This webpage addresses some resources available to seniors living at home in Morris county who wish to remain in their home. It does not address hiring caregivers in your home or paying for care, which is addressed in separate webpages. Many of the programs have specific eligibility requirements, so it is recommended that you contact the service in which you are interested or New Jersey EASE, whose toll-free hotline is 1-877-222-3737 for more information and updated requirements.
Medicare Savings Programs
SLMB: The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program provides State help to pay Medicare Part B premiums for those who are just above the national poverty level. Individuals must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. To qualify, individual gross annual income cannot be greater than 135% of the Federal Poverty Level. In addition, other assets, such as bank and brokerage accounts, must not exceed prescribed limits. Currently, the limit for an individual is $4,000 and $6,000 for a couple. For more information or to apply, please call 1-800-356-1561.
Prescription Drugs/Hearing Aides
PAAD:
Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) is a state-funded program to help pay for prescribed medications for those over 60 or on SSI. For 2004, if single, your income must be less than $20,437; if married, you and your spouse’s income must be less than $25,058 combined. PAAD recipients pay only $5 for prescriptions covered by the program. Limits regarding manufacturers, refills and doses apply.
HAAAD: The PAAD limits also apply to Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD), which provides some reimbursement (approx. $100) to eligible participants who purchase a hearing aid. The hearing aid must be a medical necessity and meet certain specifications. Medicaid recipients and those with other insurance benefits for such items are not entitled to this reimbursement.
Senior Gold: Pharmaceutical assistance may still be available if your income exceeds the above PAAD limits by up to $10,000. Senior Gold members pay $15 plus 50% of the remaining cost of each qualifying prescription. Once Senior Gold members exceed $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses for a single person and $3,000 in out-of-pocket expenses for a married couple, participants pay only $15 per prescription. For more information about PAAD, Lifeline, HAAAD or Senior Gold programs call toll-free: 1-800-792-9745.
Utilities
Lifeline: Lifeline is designed to help pay a portion (approx. $225) of the electricity or gas bills of homeowners and renters whose utilities are included in their rent bill. Only one person per household is eligible for the assistance and it is only applicable to a primary residence. Lifeline benefits are automatically included in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks, so recipients of SSI need not apply for the benefit.
HEAP: A program similar to Lifeline is the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which is run by the Office of Hispanic Affairs in Morris County. For more information on HEAP please call (973) 366-1131.
Communications Lifeline / Link Up America Communications Lifeline and Link Up America are Verizon programs that help to make telephone service more affordable for those over 60 who receive benefits under Food Stamps, General Assistance, HEAP, PAAD, Lifeline, Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid. To apply, call 1-800-792-9745
Property Tax Relief: Property Tax reduction is available to Seniors over 65. Additional Tax breaks are available to Veterans. Call your municipal Tax Assessor for details.
Food and Nutrition Programs: Several food and nutrition programs are available to residents of Morris County. The County Nutrition Project maintains 14 Midday Friendship, which offer social and educational activities as well as Meals on Wheels, a nutritious noontime lunch and home-delivered meals to seniors. Locations are available by contacting the Nutrition Project at (973) 285-6857.
The Visiting Health Service of Morris County offers Housecall Groceries for Seniors, which provides volunteers do grocery shopping for individuals throughout the county. The VHS can be reached at (973) 328-4866.
The Morris County Department of Human Services offers a Food Stamp Program which can provide low income households with more food for the money. Contact the Dept. of Human Services at (973) 326-7800 for more information and eligibility requirements.
Food Pantries - Within Morris County, several food pantries are available to seniors. Hope House, an extension of the Diocese of Paterson Catholic Charities, can be reached at (973) 361-5555. The Salvation Army of Dover also offers a food pantry. The Interfaith Food Pantry, located on West Hanover Avenue in Morristown, offers delivery of food to the homebound by volunteers. Interfaith can be reached at (973) 538-8049. Some municipalities offer food pantries and some churches, such as Trinity Lutheran Church, in Dover, offer food in emergency situations.
Transportation
Several organizations throughout Morris County offer low cost or free transportation to seniors and disabled individuals. Service is generally available to those with no alternate means of transportation and priority is given to those in need of transportation for medical and employment purposes. Most organizations require appointments for service to be made available. It is recommended that you contact the organization in advance to find out how much notification is necessary.
MAPS - The Morris Area Paratransit System (MAPS) is run by the Morris County Department of Transportation. MAPS is available to Morris County residents who are at least 60 years of age or have a physical or mental disability that includes functional limitations. In most cases, MAPS will only travel within the Morris County area. For more information, MAPS can be reached at (973) 829-8103.
Municipal/Township Programs - Many individual townships and municipalities offer a Dial-A-Ride service or other transportation for seniors. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Morris County Office on Aging at (973) 285-6848 or, if you are not a Morris County resident, you may contact your county Office on Aging for further information.
Reduced Fare Programs - Seniors and handicapped individuals may qualify for reduced fares on buses and trains throughout the tri-state area. The program is generally limited to off-peak hours, weekends and holidays. Additional information and applications for a reduced fare card can be obtained from your local Office on Aging or Office for the Disabled.
Support Groups: A myriad of support groups are available to caregivers, individuals and families throughout the county. The Alzheimer’s Association offers such groups, as does Family Service of Morris County. Topics of support groups range from bereavement and cancer to hearing and vision impairment. A list of support groups in the area may be obtained from the Department of Human Services Division on Aging, Disability and Veterans at (973) 285-6848 or from the New Jersey Self-Help Clearinghouse at 1-800-367-6274.
Case Management Services: Case management services can be provided to seniors who are frail, homebound, impoverished or at risk of being institutionalized. Case management services can assist individuals by linking them up with local community support and services from which they may benefit. New Jersey EASE can provide referrals to services offered throughout the state at 1-877-222-3737.
Homebound Support Services
Volunteers throughout the county provide several services to homebound seniors. Volunteers working with Housecall Groceries for Seniors can assist by providing grocery shopping to those with physical or health limitations. Other volunteers involved in the Friendly Visitor program visit the homebound elderly or call them on the telephone through Telephone Reassurance.
Senior Cents, run by Family Service of Morris County, helps seniors balance their checkbooks. Volunteers can help make minor repairs to a home and do household chores. Operation Fix-It and the Chore Program are offered by Hope House. The Department of Community Affairs will pay for house repairs but place a lien on the home that diminishes with time.
The In-Home Therapeutic Recreation Program, offered by Family Service of Morris County, is another program available to homebound seniors.
The Alzheimer’s Association offers Safe Return, a program that enrolls individuals with dementia in a national identification system to assist in the safe return of individuals who wander or become lost.
Medical Emergency Lifeline is a program for seniors living alone. They receive a tiny electronic call button on a necklace. The call button is connected to their telephone. When they press the call button, their telephone automatically calls for help 24 hours a day. Lifeline or similar assistance is available through local hospitals and through the Red Cross. For example, Atlantic Health System calls the system VoiceCare and Hope House calls the system Hope Connection.
Adult Day Programs: Several recreational and day programs are available to individuals in need of supervision with activities outside the home. Programs are designed to follow participants’ interests and capabilities. Medical day programs are also available. Some local programs include:
☞ Time Out Adult Care Centers - run by Family Service of Morris County
☞ Adult Medical Day Care - run by St. Clare’s Hospital
☞ Friendship House Alzheimer’s Day Care - run by Visiting Health Service
Health Insurance/Income Tax: Assistance in understanding medical insurance policies and help in completing private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid forms is available through Counseling on Health Insurance for Medicare Enrollees (CHIME). Volunteers also run the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program that assists seniors in preparing their tax returns
CHIME and VITA sites are located throughout the county and provide services free of charge. Contact the Volunteers of Morris County for more information at (973) 538-7947.
For additional information on any of the programs or services listed in this newsletter, you may contact New Jersey EASE, whose toll-free hotline is 1-877-222-3737.
For information regarding these subjects,
please don't hesitate to call Michael Bolton, Esq. at (973) 425-0497.
