ADRC Mission and Purpose

ADRC Mission Statement

“The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) serving Louisiana offers adults and families a single source for information/assistance and individualized service planning to enhance self-sufficiency and quality of life.”

ADRC Philosophy of Service

The Aging and Disability Resource Center Serving Louisiana operates under the “RESPECT” philosophy:

• Relations between participants, care managers, and providers

• Empowerment to make choices

• Services to meet individual needs

• Physical services to help people reach their best level of functioning

• Enhancement of participant knowledge base

• Community and family participation

• Tools for self determination

ADRC Program Description

Aging and Disability Resource Centers were first established as pilot programs in Louisiana in 2004. The Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs (GOEA) has expanded the development of ADRCs and all of the state's population has access to an ADRC, serving multiple parishes or regions. ADRCs are funded by the State Legislature.

What are ADRCs?

ADRCs are a single point of access for information and assistance with unmet and long-term care needs for members of our community including:

• Older Adults - defined as 60 or older

• Adults who have adult-onset disabilities

• Families / friends / neighbors seeking information on long term support services

• Professionals seeking information on long-term support services

ADRCs provide access to both public and private long-term support services as well as early intervention and prevention services to assist people in the prevention of illness, disability, or the need for hospitalization or long-term care. ADRCs help adults understand their needs and the full range of options in order to preserve their personal resources and avoid the need for the state long-term support benefit. This is done by providing unbiased information on services available throughout the community. ADRCs serve people without regard to income or assets.

ADRC staff strives to provide quality services by:

• Being consumer-focused and being non-judgmental

• Maintaining a friendly and welcoming place to call or visit

• Providing accurate and timely information on services in the service area

• Being an unbiased source of information and options

• Helping people preserve personal resources

• Helping people avoid premature or unnecessary use of publicly-funded long term care services

• Meeting with consumers in their community settings when necessary

• Promoting prevention-related activities

• Providing “live transfers” of calls within each location, between locations, and to other resources when possible

• Seeking continuing education on topics related to populations served, the evolving service provider system, and skills needed for the job.