The First Step program offered by the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA) recently received an Aging Innovations Award from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a). This is the highest honor presented by n4a to member agencies. CPAAA also received the Aging Achievement Award for their partnership with local universities to extend Medicare Counseling services. Both awards were presented at the n4a Annual Conference & Tradeshow in Savannah, GA.
First Step facilitates a safe and smooth transition back to the community with limited in home services after an individual is discharged from an acute care hospital, rehab, nursing home, or upon referral/discharge from a Medicare home health agency. According to Annette Graham, Executive Director of CPAAA, “without this transition program many people couldn’t return home safely. These clients receive care management, in home services, and future needs planning.”
This year’s Aging Achievement Award winning program was developed in 2014 when volunteer opportunities were developed by CPAAA for students in KU School of Pharmacy and Wichita State School of Social Work. Students trained through the local Senior Health Insurance Counseling of Kansas program to offer Medicare counseling during Medicare open enrollment.
“CPAAA can serve more people during open enrollment with this partnership in place and, as a result, the students better understand Medicare Part-D and gain an understanding of the real life situations seniors face related to medication, personal expenses, and personal decisions” explained Graham. The 2017 n4a Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards recognizes Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Title VI Native American aging programs that develop and implement cutting-edge approaches to support older adults, people with disabilities and their family caregivers. A part of the criteria for the selection of the honorees was the ease with which other agencies could replicate the program in their communities.