What is Options Counseling?
- Options Counseling is an interactive “decision – support” process that requires a dialogue or series of dialogues between the trained counselor and a consumer, family or significant other to support a consumer in his/her deliberations about choice of long term care services and setting. Together, the consumer and counselor identify the consumer’s strengths, needs, preferences and resources to develop a plan that is unique to that consumer.
- As part of the decision-support process, the counselor provides information about the resources and services that might meet the consumer’s needs and informs the consumer of potential payment sources that the consumer might qualify for, but does not determine eligibility for those programs and services. The emphasis in options counseling is on relationship building and decision support rather than on simply providing information.
- Goals of OC:
To provide unbiased information to consumers about long term care options,
To support consumers in their decision-making process.
- Operational Expectations:
OC may be provided via:
- Telephone sessions
- Face-to-face sessions in a variety of settings including in private residences, public housing, long term care facilities, rehabilitation hospitals and acute care facilities
- Both MassHealth recipients and non-MassHealth individuals are eligible to receive OC
- More time spent talking with the consumer and helping them think through their options than in traditional Information and Referral
Desired Outcomes:
- More adults choosing to remain in the community for longer periods of time,
- An increase in the number of nursing home residents transitioning to a less restrictive setting with appropriate supports