By VICKIE JAMBON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Dealing with an Alzheimer’s patient can be a very emotional, burdensome task. A local LaPlace agency assists Alzheimer’s patients with day-to-day activities, providing rest and relaxation for family members.

An Angel’s Touch of the River Region Inc. administers programs in conjunction with Medicaid, the Council on Aging and the Veterans Administration to offer an excellent level of care to individuals in need of medical attention and to provide relief and encouragement to the convalescent’s relatives and loved ones.

Angel’s Touch provides Home and Community-Based Services Waivers (HCBS) as an alternative to nursing home long-term care. HCBS Waivers provide supplemental support and services to eligible individuals in a home and community-based setting.

Long Term Personal Care (PCS), Elderly and Disabled Waivers (EDA Waivers) and Personal Care Waivers (PCA Waivers) are state programs reimbursed by Medicaid.

HCBS Waivers provide assistance with daily living activities, which include tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toiletry, medication reminders and personal emergency response systems.

They also provide additional services such as light housekeeping, food preparation, grocery shopping, laundry, accompanying the recipient to medical appointments and helping the patient access transportation.

Individuals must meet specific age, disability and nursing facility level of care criteria/requirements, as well as meet Medicaid financial eligibility requirements.

An Alzheimer’s patient may be eligible for PCS and EDA Waivers if they are a Medicaid recipient that is 65 years of age or older, or 21 years of age or older and deemed disabled by Medicaid standards or the Social Security Administration disability criteria. Patients 55-years-of age or younger may qualify for PCA Waivers.

Jacquelyn Levy, Intake Coordinator for Angel’s Touch said her organization will supply up to 56 hours per week in-home care for Alzheimer patients who qualify for HCBS Waivers.

“The need is there. Our programs are designed to keep patients at home. It costs less to house people at home than in a nursing facility,” said Levy.

Kenneth Victor, Administrator for Angel’s Touch, said his organization supplies three to four hours of service each week for individuals qualified to receive City Service and in-house Respite Care programs provided by the Council on Aging (C.O.A.) and the Veterans Administration (VA).

C.O.A. services are provided by the parish and VA services are provided by the federal government.

Victor said some private insurance providers, such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, will cover in-home, personal care services.

Quality Administrator Quality Improvement Provider Corinne Bardell said Angel’s Touch provides family members a much needed break.

“We provide that little break to give the family time to cope with their loved one’s illness,” said Bardell. “It makes things a little easier for them. When you deal with an Alzheimer’s patient on a daily basis, your emotions build up. Family members need a break so that resentment and anger will not build.”

To request additional information on HCBS Waivers, contact the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Community Support Services (BCSS) statewide toll free help line at 1-800-660-0488 or visit the BCSS web address, located at http://www.dhh.state.la.us/BCSS/index.htm. They will help you determine if these services will work for you.