Connecticut State Services for Seniors
Below is an extensive listing of state programs serving the health and welfare needs of our senior population:
Connecticut state's Area Agencies on Aging provide assistance with senior benefit programs, social security, Medicare, eligibility for low-income senior programs including home and community services (some states will provide part-time caregiving in the home through their home and community services program), along with:
- Transportation
- Home-delivered Meals
- Prescription Drug Programs
- Healthy Aging Programs
- Case Management
- Caregiver Training
- Senior Activities
- Support Groups
- Volunteering
HUSKY Health (Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Program)
HUSKY Health is the State of Connecticut’s public health coverage program for eligible children, parents, relative caregivers, elders, individuals with disabilities, adults without children, and pregnant women. Eligibility criteria vary.
HUSKY Health encompasses: HUSKY A (Medicaid for children/parents/relative caregivers/pregnant women); HUSKY B (non-Medicaid Children’s Health Insurance Program); HUSKY C (Medicaid for the Aged/Blind/Disabled, also known as Title 19 and including Long-Term Care services); and HUSKY D (Medicaid for Low-Income Adults).
CHOICES -- Connecticut’s program for Health insurance assistance, Outreach, Information and referral, Counseling, Eligibility Screening
Provides information to persons age 60 and older and persons with disabilities, and is a cooperative program of the Department of Social Services, the Area Agencies on Aging, and the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Administered by Department on Aging.
Connecticut Home Care for Elders (CHCPE)
This program provides services to help eligible residents live in the community. Eligible applicants must be 65 years of age or older, be at risk of nursing home placement and meet the program’s financial eligibility criteria. To be at risk of nursing home placement means that the applicant needs assistance with critical needs such as bathing, dressing, eating, taking medications and toileting. CHCPE helps clients continue living at home instead of going to a nursing home. Each applicant’s needs are reviewed to determine if he/she may remain at home with the help of home care services.
Community Options (Medicaid waivers), including Personal Care Assistance, Acquired Brain Injury, Katie Beckett, Department of Developmental Services, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
If you or a loved one are in an institutionalized setting, such as a nursing home, and would like to learn more about your options to move to the community, Connecticut’s Money Follows the Person program may be able to help. The state offers assessment, case management and transition services to assist people based on their individual needs.
There are three Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) that help you pay for your Medicare Part B premiums. They are the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program (QMB), the Special Low Income Medicare Beneficiary program (SLMB) and the Additional Low Income Medicare Beneficiary program (ALMB). A household’s income determines which category they qualify for. All three programs pay Medicare Part B premiums. QMB also pays Medicare co-pays and deductibles on Medicare-covered services. It does not cost anything to apply for or receive benefits from this program.
Alzheimer's Respite Care Program
This program offers relief to stressed caregivers by providing information, support, the development of an appropriate plan of care, and services for the individual with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Administered by the Department on Aging.
Under the Medicaid program, Durable Medical Equipment is medical equipment that can be used continually for medical and health care purposes.
