PROGRAMS: MEDICAID/MEDICARE/AREA AGENCIES ON AGING

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PACE and GUIDE are Medicare programs created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to support older adults and their families. PACE helps people age 55+ with higher care needs stay safely in the community with all-inclusive medical and support services, while GUIDE focuses on improving dementia care and supporting caregivers through coordinated, compassionate guidance.

The SHIP Program (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free, unbiased help for older adults and families trying to understand Medicare. SHIP counselors can help explain coverage options, compare plans, answer billing questions, and guide families through the often confusing world of Medicare decisions.

The PACE Program (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a Medicare and Medicaid program that helps older adults receive medical care, therapy, social support, and daily assistance while continuing to live at home instead of moving into a nursing facility. PACE combines healthcare and long-term care services into one coordinated program designed to support both seniors and their caregivers.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) are federally funded local organizations that help older adults and their families connect with important support services in their community. They can assist with resources like meal delivery, transportation, caregiver support, respite care, benefits counseling, and programs that help seniors remain safer and more independent at home.

Medicaid’s 5-year look-back period is a financial review used when someone applies for long-term care Medicaid coverage. During this process, Medicaid examines financial transactions and asset transfers made within the previous five years to determine whether assets were gifted or transferred in a way that could affect eligibility for benefits.