-related home repairs, and leasing of emergency responsive devices) to people who are at least 60 years of age.
Care Coordination Screening Criteria Form
Care Coordination Intake/Referral Form
Caregiver Support
The Caregiver Support program provides goods and services (medical equipment and supplies, respite care, accessibility-related home repairs, and leasing of emergency responsive devices) to family caregivers, including:
- Informal caregivers of people aged 60
- Informal caregivers aged 55+ who live with and care for family members who are aged 19-59 and have disabilities
- Informal caregivers aged 55+ who live with and have primary custody of grandchildren or other relatives who are not biological children aged 18 and younger
Caregiver Support Coordination Screening Criteria Form
Complete page 1 only to refer someone who cares for a person aged 60+. Complete page 2 only to refer someone who is at least 55 years old and cares for a young adult who lives in the home and/or a minor who is not a biological child.