Department of Rehabilitative Services (262)

Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (262)

Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 7, Code of Virginia.

A. Out of this appropriation, $456,209 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to continue a statewide Respite Care Initiative program for the elderly and persons suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

B.1. Out of this appropriation, $877,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to support local programs of the Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Program. Up to $5,000 of this appropriation may be used for activities of the Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Program Advisory Board, including but not limited to, paying expenses for the members to attend four meetings per year.

2. Out of this appropriation, $63,042 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for the administration of the public guardianship programs and for no other purpose.

3. Out of this appropriation, $125,500 the second year from the general fund shall be used to expand services through the Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Program to individuals with mental illness and/or intellectual disability who are 18 years of age and older.

C. The Peninsula Agency on Aging, Bay Aging, Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, and Valley Program for Aging Services shall be authorized to use funding provided for care coordination for the elderly to conduct a pilot program providing mobile, brief intervention and service linking as a form of care coordination. The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, in collaboration with the four pilot Area Agencies on Aging, shall analyze the resulting impact in these pilot agencies and determine if this model of service delivery is an appropriate and beneficial use of these funds.

D. Area Agencies on Aging shall be designated as the lead agency in each respective area for No Wrong Door.

E. The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, in collaboration with the 18 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) that are authorized to use funding for the Care Coordination for Elderly Program, shall examine and analyze existing state and national care coordination models to determine best practice models. The department and designated AAAs shall determine which models of service delivery are appropriate and demonstrate beneficial use of these funds and develop the accompanying service standards. Each AAA receiving care coordination funding shall submit its plan for care coordination with the annual area plan report beginning in fiscal year 2012.

F. Out of this appropriation, $201,875 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to support the distribution of comprehensive health and aging information to Virginia’s senior population, their families and caregivers.

G. Out of this appropriation, $215,500 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for the Pharmacy Connect Program in Southwest Virginia, administered by Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc.

H. Out of this appropriation, $1,500,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA).  General funds shall be provided to AAAs that are subject to the loss of funds due to the decennial update of the federal formula for Area Agencies on Aging.  Additional funding shall be used to address the growing number of elderly citizens in need of health, nutritional and other community-based services.

I. Notwithstanding § 2.2-703, Code of Virginia, the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services may administer the state Long-Term Care Ombudsman program in accordance with Public Law 89-73.  The department shall ensure the ombudsman operates with programmatic independence and autonomy consistent with federal law.

J. The Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall (i) recommend strategies to coordinate services and resources among agencies involved in the delivery of services to Virginians with dementia; (ii) monitor the implementation of the Dementia State Plan;  (iii) recommend policies, legislation, and funding needed to implement the Plan; (iv) collect and monitor data related to the impact of dementia on Virginians; and (v) determine the services, resources, and policies that may be needed to address services for individuals with dementia.