Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

"The mission of the department is to be the leader in promoting, protecting and partnering for health. It includes the Division of Senior & Disability Services. The Division of Senior and Disability Services is the designated State Unit on Aging, carrying out the mandates of the State of Missouri regarding programs and services 

for seniors. The division is responsible for the development and implementation of programs designed to protect seniors and adults with disabilities and for the administration of an integrated system of care for eligible adults that require long-

term care. In coordination with the department director, the division director, deputy division director and financial office advise legislators, advocates, state agencies 

and other organizations and individuals regarding services and data available to support this function.

The Section for Adult Protective and Community Services investigates reports of elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation and provides crisis intervention and Adult Protective Services for eligible adults (age 18 and over) that are determined to be unable or unwilling to provide or access services needed to meet their daily needs. Additionally, the section provides oversight to Medicaid funded Home and Community Based Services that are authorized on behalf of adults choosing to receive long-term care in the home or community. The section administers programs designed to maximize independence and safety for adults who choose to remain independent in the community by accessing state and federal community-based programs.

The Central Registry Unit operates the state’s toll-free elder abuse hotline, receives referrals on behalf of individuals in need of long-term care, registers hospital and home-health complaints, and completes registration into the Shared Care Program that offers tax credits to caregivers providing care to seniors in the community.

The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates for facility residents, has responsibility for complaint

resolution on behalf of facility residents, educates and trains staff, consumers and community partners on issues related to long-term facility care, and manages over 300 volunteer Ombudsman serving in facilities across the state.

The Bureau of Senior Programs is responsible for oversight of programs authorized and funded through the Older Americans Act. The bureau is responsible for collaboration and coordination of programs within various state agencies and local communities as necessary to set policy and integrate state and federal goals for seniors within Missouri with emphasis on programs that enable seniors to maximize independence and safety in the community. Program implementation is administered by Area Agencies on Aging who are responsible for ensuring that federal funding is allocated in a manner that refl ects the needs of seniors within each of the ten planning and service areas."