When an older person, or an adult of any age with a disability, faces the need for supportive services to help with basic activities such as personal care, household chores, transportation, nutrition or medication management, locating and evaluating options for care can be an overwhelming task for the individual or their family member or caretaker. The process can be made more manageable with the support of a knowledgeable, caring counselor who provides unbiased information about the range of community and institutional services and how to access them, and who supports the individual during the decision-making process by ensuring that the individual understands the range of available options, in order to make an informed choice, and to determine next steps to take. The service is provided in person, by phone, and via email or the web, and may be accomplished in a single session or over several sessions
Options Counseling services are state-wide and intended to be short-term in nature and nay include phone calls and/or face-to-face meetings. The timing and the number of sessions provided depend on the consumer’s individual need for information and decision-support. Consumers may receive services in a hospital, rehabilitation or nursing facility or their own homes.
"The Art of Options Counseling in Massachusetts" is a slide presentation that will assist in understanding the Options Counseling model in Massachusetts. It is designed to help in the understanding the components and core competencies of Options Counseling, learn how traditional support planning differs from a consumer-focused approach and increase knowledge of long-term support services and housing options.