7.41 - Geriatric service demonstration program.
§ 7.41 Geriatric service demonstration program. (a) The office shall establish a geriatric service demonstration program to provide grants, within appropriations therefor, to providers of mental health care to the elderly. Such program shall be administered by the office in cooperation with the state office for the aging and such other state agencies as the commissioner shall determine are necessary for the operation of the program. (b) Grants may be awarded by the office to providers of care to older adults with mental disabilities for the purposes which may include one or more of the following: (1) Community integration. Programs which enable older adults with mental disabilities to age in the community and prevent the unnecessary use of institutional care; (2) Improved quality of treatment. Programs for older adults which improve the quality of mental health care in the community; (3) Integration of services. Programs which integrate mental health and aging services with alcohol, drug, health and other support services; (4) Workforce. Programs which make more efficient use of mental health and health professionals by developing alternative service roles for paraprofessionals and volunteers, including peers, and programs more effective in recruitment and retention of bi-lingual, bi-cultural or culturally competent staff; (5) Family support. Programs which provide support for family caregivers, to include the provision of care to older adults by younger family members and by older adults to younger family members; (6) Finance. Programs which have developed and implemented innovative financing methodologies to support the delivery of best practices; (7) Specialized populations. Programs which concentrate on outreach to, engagement of and effective treatment of cultural minorities; (8) Information clearinghouse. Programs which compile, distribute and make available information on clinical developments, program innovations and policy developments which improve the care to older adults with mental disabilities; and (9) Staff training. Programs which offer on-going training initiatives including improved clinical and cultural skills, evidence based geriatric mental health skills, and the identification and management of mental, behavioral and substance abuse disorders among older adults. (c) The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.