Service - Choices for Care
Making decisions about long term care can be overwhelming for you and your loved ones. Through the Choices for Care Program, a trained professional can provide you a helping hand at no cost to you. Case Managers in your community will provide a free consultation that includes an assessment of your needs, a review of service options and cost, and assistance in developing your plan of care.

The Choices for Care Program gives you the opportunity to choose services that are provided by a homemaker or other services such as home delivered meals, electronic home response, and care provided by a nursing facility. The case manager can determine which services are appropriate, available, and affordable to you.

The Purpose of the Choices for Care Program is to:
Provide you and your family members with choices for long term care services.
Provide early counseling about available services
Provide you with information about eligibility criteria and costs for home and community based services as well as general information on nursing facility care.

Who will participate in the Choices for Care?
Anyone age 18 or over who is seeking long term care services. However, ECCOA provides this service to persons 60 and older.

What does the program involve?
Case managers will ask you questions about your ability to perform certain tasks. Your ability to get around your home will also be discussed. This information will help the case manager you identify your needs. You can then choose the services that are appropriate for you.

When will a case manager come talk to me?
If you are hospitalized and need some assistance when you are discharged, a health care professional will talk to you about your options. You can then decide that you would like a case manager to talk to you about your options before being discharged.

Can I still go to a nursing facility?
Yes, you can still go to a nursing facility if that is the service you chose. The consultation is designed to give you more information about your choices but the final decision about the services you will receive is yours to make.

How can I contact a case manger?
If you are hospitalized, the discharge planner will help you contact a case manager. If you are at home, please contact the office in the county in which you reside in.

Effingham County: ContactSenior Services of Effingham County @ 217-347-5569 and ask for Jean Whaley. The facility is located at 209 S Merchant, Effingham.

Clay County: Contact Senior Services of Clay County at 1-888-618-7304 and ask for Mary Ellis. Senior Services of Clay County is located at 832 West North Ave., in Milt`s Alley, Flora.

Fayette County: Contact Senior Services of Fayette County at 1-866-618-4122 and ask for Jo Swinehart. Senior Services of Fayette County is located at 109 S Fifth, Vandalia.

Marion County: Contact Senior Services of Marion County at 1-800-295-2903 and ask for Tonia Oberg. Senior Services of Marion County is located at 120 E Green, Centralia.

Jefferson County: Contact Senior Services of Jefferson County at 1-618-242-3505 and ask for Angie Warf, Lynn Shuler or Annette Hayes. Senior Services of Jefferson County is located at 409 Harrison, Mt. Vernon.