- 5303 South Cedar, Lansing, MI 48911
- (517) 887-1440
- Contact Us
Our mission is to promote and preserve the independence and dignity of the aging population.
Tri-County Office on Aging (TCOA) was founded as the Area Agency on Aging in 1974 as a Consortium with Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing.
As a not-for-profit organization, TCOA helps older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers access programs and benefits, improve their health, and remain active in their communities. Working in partnership with agencies and service providers across the area, TCOA embraces a person-centered philosophy that focuses on how a person wants to live their life while honoring their preferences.
At TCOA, we are part of the community. We serve our neighbors, friends and family members every day. To accomplish the agency’s mission, we connect people who need help to service providers, volunteers, donors, businesses and governments throughout Eaton, Clinton and Ingham Counties and the Cities of Lansing and East Lansing. Although TCOA’s Meals on Wheels is our best-known program, our reach goes well beyond providing nourishing meals. Many of our services are provided at no or low-cost, or have fees based on a sliding scale.
TCOA is devoted to attracting and retaining a diverse staff that is representative of our community and the clients we serve.
TCOA is dedicated to creating and maintaining a work environment that is inclusive, equitable and welcoming to all.,Â
NCQA Accreditation
TCOA has achieved a 3-year accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for Case Management of Long-Term Supports and Services (LTSS) for the Project Choices/MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program.
Earning NCQA Accreditation demonstrates that TCOA is dedicated to coordinating the delivery of care in a person-centered and integrated manner to help individuals function optimally in their preferred setting. The standards are intended to help organizations achieve the highest level of performance possible, increase adherence to care guidelines, and create an environment of continuous improvement.
About the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA):
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NtCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at www.ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook and on LinkedIn
A Person-Centered Approach
Our way of ensuring you live your life your way!
The Tri-County Office on Aging embraces the philosophy of Person-Centered Thinking. In the past, Medicaid or other regulatory standards have governed the process of developing care plans for persons requiring long-term care. The Person-Centered Thinking philosophy recognizes that all participants are unique individuals with needs, wants, goals and dreams. Most people want the same things from life – an interesting and meaningful daily life; close relationships with others; opportunities to socialize and enjoy recreation, opportunities to develop talents and abilities; to be a part of and contribute to the community and feel valued and important. The Person-Centered Approach was designed to encourage people working with individuals in Long-Term care situations to view the individual’s needs through their eyes and to honor their preferences, choices, and abilities.
Benefits of a Person-Centered Approach Include:
- Individualized Planning Sessions
- Increased respect of cultural preferences
- Gathering together a group of committed allies who support you
- A focus on what an individual can do, not what they can’t do
- Additional choices for our MI Choice/Project
- Choices participants – Traditional service delivery or Self Determination
The Person-Centered Approach continues and builds on the strengths of our system:
- Health and safety are still top priorities
- Family involvement is essential when it is available
Although person-centered services are a new way of thinking it will be achieved within existing resources. It will not require new appropriations nor will it require a reduction in services now being provided. Person Center Services will not resolve all the difficulties an individual may face but it provides new tools and processes for achieving the results an individual and their family want.
Long-Term Care Collaborative (LTC Collaborative)
The Long Term Care Collaborative was established to address the long-term needs and preferences of older adults and persons with disabilities. The Collaborative works to increase choices for persons requiring long-term care. Members of the Collaborative are dedicated to serving or advocating for older adults or persons with disabilities. They work together to develop and maintain the services and supports that people want. The Tri-County Long Term Care Collaborative is committed to improving the array of long term care services in the area.
Ingham County Elder Services Millage
In August 2020, Ingham County voters authorized a county-wide elder services millage of 4 years (2020-2023) to be used for the purpose of authorizing funding to eliminate wait lists and expand critical services for older persons. Those services include:Â Meals on Wheels, in-home services, home modifications and repairs, chore services, healthy aging and wellness activities, crisis services for immediate needs such as utility and rent assistance, non-covered medical assistance to prevent serious health crises, information and assistance services to support the community with referrals and resource information, and legal services.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Policies and Procedures
(Updated June 15, 2015)
Tri-County Office on Aging has updated its FOIA Policies and Procedures to comply with updates the Michigan Legislature made as part of 2014 Public Act 563. Click the links below to access TCOA’s’ updated policies and procedures. If you have questions or would like to file a FOIA request, please contact TCOA’s FOIA Coordinator at foia@tcoa.org
FOIA Summary of Procedures and Guidelines
FOIA Policies and Guidelines
FOIA forms packet