Navigating In-Home Service Options: Resources Beyond Private Pay in Kansas

Libby Hastings • June 12, 2024

When it comes to finding the right in-home services for yourself or a loved one, navigating the myriad of options can be daunting. Fortunately, in Kansas, there are comprehensive resources available that extend beyond private pay companies, ensuring that individuals of all ages, abilities, and income levels can access the support they need. Here’s a closer look at some of these invaluable resources.


The Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)


The Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) serves as a one-stop shop for individuals seeking long-term service and support. Whether you are an older adult, a person with a disability, or a caregiver, the ADRC offers objective information and personalized counseling to help you make informed decisions about your care options.


Operated by the eleven Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) across the state, the ADRC provides:


  • Coverage Across Kansas: No matter where you live in Kansas, ADRC ensures you have access to a wide array of support options tailored to your individual preferences, strengths, and values.
  • Statewide Call Center: Reach out to knowledgeable staff for information, referrals, and assistance with community services via the statewide call center at 855-200-2372.
  • Functional Assessments: The ADRC conducts assessments to determine eligibility for Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) programs and nursing facility placements.


Senior Care Act Program


The Kansas Legislature established the Senior Care Act program to support older Kansans who can live in the community with some assistance. This program is designed for residents aged 60 or older who have functional limitations in self-care and independent living. Services vary by county but typically include:


  • Attendant care
  • Respite care
  • Homemaker support
  • Chore services
  • Adult daycare


Participants contribute to the cost of services based on their ability to pay. The program is administered by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) through the AAAs.


Older Americans Act (OAA) Programs


Enacted by Congress in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) addresses the lack of social services for older adults in the community. The OAA offers:


  • Legal assistance
  • Caregiver support
  • In-home services
  • Transportation
  • Nutrition programs


These services are typically free or available on a contribution basis. Like the Senior Care Act, the OAA programs are administered by KDADS through the AAAs.


Medicare and Medicaid In-Home Services


If you are under a physician’s care and require home health care services, Medicare or Medicaid might cover these services for short-term needs, provided there is an established care plan. Coverage requires using a home health agency certified for Medicare and Medicaid services. Additional financial support may come from:


  • Private insurance
  • Medicare supplements
  • Long-term care insurance


Many home health agencies also offer private pay options for those needing additional or non-covered services.


Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Programs


For those needing more extensive support, the HCBS programs may be an option. To participate, you must:


  • Be approved for Medicaid (KanCare)
  • Meet the functional eligibility criteria


The initial assessment is carried out by the AAAs, such as the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging for residents in Douglas County. HCBS programs are coordinated by Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) under KanCare, and care plans might include:


  • Adult Day Care
  • Personal Care Services
  • Personal Emergency Response
  • Home Telehealth
  • Medication Reminders
  • Enhanced Care Services, and more


The HCBS Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver is aimed at adults aged 65+ who meet the criteria for nursing home placement, are Medicaid eligible, and require assistance with activities of daily living.

Nursing Home Neglect and Kansas's Surveyor Shortage

By Libby Hastings • November 25, 2025
A recent KAKE News report highlights how Kansas’s severe shortage of state nursing home inspectors is putting residents at serious risk. Families say long delays in inspections allow neglect to continue unchecked, sometimes with devastating consequences. One of the most troubling stories comes from Jennifer Hernandez, whose aunt lived at Santa Marta in Olathe. Santa Marta advertises itself as "Luxury Senior Living in Johnson County, KS". A camera Hernandez installed in her aunt’s room recorded her aunt lying on the floor after falling out of bed. Nearly an hour passed before anyone checked on her. In the video, you can see her aunt struggling to get up on her own. Hernandez placed the camera because she was already worried about her aunt’s care. Sadly, the fall wasn’t the only issue. Her aunt was also found in dirty clothes, had unexplained bruising, and developed an eye infection. Hernandez repeatedly begged the facility to follow her aunt’s care plan, but she was ignored or dismissed. The family turned to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s Office, which can request an investigation by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) state surveyors at the resident's request. These investigations can lead to fines, penalties, or corrective action. In Kansas, complaint investigations can take more than a year to start. This is especially alarming because surveyors are one of the only independent sources of information the public has about nursing home quality. Their reports are often the only transparent, verifiable records families can rely on when choosing a facility. Surveyors are also one of the few entities with the authority to hold nursing homes accountable when care breaks down. And Kansas is falling far behind. The state has 303 federally certified nursing facilities, which must be inspected at least every 15.9 months, with a national average of 12 months. Kansas is currently averaging 19.9 months between these mandatory inspections. In Hernandez’s case, an ombudsman even emailed KDADS, warning that staff had tampered with the camera and that the resident was at severe risk. A state inspector never came. Her aunt later fell again, broke her pelvis, and died days later in severe pain. While the state’s inspection delays are a major part of the problem, the facilities themselves also bear responsibility. Too often, homes put profits over people, cutting corners on staffing, training, and basic care. But it becomes even harder to push for stronger regulations when facilities aren’t being held accountable for meeting the baseline requirements already in place. When the “ceiling” of what a facility does is the bare minimum required by federal and state governments, residents are the ones who suffer. Kansas’s inspection workforce is stretched far too thin to enforce even the most basic standards. In July, KDADS had 51 surveyor positions — 28 of them empty. The agency later reduced the total positions to 36 and raised salaries, but still has 13 vacancies. That leaves just 23 surveyors responsible for inspecting and investigating more than 300 nursing homes statewide. Families, advocates, and ombudsmen agree: until Kansas fully staffs and supports its survey team, neglect will go unnoticed, problems will go uncorrected, and residents will remain in danger.
Two women sitting together

PEAK Program in Kansas

By Libby Hastings • October 30, 2025
This is a special blog post provided by Jami Boone, Adult Care Homes Quality Program Manager, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Moving into a nursing home is often seen as a loss—the loss of independence, familiar routines, and personal choice. But in Kansas, the PEAK program is changing that story. Through this pay-for-performance initiative, administered by Kansas State University and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), nursing homes are putting residents at the center of every decision and creating communities where people feel truly at home. PEAK encourages nursing homes to adopt person-directed care, giving residents control over their daily lives. Participating homes can earn financial incentives—ranging from $0.50 to $3.00 per bed, per day—based on how deeply they implement these practices. But the true value of PEAK isn’t in the funding—it’s in transforming life inside the home, fostering dignity, choice, and joy for residents. Imagine moving into a new home where you can bring your favorite bedding, chair, and treasured belongings. You don’t have to give up who you are or what you love. Instead, you gain new opportunities, new friendships, and new family connections, along with access to activities you may have thought were out of reach. At the same time, you maintain your existing community roles, personal routines, and comforts, blending familiarity with new possibilities. Residents in PEAK homes have the freedom to decide how their living space looks and feels, what, where, and when they eat, when they wake up or go to bed, and even which risks they are willing to take. That sense of control and individuality is central to maintaining dignity, identity, and joy, making daily life meaningful and fulfilling. The benefits extend beyond residents. When staff are empowered to build deep, personal relationships with residents, they stop seeing their work as a job and start seeing it as an extension of home. Staff get to know the people they care for so well that they notice even the smallest changes—whether it’s a favorite meal left untouched or a subtle shift in mood. This heightened awareness allows potential issues to be addressed sooner, improving healing and raising the overall level of care. The bonds between staff and residents not only create a more home-like environment but also foster staff satisfaction, because when work feels like home, people show up fully, care deeply, and make every interaction meaningful. This mutual respect and compassion ripple outward, creating an atmosphere that families can feel the moment they walk through the door. PEAK homes offer families additional peace of mind, ensuring that when a loved one moves into care, they enter a place that honors their individuality, values their voice, and supports their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Kansas continues to lead by example, showing that when dignity and choice are prioritized, everyone benefits. PEAK homes aren’t just places to live—they’re places to thrive. To find a PEAK participating nursing home in your area, visit: https://www.kdads.ks.gov/partners-providers/nursing-facilities-adult-care-home-program/peak-person-centered-care . For more information about the PEAK program, contact Jami Boone , Adult Care Homes Quality Program Manager, KDADS, at jami.boone@ks.gov or 785-296-0010 . Note from KABC : While KABC supports efforts that aim to improve quality of life and person-centered care in Kansas nursing homes, participation in the PEAK program does not necessarily indicate that a facility is consistently meeting those standards in practice. Financial incentives or program participation alone do not guarantee that residents are receiving the care, dignity, and respect they deserve. KABC encourages families and residents to review a variety of quality measures—including inspection reports, staffing levels, and complaint histories—when evaluating long-term care options.