§ 42-66-4 - Duties of the department.
SECTION 42-66-4
§ 42-66-4 Duties of the department. –(a) The department shall be the principal agency of the state to mobilize thehuman, physical, and financial resources available to plan, develop, andimplement innovative programs to insure the dignity and independence of elderlypersons, including the planning, development, and implementation of a home andlong-term care program for the elderly in the communities of the state.
(b) The department shall serve as an advocate for the needsof the adult with a disability as these needs and services overlap the needsand services of elderly persons.
(2) The department shall serve as the state's central agencyfor the administration and coordination of a long term care entry system, usingcommunity-based access points, that will provide the following services relatedto long term care: information and referral, initial screening for service andbenefits eligibility, and a uniform assessment program for state supported longterm care.
(3) The department shall investigate reports of elder abuse,neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect and shall provide and/or coordinateprotective services.
(c) To accomplish these objectives, the director isauthorized:
(1) To provide assistance to communities in solving localproblems with regard to elderly persons including, but not limited to, problemsin identifying and coordinating local resources to serve the needs of elderlypersons;
(2) To facilitate communications and the free flow ofinformation between communities and the offices, agencies and employees of thestate;
(3) To encourage and assist communities, agencies, and statedepartments to plan, develop, and implement home and long-term care programs;
(4) To provide and act as a clearinghouse for information,data, and other materials relative to elderly persons;
(5) To initiate and carry out studies and analyses which willaid in solving local, regional, and statewide problems concerning elderlypersons;
(6) To coordinate those programs of other state agenciesdesigned to assist in the solution of local, regional, and statewide problemsconcerning elderly persons;
(7) To advise and inform the governor on the affairs andproblems of elderly persons in the state;
(8) To exercise the powers and discharge the duties assignedto the director in the fields of health care, nutrition, homemaker services,geriatric day care, economic opportunity, local and regional planning,transportation, and education and pre-retirement programs;
(9) To further the cooperation of local, state, federal andprivate agencies and institutions providing for services or havingresponsibility for elderly persons;
(10) To represent and act on behalf of the state inconnection with federal grant programs applicable to programs for elderlypersons in the functional areas described in this chapter;
(11) To seek, accept, and otherwise take advantage of allfederal aid available to the department, and to assist other agencies of thestate, local agencies, and community groups in taking advantage of all federalgrants and subventions available for elderly persons and to accept othersources of funds with the approval of the director of administration whichshall be deposited as general revenues;
(12) To render advice and assistance to communities and othergroups in the preparation and submission of grant applications to state andfederal agencies relative to programs for elderly persons;
(13) To review and coordinate those activities of agencies ofthe state and of any political subdivision of the state at the request of thesubdivision, which affect the full and fair utilization of community resourcesfor programs for elderly persons, and initiate programs that will help assuresuch utilization;
(14) To encourage the formation of councils on aging and toassist local communities in the development of the councils;
(15) To promote, and coordinate day care facilities for thefrail elderly who are in need of supportive care and supervision during thedaytime;
(16) To provide and coordinate the delivery of in-homeservices to the elderly, as defined under the rules and regulations adopted bythe department of elderly affairs;
(17) To advise and inform the public of the risks ofaccidental hypothermia;
(18) To establish a clearinghouse for information andeducation of the elderly citizens of the state;
(19) To establish and operate in collaboration with communityand aging service agencies a statewide family-caregiver resource network toprovide and coordinate family-caregiver training and support services toinclude counseling and respite services;
(20) To supervise the citizens' commission for the safety andcare of the elderly created pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1.4 of title12.
(d) In order to assist in the discharge of the duties of thedepartment, the director may request from any agency of the state informationpertinent to the affairs and problems of elderly persons.