Dallas Area Agency on Aging: Connecting Families to Home Care Resources

If you’re trying to figure out how to get home care for a loved one in the Dallas area and
you don’t know where to start, the Dallas Area Agency on Aging is the most useful first
call you can make. They’re the local organization that connects families with state funded
aging and disability services — and they know the Dallas Medicaid landscape in a
way that a state website never will.

What the Dallas AAA Does

The Dallas Area Agency on Aging is part of Texas’s network of Area Agencies on Aging —
local organizations designated by the state to plan and coordinate services for older
adults and people with disabilities. The Dallas AAA serves Dallas County and
surrounding communities.

Like Detroit’s DAAA, the Dallas AAA is not a home care agency. They don’t send
caregivers to your home. They’re a navigation and referral hub: they assess your
situation, identify which programs may apply, and connect you with the right offices and
organizations to get services started.

What They Can Help You Access

STAR+PLUS information and referrals. The Dallas AAA can explain how STAR+PLUS
works, which MCOs serve the Dallas area, and how to request a functional assessment
for Home and Community-Based Services. They can’t enroll you directly (that happens
through HHSC and the MCO), but they can ensure you’re pointed in the right direction.

Consumer Directed Services guidance. If your goal is to hire a family member as a
paid caregiver through CDS, the AAA can explain the CDS option and how to request it
during care planning with your MCO.

Community resources beyond Medicaid. The AAA connects families with meal
programs (Meals on Wheels and congregate dining), transportation services for medical
appointments, legal services for elder law issues, caregiver support programs including
support groups and respite referrals, benefits counseling for Medicare and Medicaid,
and protective services for vulnerable adults.

2-1-1 Texas. The AAA works in coordination with Texas’s 2-1-1 helpline, which is the
statewide entry point for health and human services. Calling 2-1-1 can connect you with
both the AAA and other local resources.

What We See Working with Dallas AAA

In our experience at CareChoice, the Dallas AAA is an effective first touchpoint for
families who are overwhelmed and don’t know which program applies to their situation.
The staff can triage the conversation quickly — Is your loved one on Medicaid? How old
are they? What kind of help do they need? — and get you pointed toward the right
program.

Where the AAA’s role ends and CareChoice’s role begins is in the execution. The AAA
makes the referral and provides information. CareChoice helps the family actually
complete the STAR+PLUS enrollment, navigate the MCO relationship, set up the CDS
arrangement, connect with an FMSA, and get the family caregiver on payroll.

Many Dallas families first hear about paid family caregiving through the AAA or 2-1-1,
then partner with CareChoice to make it happen. The two organizations play
complementary roles.

How to Contact the Dallas AAA

2-1-1 Texas is the fastest connection point for aging and disability services. HHSC can
also provide AAA contact information for your specific location within the Dallas service
area.

When you call, have your loved one’s basic information ready — age, Medicaid status,
medical conditions, and the type of help needed. If your goal is to hire a family member
as a paid caregiver, say so upfront.

For help with the next step → Contact CareChoice in Dallas

Written by Carolyn Choates, Assistant Marketing Manager | CareChoice

Related: STAR+PLUS in Dallas → | Get Paid to Care for Family in TX → | How to Apply for
TX Medicaid Home Care →