Human Services

Human Services oversees operations and activities of programs that serve older adults and their families and people with disabilities, as well as provides leadership for a regional transportation coordination program.

For more about LSCOG Human Services please contact the Human Services Director at 803.649-7981.

The Human Services Staff

Aging And Disability Resource Center

The Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) strives to link older adults, adults with physical disabilities, adults with developmental disabilities, and caregivers to information and services that support their independence and their ability to live at home.

What we do:

Provide consumers with information about available services in their community

Assist consumers in understanding their care options and available benefits

Help consumers take the steps necessary to obtain the services they need

Programs and services of the ADRC include the following:

Area Agency On Aging (AAA)

The Area Agency on Aging develops a coordinated program of services for seniors and works closely with local providers of services to older adults and their families in each county in the region. The AAA also serves as the regional focal point for information, advocacy, assistance and technical assistance on concerns and issues relating to aging and conducts special activities to raise public awareness of these issues.

For more information about the AAA call the Aging Services Coordinator at 803.649.7981.

Elderly Legal Services

The Elderly Legal Services refers seniors 60 years or older to participating attorneys in the region for assistance with preparation of a simple will or financial power of attorney documents. The program offers limited financial assistance for seniors to seek legal counsel regarding the need for a guardian or conservator appointment, age discrimination, denial of public benefits or landlord/tenant housing issues.

For more information about Elderly Legal Services call the Regional LTR Ombudsman at 803.649.7981 or 1.866.845.1550 (toll free).

Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman

The Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman investigates and works to resolve problems or complaints affecting residents in nursing homes and residential care facilities. In an effort to improve the lives of all persons residing in long term care facilities, the Ombudsman educates residents and family members about long term care and related issues, advocates for the protection of the resident's rights, provides training and technical assistance to resident and family councils and facility staff and coordinates efforts with other agencies concerned about long term care.

To file a complaint or talk with the Ombudsman, call 803.649.7981 or 1.866.845.1550 (toll free).

Health Care Advanced Directives Information and Education

Staff members provide information and assistance to individuals in the development of advanced directives ensuring that medical professionals and loved ones are aware of the individuals wishes at lifes end.

Medicare Part D Assistance And Benefits Counseling

Possibly one of the most requested services, LSCOG staff give individualized assistance to Medicare Part D recipients as they select the best choice of coverage for themselves, based on income, medications taken, pharmacy preference, and other factors under this complicated prescription drug benefit. Staff has helped hundreds of people maneuver through this program and has an excellent reputation for providing accurate and user-friendly assistance. Referrals to the program come from Social Security, local pharmacies and physicians.

Benefits counselors are educated on Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Low Income Assistance for Medicare Beneficiaries, Medicaid, TRICARE and other health insurance options available to persons on Medicare. The counselors provide nonbiased information to Medicare and/or Medicaid beneficiaries in the region. Counselors also work to prevent Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse as well as working to keep others from taking advantage of seniors.

For more information about the Medicare Part D program call the ADRC at 803.649.7981 or 1.800.845.1550 (toll free outside Aiken)

Medicaid Managed Care Plan Information and Assistance

This program provides assistance to Medicaid beneficiaries as they choose a Medicaid plan best suited for their individual needs. LSCOG staff members hold office hours in each county at least three times each month to offer this assistance. Staff also provides assistance to consumers with Long Term Care Medicaid Application assistance. A Medicaid Intake/Outreach worker is available to help clients fill out the Medicaid application for the Nursing Home and Community Based Waiver programs. Assistance is also provided to consumers for Advanced Care Directives and other educational services of benefit to older adults and persons with disabilities.

For more information about the Medicaid Managed Care program call the ADRC at 803.649.7981 or 1.800.845.1550 (toll free outside Aiken)

Family Caregiver Support Program

The Family Caregiver Support Program offers family members who are giving care to an infirmed loved one over 60 and people over 60 who are raising a related child age 18 or younger assistance, education, support and the opportunity to get an occasional break from care-giving responsibilities. This assistance includes education on care-giving, limited small grants to caregivers, a caregiver newsletter, and the opportunity to get an occasional break from care-giving responsibilities. A recent addition to these guidelines now includes Family Caregivers responsible for the care of individuals of any age with Alzheimers disease or related disorder and grandparents or relative caregivers (age 55 and older) of adult children (between age 19 and 59) with a disability. (This does not include spouses or parents caring for adults with a disability.)

Demands of care giving may be physically, emotionally and financially exhausting. Many family members don't identify with the term "caregiver," but view themselves as "just a spouse, a daughter, a son or a friend." A person of any age who is primarily responsible, on an unpaid basis, for coordinating, overseeing or giving care for someone close is considered in our program to be a "family caregiver."

For more information about the Family Caregiver Support Program call the Family Caregiver Advocate at 803.649.7981 or 1.800.845.1550 (toll free outside Aiken)

Information, Referral And Assistance

This program can assess an individuals needs, help determine options and an appropriate course of action, direct the individual to useful programs or services, and contact providers or agencies to help the individual access needed services when necessary.

For more information about the Information, Referral and Assistance program call the Information, Referral and Assistance Coordinator at 803.649.7981.

Medication Assistance Program (MAP)

The Medication Assistance Program (MAP) helps lower-income adults age 18 and older in the Aiken Area obtain free or low cost prescription medications. MAP works with the patient assistance programs of most pharmaceutical companies, taking 6-8 weeks for patients to receive medications that are usually delivered to the physician's office. There is no charge for the service, which is supported by the United Way of Aiken County.

The application process begins with a phone consultation to determine eligibility and to set up an interview with a MAP Advocate.

Program Guidelines

To qualify for the program, new clients must meet the following requirements:

Must have no insurance or other prescription coverage
Must have a total household income below $18,000 for singles, $24,000 for couples, or $35,000 for a family of four

Information Needed for the Initial Interview

Original prescription written for a 90-day supply and 3 refills, if medically appropriate. (Each medication must be written on a separate prescription sheet one per page.)
Physician name, address, and phone number (usually on prescription).
Social Security Card.
Photo ID.
Proof of income for ALL household members. This may include previous years federal tax returns (1040), Social Security benefit statement, child support statement, SSI benefit statement for under aged children, last months pay stubs, etc. Specific documentation needed will be identified during initial phone consultation.

For more about the Medication Assistance Program call the MAP coordinator at 803.649.7981.

Emergency Rental Assistance

This program offers short-term emergency rental assistance for people 60+ who are

SC residents

Have income of no more than $1,040 for a family of 1, or $1400 for a family of 2
The applicants name must be on the lease.

For more information, call the ADRC at 803.649.7981 or 1.800.845.1550 (toll free outside Aiken)

Travel Management And Coordination Center

Future plans include the addition to the ADRC of a mobility information, assistance and management center to serve the Lower Savannah region. Funded under two major national grants from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the USDOT, this center, which is projected to be fully implemented in early to mid 2010, will offer one click or one-call access to transportation in the region and will provide coordination for a regional network of transportation providers.

For information and assistance on transit resources in the region, in addition to the above mentioned information and assistance, call the Mobility Manager at 803.649.7981 or 1.866.845.1550.

SC Access

SC Access is a web-based human service resource database with information about programs and services of interest to people with disabilities and older adults is offered as a part of the ADRCs information services (see website address in Links below).