A new home for Mr. Kent
A new home for Mr. Kent
May 7, 2025
In late March, Donald Kent transitioned from a local skilled nursing facility to his own apartment in thanks to TARCOG’s Gateway to Community Living (GCL) Program.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Mr. Kent said as he was settling in a few days after the move from a nursing home where he lived the previous three years. The transition was made possible with the help of GCL Coordinator Alexis Baker.
She said the whole process starts with a person who can be deemed eligible to live independently with services available from Alabama’s Home and Community-based programs through TARCOG.
Mr. Kent agreed to an apartment off of Whitesburg Drive, which is close to medical services, restaurants and grocery stores.
Then, Alexis continued working on his transition by paying a utilities deposit and submitting the documentation to the apartment complex, purchasing furniture scheduled its delivery. She also met with Mr. Kent, and they worked together to develop his Person-Centered Care Plan.
Next, Alexis went shopping again. This time for basic supplies needed to set up the new home, which she also did once the furniture was delivered.
On Monday, March 31, she did some grocery shopping and put some last-minute touches on the apartment assembly so that when Mr. Kent walked in, he was set up with all of the basic necessities to live on his own again.
Mr. Kent was looking forward to having his own space and quieter surroundings.
The GCL is an initiative of the Alabama Medicaid Agency that helps Alabamians who are aging or have disabilities live at home in their own communities.
Alexis said the process starts with someone in a skilled nursing facility getting a referral to the GCL Program from the facility’s social worker.
“I then receive the referral from the facility and complete a Return to Community Assessment (RCA),” Alexis said. This requires medical records, speaking to the facility staff, family, friends and paid service providers.
“Once the RCA is completed it is sent to the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) for review. The ADSS nurse review will either deem the resident appropriate or not appropriate for the Gateway to Community Living program.
“If the resident is found appropriate for the program, I begin to assist with looking for housing within their preferred area, making deposit payments once housing is obtained, purchasing furniture, and accessories,” Alexis said. “Once the participant is transitioned from the skilled nursing facility into their own living space the resident then becomes a participant on the Alabama Community Transition Waiver (ACT).
Mr. Kent now has a TARCOG case manager who checks on him and makes sure he is thriving in his new home.
Who qualifies for the program? Someone who:
- Currently lives in a nursing home or other qualified institution
- The resident must have Medicaid for at least 100 days prior to transition
- The resident must have some form of income
What services can a person get through GCL?
Gateway to Community Living lets eligible people who currently live in a skilled nursing facility enroll in one of Alabama’s Home and Community-based Waiver programs so they can still get the services and supports they need at home.
If you are interested in moving to the community, a trained transition coordinator, like Alexis, can help you find out if you are eligible and talk with you about the available services that would best suit your needs for safe and healthy community living.
Are there any other services that will help someone make a successful transition?
Yes. People who want to return to community living often have some extra needs, such as help with planning the move, obtaining housing or even just some one-time financial help to make utility deposits or purchase basic supplies for the home. At TARCOG, that person is Alexis.
Currently, Alexis is working with a client who will transition into a new home in Scottsboro at the end of May. The TARCOG Region includes DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties.
For more information, contact TARCOG at 256-830-0818.
From left, Donald Kent and Gateway to Community Living Transition Coordinator Alexis Baker at his new apartment.
