What are ADRCs?

The Aging and Disability Resource Center Program (ADRC) is a collaborative effort of the Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designed to streamline access to long-term supports and services (LTSS).

ADRCs serve as single points of entry for older adults and people with disabilities of all income levels. The core functions of an ADRC are 1) information, referral and awareness, 2) options counseling, advice and assistance, 3) streamlined eligibility determination for public programs, 4) person-centered transitions, 5) quality assurance and continuous improvement.

The ADRC initiative is part of a nationwide effort to restructure services and supports for older adults, all persons with disabilities, family members and care providers. It complements long term care system change activities designed to enhance access by older adults and people with disabilities of all ages to community living, personal choice and independence.

What is the vision for ADRCs?

To have Aging and Disability Resource Centers in every community serving as highly visible and trusted places where people of all incomes and ages can turn for information on the full range of long-term support options and a single point of entry for access to public long-term support programs and benefits.

What models are Aging and Disability Resource Center grantees implementing?

ADRCs are not necessarily located in a single physical place and their functions are not necessarily carried out by a single agency. ADRCs involve networks of state and local organizations working together in a coordinated manner to provide consumers with integrated access points to all long-term services and supports. From the consumer’s perspective, ADRCs help them obtain the services and supports they need as if they were dealing with one organization. From a systems perspective, this strategy helps break down barriers to community-based living by giving consumers of all income levels comprehensive information about the complete spectrum of long-term care options available to them.

What states or territories have received the Aging and Disability Resource Center grant?

As of October 2010, there are 325 ADRC program sites that serve residents in 45 states and territories, covering approximately 51 percent of the U.S. Fifteen of these states and territories achieved statewide coverage with their ADRCs. ADRC programs are in development in another 9 states and territories for a total of 54 states and territories pursuing ADRCs.

Click here to find information about each state's ADRC grant program, resources they have developed, and contact information for state and local ADRC project staff.

Why do we need Aging and Disability Resource Centers?

ADRCs address many of the frustrations consumers and their families experience when trying to find needed information, services, and supports. Through integration or coordination of existing aging and disability service systems, ADRC programs raise visibility about the full range of options that are available, provide objective information, advice, counseling and assistance, empower people to make informed decisions about their long term supports, and help people more easily access public and private long term supports and services programs.

What functions are performed by Aging and Disability Resource Centers?

ADRCs have furthered states’ ongoing efforts to improve access to long term supports and services by strengthening partnerships, establishing standards of service, fostering consistency, enhancing professionalism, and emphasizing the consumers’ perspective in all activities. They organize, simplify and ensure “one-stop shopping” for access to all public long term support programs.

The core functions of ADRCs are 1) information, referral and awareness, 2) options counseling, advice and assistance, 3) streamlined eligibility determination for public programs, 4) person-centered transition support and 5) quality assurance and continuous improvement.
ADRCs provide unbiased, reliable information and counseling to individuals with all levels of income. They assist a wide range of individuals, including family caregivers, in obtaining long term supports and services in the most desirable and appropriate setting. Because they do not limit their services to low-income individuals, ADRCs can help families with private resources use their resources more wisely, which may delay or prevent “spend-down” to Medicaid or unnecessary institutionalization.

ADRCs help consumers access public benefits for long term services and supports, making the application process less onerous, less bureaucratic, less administratively burdensome for Medicaid agencies, and more seamless for consumers.

By intervening in critical pathways to long term services and supports, such as hospital discharge planners, physicians or other health professionals, or long term supports providers, through options counseling, ADRCs convey the range of alternative services and settings available so individuals can both plan ahead and make informed decisions about current needs.

ADRCs play a critical role in nursing facility transitions under the Money Follows the Person Demonstration (MFP) in 15 of the 30 MFP states. ADRCs are involved in nursing facility transitions in another 8 states.

Who do the Aging and Disability Resource Centers serve?

Resource Center programs serve individuals who need long term support, their family caregivers, and those planning for future long term support needs, regardless of income. They also serve as a resource for health and long term support professionals and others who provide services to the elderly and to people with disabilities. Resource Centers supported under this program must, at a minimum, include the elderly population and at least one of the following major target groups by the first quarter of the second year: (a) individuals with physical disabilities, (b) individuals with serious mental illness, and/or (c) individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities.
In addition, the availability of information and counseling for private-pay individuals is a central element of the AoA/CMS Resource Center vision. Reaching people before they become Medicaid-eligible, and helping them to learn about low-cost options and programs such as private long-term support insurance, can help individuals make better use of their own resources and help to prevent or delay spend-down to Medicaid.

Do the Federal agencies and States recognize the value ADRCs provide?

The Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have contributed over $110 million in funding for ADRC initiatives since 2003. Thirty three states have passed ADRC legislation, developed executive guidance, and/or contributed state funds to enhance and expand ADRCs. State funding contributions to date exceed $43 million.

What are the key aspects and activities of ADRC partnership?

• Formal agreements
• Formal referral protocols
• Co-location
• Cross-training staff
• Joint marketing and outreach
• Client service collaboration
• Sharing I&R resources
• Sharing client data

What types of agencies form ADRC partnerships?

• Area Agencies on Aging
• Centers for Independent Living
• Other aging and disability service providers
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
• 2-1-1
• Adult Protective Services
• Medicaid
• Employment
• Housing
• Transportation
• Social Services
• Advocacy groups
• Social Security Administration
• Long term supports and services providers (e.g., home health agencies, nursing facilities)
• Critical pathway providers (e.g., hospital discharge planners, physicians)

Why does the ADRC model focus on partnerships?

The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) program is a long term care systems change initiative aimed at improving and streamlining access to information, assistance and long term services and supports for older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. Such a comprehensive effort requires strategic partnerships at both the state and local levels, as well as solid working agreements among state agencies, local health and human services authorities, service providers, and other private partners. On average, ADRC grantees report having nine formal partnerships at the state level and eight at the pilot site level. These cover a broad spectrum of agencies and organizations.