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Home and Community Care Block Grant Service Definitions

What is the Home and Community Care Block Grant?

Remember, local aging services providers may provide other services and other local agencies may also provide services for older adults. Be sure to ask if there is a service you need that is not listed.

Adult Day Care
Provides an organized program of services during the day in a community group setting for the purpose of supporting the personal independence of older adults and promoting their social, physical, and emotional well-being. Services are provided in a home or center certified to meet state standards for Adult Day Care programs.

Adult Day Health
Provides an organized day program of services in a community group setting for the purpose of supporting older adults’ personal independence, and promoting social, physical, and emotional well-being. Services must include health care services and a variety of program activities designed to meet the individual needs and interests of the participants, and referral to and assistance in using appropriate community resources.

Care Management
Provides professional assistance for older adults with complex care needs and/or their families in accessing, arranging and coordinating the package of services needed to enable the older adult to remain at home.

Congregate Nutrition
The provision of a meal in a group setting that provides 1/3 of the Recommended Daily Dietary Allowance. Education on nutritional topics is provided and access to community services is available.

Group Respite
The provision of temporary relief to family members and other primary caregivers caring for an impaired individual at home. Group respite provides the opportunity for individuals needing care to engage in a short term program of meaningful social and recreational activities in a secure and supportive setting in order to maximize their cognitive and social abilities.

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
The provision of assessments, screenings, counseling, education, and other health related programs designed to enhance the health and wellness of older adults.

Health Screening
General medical testing, screening and referral for the purpose of promoting the early detection and prevention of health problems in older adults.

Home Delivered Meals
The provision of a home delivered meal that provides 1/3 of the Recommended Daily Dietary Allowance to a home-bound older adult. Education on nutritional topics is provided and access to community services is available.

Home Health
Skilled health care prescribed by a physician which is provided in the home of an older adult in need of medical care. Allowable services include: skilled nursing care; physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy; medical social services and nutrition care.

Housing and Home Improvement
A service which assists older adults with obtaining or retaining adequate housing and basic furnishings. Types of assistance provided may include: providing information regarding housing/housing with services options available; methods of financing alternative housing/housing with services options; helping to improve landlord-tenant relations; identifying substandard housing; securing correction of housing code violations; assisting with finding and relocating to alternative housing; and providing labor and/or materials for minor renovations and/or repair of dwellings to remedy conditions which create a risk to the personal health and safety of older adults.

Information and Assistance
Assistance given to older adults, their families and others acting on behalf of older adults in their efforts to acquire information about programs and services. Advocacy help is also provided to older adults so they may obtain appropriate service to meet their needs.

In-Home Services
Use of paraprofessional services which assist functionally impaired older adults and/or their families with essential home management, personal care and/or supervision necessary to enable the older adult to remain at home as long as possible.

Institutional Respite
Temporary placement of an individual who requires constant care out of his/her home to provide the unpaid caregiver relief from constant caregiving responsibilities.

Legal Services
Assistance with legal issues to protect and secure the rights, benefits, and entitlements of older adults.

Mental Health Counseling
A service to enhance the ability of persons who may be experiencing mental health problems, including dementia, to meet their mental health treatment needs.

Senior Center Operations
Operation of a Senior Center that serves community needs, assists other agencies in serving older adults, and provides opportunities for older adults to develop their potential as individuals within the context of the entire community. A Senior Center works toward the prevention of loneliness and premature institutionalization by promoting personal independence and wellness.

Senior Center Outreach
The identification of older adults in the community, informing them about available programs, services, and opportunities and soliciting their participation.

Senior Companion
A part-time stipend to provide volunteer opportunities for low-income persons 60 years of age or older to do community service. Senior Companions provide support, task assistance and/or companionship to adults with exceptional needs (i.e. developmental disabilities, functional impairments, or persons who have other special needs for companionship).

Transportation
Provision of access to needed services and activities for older adults.

Volunteer Program Development
The development and operation of a systematic program for volunteer participation. The service is intended to involve volunteers of all ages in providing services to older adults while also providing community service opportunities for older adults.

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