Home & Family

HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES–Improve funding for key home and community- based long-term care programs that help seniors stay in their homes and remain independent. South Carolina ranked 4th in the nation for the most seniors 60 and older at risk of hunger. Now we must fight for Lt. Governor Glenn McConnell’s request for $4.7 million so that older folks will not go hungry or miss their doctor’s appointments.

Thousands of poor South Carolinian's with disabilities continue to live in grossly inadequate conditions in community residential care facilities (CRCFs) across the state. April 9, 2013 Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. (P&A) released Still…No Place to Call Home, an update of its 2009 report, No Place to Call Home. The new report documents conditions at 14 CRCFs across the state. The report’s findings reveal continued lack of oversight of facilities that are dirty, provide inadequate food, do not administer medications correctly, violate residents’ rights, and do not provide protection from potential harm.

What are home- and community-based services? Home- and community-based services (HCBS) prevent or delay frail seniors and persons with disabilities from being admitted to nursing homes. Services include such assistance as personal care aides, adult day services, transportation, home-delivered meals, congregate meals, nutrition education, respite care and other services.

If you would like to attend a free AARP seminar to learn about options that can help you have a comfortable and safe home as you age, p lease register at this link. You will need to click through the story to get to the active registration link. The seminar will be held on Monday, March 18 at 1:00 pm at the Capital Center Center 1650 Park Circle at Maxy Greg Park.

Learn how AARP helps Saluda River Academy for the Arts with its snack pack program. They are always looking for volunteers to help and the benefits are great. This month's edition of IMARA Woman magazine profiles the project and helps you see the issue of hunger through the eyes of a child.

The purpose of the South Carolina Long Term Care ombudsman program is to improve the quality of life and quality of care of all residents in long-term care facilities in South Carolina.