Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About the Project
- The NCI-AD™ is a survey to help states understand and improve care for older adults and adults with physical disabilities.
- The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) wants to know whether older adults and people with physical disabilities are happy with their services.
- This is done to learn more about how to best help older adults and adults with physical disabilities that receive Medicaid services in Oregon.
- Your answers will be used to continue making the services and supports better meet the needs of members who receive services and supports.
- The funding for this work comes from ODHS.
- ODHS provided Vital Research with a list of randomly selected individuals receiving Medicaid services and those receiving Older Americans Act programs and services.
- The interview takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Yes! ODHS will not know your answers. The answers you provide will not be shared with any of the people who are responsible for your services or are paid to help you.
- Participation is voluntary - you can choose to take part, or you can say no.
- Your choice will not change the services you receive.
- If you participate, you do not have to answer any questions that you do not want to.
- If you would like to participate, a Vital Research interviewer will schedule a survey interview with you. You do not need to do anything additionally.
- You can also call Vital Research toll-¬free at 1-888-257-0807 to set up an interview. After speaking with Vital Research staff, you will be assigned an interviewer who will call you and set an appointment.
- When taking the survey, there are no right and wrong answers. The interviewer wants to hear what you or the person you are the legal guardian for think. You can stop the interview any time.
- Nothing. You do not have to participate. Your decision will not change your services.
- You may receive a call from an interviewer asking if you would like to participate. You can let them know you are not interested. You can also call Vital Research toll¬-free at 1-888-257-0807 to let them know that you do not want to take the survey.
- As the person who receives services, you can refuse to participate.
- If you have a legal guardian, they can refuse on your behalf.
- Case managers, providers and caregivers in adult foster homes and residential settings such as assisted living and nursing homes cannot refuse on your behalf.
- An interviewer will be asking you to answer the questions.
- If an individual who receive services is unable to communicate in any way and gives permission, a family member, or friend can answer some questions for them. Legal guardians may choose to answer for individuals they protect.
- The interview is designed for adults of all ages and participants with varying abilities.
- Interviewers are trained on how to interview participants with different abilities and ways of communicating.
- Interviewers learn about how to make participants feel safe when talking with them.
- The survey asks for your opinions about your quality of life and the services you receive (e.g., about your provider, living arrangement, direct care staff, choices of activities, employment, your health and safety).
- You can skip any questions if they do not apply to you.
- No. Your answers are confidential and will not affect the services you receive.
- All answers are confidential. They will be combined with other people’s answers. People cannot be identified from the reports that come to ODHS.
- The answers are for a quality study only. They will not be used to determine whether the person you are a legal guardian for can still get services. If the interviewer sees abuse or neglect, they have to report it.
- Call the interviewer who contacted you or call the Vital Research project team at888-257-0807 (Toll-free).
- You may also call Vital Research tollfree at 1-888-257-0807. You may also call Naomi Sacks, APD Policy Analyst, at 1-503-385-7168 or email at Naomi.E.Sacks@odhs.oregon.gov. You can also visit the ODHS study website.
Common Questions from Guardians
- Yes! All survey responses are confidential and are not linked to you or the individual who receive services receiving services in any way. No one at the state, county, or provider agencies will know how each individual who receive services or their guardian responds.
- All personal information about you and the person for whom you are the legal guardian is kept private and confidential.
- Please go to the Notification Letter page to view a copy of the document provided by ODHS for more details or to the Oregon NCI-AD website.
- As the legal guardian, you may be present during the interview and assist in answering some of the questions if needed.
- If an individual who receive services is unable to respond, the interviewer will switch to another version of the survey, which will allow you to answer some questions on behalf of the individual who receive services.
- If you are unable to be present during the interview, you can recommend another person who can assist. Please inform the interviewer during scheduling if wanting to make this change.
- Interviewers are trained to conduct interviews with aging adults and adults with physical disabilities. Communication or other help that you might provide during the survey is appreciated. This information can also be shared with the interviewer during scheduling.